IN THIS ISSUE
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sep. 26 - Masterclass
Oct. 4 - Fall Auditions Recital
Oct. 10 - District VI Fall Auditions
Oct.
23 - Coffee Chat
(Topic: Music Progressions)
Nov. 1 - The Magic of Holiday Music
Nov. 7-8 - KMTA Honors Auditions
Dec. 19 - Christmas Recitals
Jan.
15 - Coffee Chat
(Topic: Gadgets and Gizmos)
Feb. 7 - The Classical Spillover Effects of Teaching from Jazz Fakebooks
Feb. 25-27 KMEA/KMTA Workshop
Mar. 6-7 Back to the Future Festival!
Mar. 20-24 - MTNA Conference
Apr.
9 - Coffee Chat
(Topic: Sharing Ideas for Personal and Professional Growth)
May 1-2 - Music Progressions
Jun. 1 - Recap & Potluck Dinner
Jun. 11-12 - KMTA Conference
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT - Laura Vollen, NCTM
I am so excited to be elected your president! I am equally excited about all the events planned for this year! The WMMTA board and committees have been hard at work planning all the exciting events for this year. In light of that I have decided our theme for the year: Professionalism, Partnerships, and Personal Growth. Last year our focus was on the students; this year let's focus on ourselves professionally and personally so our students benefit! With that, I would like to invite you to be a part of a great opportunity. We are looking for some teachers who would be willing to serve on a committee looking into the Adopt-A-Piano campaign at WSU. We have included information about this program below. It would be a great opportunity for WMMTA to thank WSU for the use of their facilities as well as provide them with a much needed piano! If you are interested, please contact me for further information (773-2373 or lavollen@cox.net).
PROGRAM
CHAIR - Joanne Ehrlich
WMMTA will be hosting our kickoff meeting on Sunday, September 26 at the
home of Karen Wagner, 11308 East Osie (just south of Harry and east of
Greenwich road). We will have three master teachers working with the students.
They are: Paul Reed, Christy Williams, and Brad Nix.
The sessions will commence at 2:00 p.m. and conclude with a potluck dinner following around 5:00 p.m. Please bring a food dish to share. We are scheduling each master teacher with three students, with the exception of Christy Williams, who will coach three duet partners, for a total of six students. The student levels are as follows: Paul Reed - advanced; Christy Williams - intermediate to advanced; Brad Nix - elementary to late intermediate. If you are interested in having a student perform, please note the following:
1. Each teacher
may submit one student (two if submitting as a duet team).
2. The deadline for submission is September 12, and students will be selected
on a "first-come, first-serve" basis.
3. Any teacher submitting a student MUST BE PRESENT during the Masterclass.
4. Only WMMTA members may submit students, however, non-WMMTA members
are welcome to attend as guests.
5. Please send the following to Joanne
Ehrlich:
- Name of teacher
- Name of student, or students if playing a duet
- Level of student
- Piece to be performed
WMMTA is forming a committee to look into the logistics of participating in the WSU Adopt-A-Piano campaign. The goal of the campaign is to provide 26 new rehearsal programs for the Duerksen Fine Arts building practice rooms. If you are interested in serving on this committee or would like additional information, please contact Laura Vollen (773-2373 or lavollen@cox.net).
Starting
this fall Laura Vollen, NCTM, will be teaching Kindermusik at Covenant
Presbyterian. She will be having an open house August 22nd from 9-noon.
If you want any more info please feel free to check out www.joyfulstudio.net
or contact Laura (lavollen@cox.net
or call 773-2373). Kindermusik is a developmentally appropriate music
and movement program for children ages newborn through 7. Kindermusik
continually develops and enhances its music and movement curricula by
incorporating the latest early childhood development research that shows
that active participation in a music program is a powerful stimulant for
a child's total human development. Laura says, "I was truly amazed
at the fact that the curriculum included so much for the total child development.
I have been taking my daughter since she was 4months old. She loves it;
I love it because it's helped her develop in so many different ways. So
I decided this summer to pursue licensing as a kindermusik educator. If
you have any questions or are interested in teaching, let me know. I'd
be happy to talk with you about the curricula."
Outgoing
President, Natalie Wickham, NCTM, published her first book, Pajama
School - stories from the life of a homeschool graduate, this
spring. Natalie's book is the candid account of her experiences from the
time she transitioned into homeschooling in fourth grade through her college
years and beyond (including tid bits about WMMTA and her experiences as
a music teacher!). You can find additional information and read the first
chapter for free online at www.PajamaSchool.com.
Pajama School can be purchased through the website or at Senseney
Music in Wichita or Musical Offerings in Derby.
If you have any news you'd like to submit for inclusion in the next issue of WMMTA eNews, please submit it to Natalie Wickham by e-mail.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES - July 13, 2009
New WMMTA President Laura Vollen opened the meeting at Senseney Music on Friday, July 13 at 10:10 a.m. Those attending were Joanne Ehrlich, Marlene Hallstrom, Peg Mahoney, Paige Cress, Margaret Dietz, Christy Williams, & Sally Buxton. Laura asked if anyone knew of the whereabouts of the Recap minutes from last year. Marlene said she will research the matter.
Returning Treasurer Marlene Hallstrom presented the current financial statement and worked through all the categories with us. She reported that the balance in the Festival fund is $1,185.33. The general account balance is $3,843.82. She then presented a budget forecast for 2009-2010, with last year's actual expense totals and projected expenses for the new year, including the budget for the spring festival that Joanne Ehrlich submitted. The board discussed and adjusted some of the categories to arrive at a budget that could be balanced against our projected income. Marlene will resubmit with changes for a e-mail vote.
Continuing 1st Vice-President of Programs, Joanne Ehrlich presented the program schedule as she and her committee have outlined for the new year, beginning with a Masterclass in Septermber, some joint WMMTA-WAPTL meetings, a Music Progressions session, coffee chats with various themes, and ending with our traditional Recap next June. She was congratulated for her excellent planning.
Joanne Ehrlich, as 2010 Festival Chair, also reported on the festival entitled "Back to the Future: Celebrating the Birthday of the Piano" to be held at Botanica--The Wichita Gardens in March. She and her committee are continuing to develop plans.
Continuing 2nd Vice-President of Membership, Christy Williams, reported that we have two new members: Pam Hartley, and student member, Julie Taylor. We discussed the changes she will make as she assembles the new yearbook. She has already prepared the letters to go out to possible sponsors for the yearbook.
Laura announced that Natalie Wickham, Newsletter Chair has set July 27 as the deadline for articles in the new newsletter. She will design an e-newsletter template and she will also update the website.
Continuing Ed. Chair Sally Buxton reported that all the meetings last year fit under categories for Certification renewal and reinforced the idea that Certification is only a benchmark in personal and professional development, with much active growth developing from that point. Laura mentioned that she will announce a theme for the year based on building on those personal and professional relationships in our organization. Sally said that the April coffee chat will center on developing and sharing ideas for this kind of growth. Laura reported that she is working on personal and professional goals by completing her certification for Kindermusik classes for birth through 7 years of age. She will begin teaching classes in the fall at Covenant Presbyterian church on Tyler Road.
Margaret Dietz, Referral Chair, asked for those who can accept more students. She said she occasionally gets calls from families who have seen our information in their music classrooms at school.
Laura called for Old Business, and mentioned how successful the KMTA Conference at Senseney was, in June. Tony Caramia was so personable, and it was lovely to have all the materials and sessions and meals (with great food!) in one place. Other board members agreed it was a wonderful time for all!
The board
discussed meeting dates for next year and decided upon:
Friday, October 16 from 12:30 to 2:30.
Friday, January 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Monday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Under New
Business, Peg Mahoney joined us and brought handouts from the WSU
School of Music "Adopt a Piano" Campaign. The board had several
questions about the length of time we would have to raise the funds, and
amount that would be needed for an extended project. Laura asked Peg if
Linda Hamilton could be our liaison and ask those questions of the Dean.
Marlene moved that the President appoint a committee to look for ways
to fund the project. Joanne seconded the motion. The vote in favor was
unanimous.
Laura called for a vote to accept the annual treasurer's report. Sally
Buxton made the motion. Joanne Ehrlich seconded it, and the vote in favor
was unanimous.
Margaret Dietz made a motion to adjourn. Joanne seconded it. The vote in favor was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Acting Secretary, Sally Buxton, NCTM