GCMTA News

GCMTA News

Happy 2014 to everyone!

Let’s go SKYDIVING! I often use skydiving as a word picture for my

students. I tell them that once a skydiver jumps

out of the plane that he/she can NOT go back

and do it again. The skydiver is on the ride

down and because of gravity must follow

through all the way to the end. In the same

way, a musician does this in a performance;

once a note has been played (or sung), the

performer must not return to make corrections

but must continue forward to the music’s

end. For some piano students this is very

difficult because when they practice and miss a

note, they immediately return to fix the

mistake. I have given this mishap many names:

hiccups, breaks, pauses, stops, corrections, and

going backwards or in reverse. This, of course,

whatever it is called is not desirable in

performances. To perform music without a

break is an important skill to help our students

learn. One thing I do to encourage follow through is

to always allow the student to sing/play a

selection of music at least once in its entirety

during each lesson. This gives them

opportunity to have a ‘performance’ during

each lesson. For the longer pieces, I write my

comments on a notepad and discuss them

afterwards instead of stopping them mid-

performance. If the student stops in the

performance, I will then speak to the problem

but I encourage them to continue through to

the end of the piece or portion. I tell them in

advance that I will listen as an audience

member and ask that they do their best.

Sometimes I sit in a different location to

enhance the pretense of ‘this is a

performance’ plus it helps me resist the

temptation to speak. When asked about how

many times they thought they ‘stopped’ or

made a mistake, students always guess less

times than it actually was. I then locate each

place they hesitated or made a mistake and

then help them make corrections on the

individual spots. We discuss it and talk aloud

about why the mistake was made.

...continued on page 7

Rhapsody –a piece of music that is meant to express a lot of

emotion and does not have a regular form

Rhapsodic –extravagantly emotional; enthusiastic, excited, joyous

Teachers, please join us as we enthusiastically enjoy our January

gathering on Wednesday the 22nd at Brightwater Clubhouse,

1420 Water Shine Way, Snellville Ga 30078, for our annual

Brunch. Bring a dish to share, including a serving utensil. Many

of you signed up at our November meeting for the item you are

planning to bring. Several folks said they would bring whatever

was needed, and, based on the list, we could use another casserole

or two. If someone wants to bring juice, let me know, otherwise,

I’ll bring that.

Our January program is an opportunity to share and learn from

each other. Please come with three teaching ideas written down

on an index card (ex. - teaching tip, problem you’d like input on,

creative student motivator, etc) to share with fellow teachers.

We’ll share these ideas with those at our table, then the “table

secretary” will write down the top 2-4 favorite ideas and share

them with the entire group. Combined, we have several decades

of musical experience and knowledge! Join us for a time of

enrichment through our fellow members. And, yes, there will be

door prizes to be won too!

So, please come join the fun! See you there!

Mary Ann McTier, program chair

January Meeting –“Rhapsodic Roundtables!”

Notes From The President Inside this issue:

February, March Meetings 2

GCMTA Music Day Winners 3-6

Atlanta Music Club 7

Local Auditions, Federated 8

UGA Symposium 9

Website 9

VOLUME 2014, ISSUE 1

JANUARY 2014

Do you ever get frustrated because your students aren’t practicing enough, efficiently,

….at all, sometimes?! Rebecca Bonam, one of our own members, did a seminar on this

topic in September at the Berean Baptist Church Music Academy. She has willingly

agreed to share some tips on teaching students to practice that will be helpful to all of us

in GCMTA. Becky also is a published arranger of over two dozen books of hymn arrange-

ments for intermediate-advanced levels. Join us February 26 for a presentation that is sure to

enhance your teaching as we focus on this fundamental element of learning any instrument.

You don’t want to miss this!

February Meeting “Practicing –In Plain Black and White”

by Rebecca Bonam

Join us March 26 when three GCMTA teachers’ students will play for us and have Dr. Dinkins-Matthew teach them,

thereby teaching us. This will be a great time for us to learn from a Master Teacher and delightful individual. Patti is a

piano professor at Emory University as well as a member of our local chapter. Students and music will be listed in next

month’s newsletter.

March Master Class q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

ENSEMBLE EXTRAVAGANZA CONCERT

is on Saturday, May 3. It will be held at Harmony Grove Methodist

in Lilburn. Entrants can be duets, duos, trios and quartets.

All music entrants that are eligible for the competition must be from

the 2013 or 2014 National Federation Handbook. No

exceptions. Teachers may enter as many ensembles as they

wish. The fee to enter this event is $10 per student with a $25 cap

per family.

Further details for our first annual EEC can be found online. Please

plan to participate in our first Ensemble Extravaganza! It will be

unlike anything that GCMTA has done before and we are planning a

very fun day for the audience and participants

as well. Please call Ruth Mantooth for

additional answers regarding this event.

As always, those teachers who

enter students must be prepared

to serve in some capacity that

day to make the event successful.

Welcome

New

Members!

Brooke Burkholder

Ashlee Cave

Dr. Jose Manuel Garcia

Katie Grouch

Mary Francis Katz

Carol Taylor

GCMTA Music Day Winners

Congrats

to this year’s

Winners and

Honorable

Mentions!

Great job

everyone!

Page 3 GCMTA News

Winner

or HM

Ra�ng Teacher Name Student

Last Name

Student

First Name

Grade Instrument

HM S Kathy Dawal Williams Nigel 5 guitar/strings

HM S Kathy Dawal Johnson Ethan 7 guitar/strings

HM S Deb Brady Rhilinger Angela 9 guitar/strings

HM S+ Marion Compton Bhadani Riya 4 piano

HM S Susan Andrews Andrews Madeline 5 piano

HM S Susan Andrews Clack Esther 5 piano

HM S Julie Smith Davis Ansley 5 piano

HM S Lisa Gaal Gavriliuc Nathan 5 piano

HM S Stacy Marie Walker Greene Savannah 5 piano

HM S Marion Compton Hursey Nate 5 piano

HM S Pa- Benne. Hwang Timothy 5 piano

HM S Janet Will Karikaran Anjali 5 piano

HM S Pa- Benne. Kim Sean 5 piano

HM S Mijung Kim Kim Charlie 5 piano

HM S Young-Hae Kim Koo Mina 5 piano

HM S Lisa Gaal Kosasi Jocelyn 5 piano

HM S Pa- Benne. McDaniel Sydney 5 piano

HM S Sarah Cochran Nguyen Miki 5 piano

HM S Lois Simon Nguyen Ashley 5 piano

HM S Pa- Benne. Nguyen-Phan Bri.any 5 piano

HM S Rie Hosoi Ramineni Meghana 5 piano

HM S Melinda Hubbell Sharma Arnav 5 piano

HM S Linda Walker Shevchuk Innessa 5 piano

HM S Natalie Hardy Shust Dylan 5 piano

HM S Susan Andrews Boone Harrison 6 piano

HM S Rie Hosoi Chu Joann 6 piano

HM S Kathy Dawal Fields Tyler 6 piano

HM S Marion Compton Hester Anna 6 piano

HM S Pam Asberry Kim Heeyeon 6 piano

HM S+ Natalie Hardy Monjure Abigail 6 piano

HM S Gloria Park Choi Annie 7 piano

HM S Marion Compton Claymore Sophia 7 piano

HM S Judy Harper Ducheine Kay6 7 piano

HM S Michelle Peck Endalk Ewunet 7 piano

HM S Sarah Cochran Garcia Sofia 7 piano

HM S- Nora Mar6n Jasani Anand 7 piano

HM S Kathy Dawal Johnson Ethan 7 piano


GCMTA News Page 4

HM S Melinda Hubbell Jung Eden 7 piano

HM S Linda Walker Kagansky Sophia 7 piano

HM S Mijung Kim Kim Bona 7 piano

HM S Rie Hosoi Sanikapally Shaili 7 piano

HM S Yumi Pa.erson Thomas Dawson 7 piano

HM S Stacy Marie Walker Jones Ryan 8 piano

HM S Melinda Hubbell Kim Minsong 8 piano

HM S Young-Hae Kim Mai Kristy 8 piano

HM S+ Pa- Benne. McDaniel Savannah 8 piano

HM S Susan Andrews Rollins John 8 piano

HM S Nora Mar6n Shepard Ben 8 piano

HM S Jean Mann Biederman Eric 9 piano

HM S Michelle Peck Campbell Morgan 9 piano

HM S Lisa Gaal Coliba Crina 9 piano

HM S- Rie Hosoi Ho Chris6ne 9 piano

HM S Debbie Hughes Hughes Andrew 9 piano

HM S+ Cathy Thacker Pastore Sean 9 piano

HM S Deb Brady Rhilinger Angela 9 piano

HM S Brooke Burkholder Rogers Hinton 9 piano

HM S+ Lois Simon Rosas Julia 9 piano

HM S Yumi Pa.erson Sharma Aanya 9 piano

HM S+ Gloria Park Yu Diana 9 piano

HM S Judy Harper Hudgins Leeann 10 piano

HM S+ Susan Andrews Landers Catherine 10 piano

HM S+ Sarah Cochran Willet Ruth 10 piano

HM S Michelle Peck Bonilla Jackie 11 piano

HM S Judy Harper Jiang Angela 11 piano

HM S Debbie Hughes Rodriguez Samantha 11 piano

HM S Debbie Hughes Siffel Gabor 11 piano

HM S+ Lois Simon Burton Kris6n 12 piano

HM S Yumi Pa.erson Doyle Hayley 12 piano

HM S Marcia Rygh Hannah Jonathan 12 piano

HM S+ Debbie Hughes Bui David 10 voice

HM S+ Debbie Hughes Dorman Mikayla 10 voice

HM S+ Debbie Murphy Greenberg Olivia (Libby) 10 voice


GCMTA News Page 5

Winner

or HM

Ra�ng Teacher Name Student Last

Name

Student First

Name

Grade Instrument

W S+ Deb Brady Ceballos Alexandra 3 guitar/strings

W S Kathy Dawal England Caden 7 guitar/strings

W S+ Kathy Dawal McCurdy Daniela 9 guitar/strings

W S+ Susan Andrews Arne. Ben 4 piano

W S+ Susan Andrews Clack Lydia 4 piano

W S+ Jean Mann Gemmell Catherine 4 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Gheorghies Sophie 4 piano

W S+ Jean Mann Kim Daniel 4 piano

W S+ Young-Hae Kim Kim Patrick 4 piano

W S+ Lisa Gaal Kwan Vanessa 4 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. McDaniel Lee 4 piano

W S+ Young-Hae Kim Oh Suah 4 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Park Ellie 4 piano

W S+ Michelle Peck Bora Aditya 5 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Chan Tiffany 5 piano

W S+ Kathy Dawal Gavriliuc Timothy 5 piano

W S+ Pam Asberry Hardy Erin 5 piano

W S Melinda Hubbell Kishore Krishi 5 piano

W S+ Lusia Glagoleva Kozhanov Dmitry 5 piano

W S+ Cathy Thacker Le Tina 5 piano

W S+ Susan Andrews Mallory Sydney 5 piano

W S+ Gloria Park Park Sarah 5 piano

W S+ Julie Smith Wise Kathryn 5 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Woollery Jennifer 5 piano

W S+ Kathy Dawal Fujikawa Elisha 6 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Gidwani Diya 6 piano

W S+ Cathy Thacker Gwynn Jackee 6 piano

W S+ Mijung Kim Kim Jennifer 6 piano

W S+ Stacy Marie Walker Tong Elise 6 piano

W S Gloria Park Yu Vicky 6 piano

W S Janet Will Aguirre Georgia 7 piano

W S+ Cathy Thacker Compau Brian 7 piano

W S+ Kathy Dawal Ly Alexander 7 piano

W Lois Simon Ngan Nicole 7 piano

W S+ Gloria Park Park Elise 7 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Park Hana 7 piano


GCMTA News Page 6

W S Debbie Hughes Siffel Adam 7 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Greene Annie 8 piano

W S+ Debbie Hughes Hinson Riley 8 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Johnston Jack 8 piano

W S+ Mijung Kim Kim Ma.hew 8 piano

W S+ Susan Andrews Payton Adam 8 piano

W S Linda Walker San6ago Ethan 8 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Woo Sean 8 piano

W S+ Lisa Gaal Du.on Natalie 9 piano

W S+ Linda Walker Grossman Emily 9 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Ivemeyer Abi 9 piano

W S+ Debbie Hughes Joel Andrew 9 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Lloyd Kylie 9 piano

W S+ Mary Ann McTier Shuman Emma 9 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Stewart Abbie 9 piano

W S+ Susan Andrews Baron Catherine 10 piano

W S+ Lusia Glagoleva Cassim Marion 10 piano

W S Marion Compton Frick Maggie 10 piano

W S+ Lisa Gaal Shivananda Chatur 10 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Nguyen-Phan Emily 11 piano

W S+ Cathy Thacker Pastore Travis 11 piano

W S+ Linda Walker San6ago Jonah 11 piano

W S+ Sarah Cochran Willet Gabrielle 11 piano

W S+ Pa- Benne. Aus6n Julianne 12 piano

W S+ Lusia Glagoleva Duon Dennis 12 piano

W S+ Susan Andrews Hofer Olivia 12 piano

W S+ Deb Brady Simpson Kimberly 12 piano

W S+ Yumi Pa.erson Wong Shawn 12 piano

W S+ Debbie Murphy Brandenburg McKenna 11 voice

W S+ Debbie Murphy Ivon Alyssa 11 voice

W S+ Debbie Hughes Rodriguez Samantha 11 voice

W S+ Stacy Marie Walker Stallworth Allison 12 voice

Notes From the President...continued from page 1

Did you know that when you tandem jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet that you go head first? (I didn’t!) Tandem skydivers tumble

in a flip out of the side door! So there is another application to performing! Our head is to be the first part engaged when we begin

our performances. Performers can’t be mentally unaware. I remind them that they will at some point in any performance do

something that is wrong and they must think forward not backwards about the mistake. I remind them to ‘forget what is behind and

press forward’. The ultimate goal is a continuous performance in spite of mistakes. But nothing takes the place of good

preparation! If the student is not well-rehearsed or even able to do it well before the performance then there is not much hope for a

continuous piece in front of an audience! So they have to get their ‘head in the game’! When I played my flute, I never was able to return to fix a musical error in band rehearsals. I was forced to continue in spite of a

blunder. Performing with a CD can help a student to continue forward and not do a ‘reverse’. There are a lot more CD

accompaniments available with many teaching series for a reasonable price now. Also playing duet with beginning students will

encourage them to keep going in spite of a slip-up. Asking them to sing the note names or melody line on a single syllable while the

instructor plays is helpful to strengthen one hand. Ensemble music is extremely useful for this issue for intermediate students. (Are

you considering placing students in this year’s Ensemble Extravaganza? I hope so!) Of course, recording students with immediate play

back while asking them to mark their own music for when they hear the breaks is useful as well. Sometimes they don’t realize where

the mistakes are so a recording shows you both where review is needed. I went skydiving at Thanksgiving. (Yep! It was crazy!) I was harnessed VERY securely to the tandem instructor. It was extremely

tight! Similarly, I must really reign in the students to doing it ‘my way’. To successfully perform we sometimes can’t give them

freedom to do their own thing. I was so closely attached to the tandem instructor when I skydived that I had no choice but to trust

that he knew how and when to do what was necessary to make it a successful jump. I sometimes ask my student whether they trust me

and then tell them to that they must if we will continue successfully together. But remember students won’t trust you if you break

their spirit. Be sure to encourage them and laugh along the way! Making them practice VERY slowly is a superb way to show them

how to perform without those hiccupping backups! They will often resist but you must harness them closely! Teaching is sometimes as exhilarating as skydiving! At Fry’s there were so many wonderful performances, I was really excited by them.

I am glad to be part of a GCMTA where teachers are caring enough to help each other be better teachers and provide various

opportunities for students to perform. It can be frightening to perform so the more a student can be in front of others, the better

they will become at doing it well, discovering what is necessary and being able to express themselves well musically. Yes, performing is

a little like skydiving - landing well at the end is a great feeling of accomplishment! Federated Festival is the next excellent opportunity

for each of your students to participate. I know you also have excellent ideas to encourage ‘play through’. What is your best teaching technique to assist in learning this

skill? I encourage you to dialogue with fellow GCMTA members about this and other ideas. That is one of the blessings of being

part of our organization! Nevertheless, I hope you all can help your students have superb performances! Wheeee!!

- Deb Hughes, GCMTA President

Atlanta Music Club

sponsors Young Performers

Concerts on Sundays at 3

PM on January 26, February

23 & April 6. They are held

at Piano Distributors, 1736

Cobb Parkway, Marietta. It

is free for students to

participate! Three students

per teacher per concert is

the limit and they are always

looking for more students

and teachers to participate.

For more information please

contact Deb Hughes or

AtlantaMusicClub.org

FRY’S PERFORMANCE DAY was a wonderfully beautiful success! We had

87 students play on Saturday, December 14 as they ‘brought their music to the people’ of Fry’s

Electronic store! Eleven teachers participated: Mary Ann McTier, Sarah Cochran, Natalie

Hardy, Deb Hughes, Patti Bennett, Lois Simon, Pam Asberry, Nora Martin, Julie Mitchell

Smith, Teal Justice and David Peoples. A special thank goes to Julie Mitchell Smith & Patti

Bennett who both had the most students participating – 16! Patti also stayed and helped with

check in during the day! A special thanks to all the teachers who prepared their students to

play! It was a very positive and rewarding time for the musicians who played holiday music,

classical & standard educational pieces. Performance Day is a superb way of sharing our music

craft with the community while also encouraging our protégées! It was a win/win/win

situation. Fry’s got additional customers and exposure, our students got to have a positive

musical performing experience and GCMTA earned some money. The manager said that we can

come anytime! Deb Hughes is currently coordinating this project but is looking for a person

who would like to take it over. Please contact her if you are interested. We are particularly

interested in any new members to consider this project and be part of the Executive Board.

Page 8 GCMTA News

2014 Local Auditions will be held on March 1, 2014 at Berean Baptist Church.

The registration deadline is January 22.

Please read the information in the Directory and if you have any questions

contact Yumi Patterson.

[email protected]

February 15

West Federated Festival,

Berean Baptist Church, Lilburn, GA

Applications for Jr/Sr due

Applications for GMTA Theory Test due

February 23

AMC Young Performers Concert,

Piano Distributors, Marietta

February 26

GCMTA Meeting, Lawrenceville Church of God

March 1

GCMTA Local Auditions, Piano Works, Duluth, GA

March 15

Jr./Sr. Scholarship Audition, Piano Works, Duluth, GA

March 22-26

MTNA Conference, Marriott Hotel, Chicago, IL

March 29

Regional Auditions, Brenau University, Gainesville, GA

GCMTA Local Auditions

Calendar Reminders

Your check for fees and/or any

transfer forms need to be postmarked

by January 8 and mailed to your

District Chairman. Any literature changes after the

deadline much be approved by your

Chairman.

Remember to fill in your Applicant

List before entering your students

online, so that you will have your

information to refer to as well as for

your records. This form and all others

are available on the website under the

Federated Festival link. It is not

necessary to try and print from the

online Directory.

If you have students that will need to

play at another Gwinnett location

because of a date conflict, you will still

enter them in YOUR own District with

your other students. You will only need to

request they play at the other festival with

that District Chairman and notify your

Chairman of the same.

All students will need to have a rating

sheet filled out and brought with them to

their Festival location.

Please let me or your District Chairman

know of any questions or concerns.

Judy Harper

770-476-3950

[email protected]

The deadline for entering students in

Federated Festivals is

JANUARY 4, 2014.

The early date is necessary because of the

dates of two of our festivals this year:

North - February 1,

Central - February 1,

West - February 15.

Federated Notes q q q q q q q q qq q q q q q q q qq q q q q q q q qq q q q q q q q q

January 4

Registration for Federated Festival due

January 8

Fees for Federated Festival postmarked

January 22

GCMTA Brunch Meeting

Auditions Registration due

January 26



February 1

Central Federated Festival,

Berean Baptist Church, Lilburn, GA

North Federated Festival,

First Baptist Church, Duluth, GA

February 8

UGA Piano Pedagogy Symposium,

with Randall Faber

April 4

Registration for Ensemble Extravaganza due

April 6



April 12

GMTA State Auditions for College, Instrument, &

Voice

April 23

Executive Board Meeting, at the home of Deb Hughes

April 26

GMTA State Auditions for Pre-College & Concerto

May 3

Ensemble Extravaganza,

Harmony Grove Church, Lilburn

May 14

GCMTA Luncheon Meeting

Announcement of TOTY

GCMTA News

Deborah Hughes, President

[email protected]

Georgia Music Teachers Association

www.georgiamta.org

Name: Georgia Password: music

Music Teachers National Association

www.mtna.org

Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association

www.gcmta.org

Have you been to our website lately?

There have been some changes!

Newsletter…. If you have information that needs to go in the newsletter, please email it to [email protected]. Label

your email with “newsletter” in the subject line. You can also call me at 678-985-9302. Please send me your

information as you want it worded in the newsletter in Microsoft Word format, or simply typed in your

email, and have it to me by the 1st of the month. Please try not to do too much formatting on your

information (spacing, tabs, etc.) Leave that up to me. Thank you!

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