Music Teachers

Presidents letter

What a wonderful time of the year for teachers andstudents. September always brings new beginnings andfresh goals. I hope you’ve had a chance to participate inthe many exciting workshops that have been offeredthroughout our state. It’s great to learn new approachesin teaching, and spend time with colleagues. I certainlywish each of you a great year. You are such a valuableasset to the young people’s lives you touch.

Speaking of opportunities to learn and enjoy - don’t missthe Fall Conference October 17-18-19 in Kalamazoo.Gerardo Ascheri, our Vice-President, has planned aspectacular program. I’m looking forward to each of thesessions and being able to honor our Teachers of the yearand Distinguished Award Recipient. Barbara Coulter,our Past President, has done so much for MMTA and itwill be a delight to present the award to her. I am reallylooking forward to seeing YOU there - put it into yourschedule and plan to attend.

The Board of Directors welcomes Sheryl LottRichardson as its new MTNA CompetitionsCoordinator and MMTA High School PerformanceCompetition Chair. We also welcome DeborahLong to the position of Awards Chair.

I was most appreciative, and so isMMTA, to the Local AssociationPresidents for their information inputat the summer meeting. It is withyour (the member’s) concerns andideas that MMTA keepsprogressing.

This is my last letter to you asMMTA President. What a joy, whata privilege, and what a wonderfulgrowing experience it has been toserve as your President. I haveappreciated so much the opportunityto meet and interact with so many ofyou. The Board of Directors that

has supported me is top notch - theyreally have MMTA’s best interest atheart in all they do. You can lookforward to exciting great thingsunder the direction of your newincoming President Gerardo

Ascheri.

Sincerely,

Your PresidentMarilyn Sluka

1

MichiganMusicTeacher

MICHIGANMUSIC TEACHERSASSOCIATIONAffiliated with Music Teachers National Assn.

Vol. LI No. 1 September 2004

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2 Michigan Music Teacher

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR E-MAILSend to Marilyn Sluka, 16791 Fitzgerald, Livonia 48154

~ or ~Cheryl Cameron, 2630 Seventienth Ave., Port Huron 48060

MICHIGAN MUSIC TEACHEROfficial Publication of

MICHIGAN MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONAffiliated with

MUSIC TEACHERS NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONJEAN HULL, Editor, 2405 Hampshire Rd., Lansing 48911

Phone: (517) 482-9753 Fax: (517) 267-0828 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.mi-mtna.org

PRESIDENT*Marilyn Sluka16791 FitzgeraldLivonia 48154

VICE-PRESIDENT*Gerardo Ascheri2200 Groesbeck Ave.Lansing 48912-3400

SECRETARY*Nancy Skriba6100 S. Grapevine Tr.Suttons Bay 49682

TREASURER*Mildred Muller1835 Pine Bluff SEGrand Rapids 49508

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT*Barbara Coulter409 Sixth StreetTraverse City 49684

CERTIFICATION CHAIR*Michelle Mitchum, NCTM900 JenningsPetoskey 49770

CERTIFICATION EXECUTIVESECRETARYSally Lewis, NCTM9766 Londolyn BluffTraverse City 49686

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR*Cheryl Cameron2630 Seventeenth Ave.Port Huron 48060

LOCAL ASSOCIATIONSCOORDINATOR*Joan Haggard33974 Hampshire Dr.Livonia 48154

STUDENT CHAPTERSCOORDINATOR*Colleen Wilcox-Ensberg, NCTM4900 ZimmerWilliamston 48895

TEACHER EDUCATION CHAIR* Adrienne Wiley, NCTM4007 Washington St.Midland 48642

IMTM CHAIRMary Anne Hornik1511 Sunset Point Dr.Muskegon 49441-4308

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING COORDINATOR*Barbara Collins, NTCM4430 West Water St.Port Huron 48060

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING AUDITION CHAIR*Penny Draper513 Woodland Dr.East Lansing 48823

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING PIANO CHAIR*Isabelle Tulk4755 Ravinewood Dr.Commerce Twp. 48383-1659

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING STRING CHAIRRichard PiippoHope CollegeHolland 49423

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING VOICE CHAIRJulia Ellis2045 SheldrakeOkemos 48864

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTTESTING WOODWINDS CHAIRTBA

AWARDS CHAIRDeborah Long4799 Fountain Square Dr.Kalamazoo 49009-9573

MTNA COMPETITIONSCOORDINATOR*Midori KogaSchool of Music MSUEast Lansing 48824-1043

MTNA COLLEGIATEARTIST/PERFORMANCE &COLLEGIATE CHAMBER MUSICCOMPETITIONS CHAIRGerardo Ascheri2200 Groesbeck Ave.Lansing 48912-3400

MMTA HIGH SCHOOLPERFORMANCE COMPETITIONCHAIRSheryl Richardson6421 Byron RoadZeeland 49464

* Indicates Board Member

MTNA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLPERFORMANCE COMPETITIONPauline Martin5876 Tabor DriveWest Bloomfield 48322

MTNA STUDENT COMPOSITIONCOMPETITION CHAIRJere HutchesonSchool of Music MSUEast Lansing 48824-1043

COMMISSIONED COMPOSERCHAIRDeborah Beachnae, NCTM553 PacificLansing 48910

CONCERTO COMPETITIONCHAIRDonald Morelock18600 Haggerty Rd.Livonia 48152

NON-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIESCHAIRKelly Yoakam120 W. Sycamore St.Mason 48854

COMMUNITY OUTREACH &PUBLIC EDUCATION CHAIRTBA

MTNA SCHOLARSHIPFOUNDATION CHAIRGeorge Widiger116 HarrisonMidland 48460

MTNA COLLEGE FACULTYFORUM REPRESENTATIVETBA

HISTORIANMary Chartier3252 Pinehurst Dr.Gladwin 48624

PARLIAMENTARIANChristie Otter14735 RichfieldLivonia 48154

TECHNOLOGY CHAIR*Diana Spitnale Miller, NCTM208 West BurnsideCaro 48723-1501

KNOW YOURMMTA BOARD

Sheryl Richardson has recently beenappointed to the MMTA Board asMTNA Competition Coordinatorand MMTA High SchoolPerformance Competition Chair.

Her home inZeeland iswhere shehas beent e a c h i n gpiano since1988. Sherylis also av i s i t i n ginstructor inp i a n opedagogy in

the School of Music at MichiganState University where she ispresently preparing her dissertationto complete her doctorate.

She received her Master’s degree inPiano Performance from theUniversity of Illinois. Her studies inPiano have been with RalphVotapek, Ian Hobson, AlbertineVotapek and Joseph Evans. HerPedagogy studies have been withMidori Koga.

Sheryl is part time faculty at HopeCollege, President of the HollandPiano Teachers Forum and is amember of the MMTA certificationcommittee. She performs frequentlyas solo and collaborative pianist. Herarticle, “Music as Language:Sightplaying Through Access to aComplete Musical vocabulary” waspublished in the recent June/Julyissue of the American Music Teacher.

Sheryl deserves praise for her manyaccomplishments. We welcome herto MMTA Board

Michigan Music Teacher 3

2004 CONFERENCE UPDATE

During the July 22 meeting, the MMTA Board decided to use theword “Conference” rather than “Convention” to name our annualstate event. I will be doing so from now on, and I urge all otherofficers to do the necessary changes in any writing or wordingregarding the “State Conference.”

Mr Logan Skelton, from University of Michigan will be theconvention artist and Irene Peery-Fox, from BrighamYoung University (Utah) will be the featured conventionclinician. Mr. Logan will be doing the recital on MondayOctober 18, and a master class the following morning.Ms. Peery-Fox will be doing two presentations on pianotechnique followed by a master class also on MondayOctober 18.

The 2004 Commissioned Composer is Peter Knell,from Pasadena, California. Mr. Knell holdsdegrees from Princeton University, JuilliardSchool and University of Texas at Austin.

The University of Michigan Student Chapter willbe presenting “Putting ‘Play’ back intoPlaying the Piano: A Survey of EffectiveGames for Private and Class Piano.” Thepresentation consists of a variety of videoexcerpts of exciting games used in pre-collegeclasses, evaluating their effectiveness.

The session dedicated to Music Teacher Education will featureDick Moorman in “Celebrate the Spirit Whisperers.” ChickMoorman is an inspirational speaker who has addressed over300,000 parents and educators while conducting over 2,000 talkson raising and educating responsible children. He is a former

classroom teacher with over 40 years of experience in the field ofeducation. His mission is to empower teachers and parents so theycan in turn empower others.

This year there will be no String Session. In its place theCertification Committee will present a short Power Pointpresentation about the benefits and values of being a certifiedteacher.

The SAT session features “Teaching Strategies forDeveloping Good Music Reading Skills in Students of AllLevels,” presented by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson.Laura will give advice and strategies for sight reading, but

not just for teachers participating in SAT Testing. DianaSpitnale Miller, our Technology Chair, will share her expertise

on running the MMTA Website. She will also give adviceand help to those local chapters interested in setting

up a website.

The Independent Music Teachers Forum willpresent a discussion panel of MMTA teachers,similar to the one we had last year. Furtherinformation about the different presentations

will be provided in the conference booklet.

I hope the conference program to be interesting andvaried for everybody to enjoy. If you have ideas about

future presentations or topics you might like to have at theconference please don’t hesitate to pass your ideas along.

I look forward to seeing you all in Kalamazoo!

Gerardo Ascheri,MMTA Vice-President& Convention Chair

MMTA NOMINATIONSThe nominating committee: Mary Chartier, Joan Haggard, Michelle Mitchum, Pat Willwerth and BarbaraCoulter, Chair, propose the following slate of officers for 2004-2005.

President: Gerardo AscheriVice-President/President Elect: Isabelle Tuck

Secretary: Nancy ScribaTreasurer: Mildred Muller

Elections will be at the October State Conference. Nominations may be made from the floor.




LOGAN SKELTON is a living representative of thetime-honored tradition of pianist/ composer. His multi-faceted musical activities as pianist/ composer havebeen featured on many public radio and televisionprograms including: National Public Radio’s“Audiophile Audition”, “Performance Today” and“All Things Considered.” He has recorded numerouscompact discs for Centaur, Albany, Crystal and NaxosRecords, the latter for which he recorded a two pianopiece with composer/pianist William Bolcom.

A frequent juror andguest artist at musicfestivals, Skeltonregularly appears insuch settings as thePrague InternationalPiano Masterclasses,the Gina Bachauer

International Piano Festival, the EastmanPiano Festival, the MTNA NationalConvention, the Chautauqua Institution, andthe New Orleans International Piano Festival.His students have received prizes in manynational and international piano competitionssuch as Hilton Head Island, San Antonio, Bartók-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev, Fischoff, Jacob Flier,Missouri Southern, Eastman, Oberlin, Idyllwild,Shreveport Wideman, as well as numerous MusicTeachers National Association competitions.

He was honored by the University of Michigan in2003 with the prestigious Harold Haugh Awardfor excellence in studio teaching. He hasserved on the faculties of ManhattanSchool of Music, Southwest MissouriState University and the University ofMichigan where he is currentlyAssociate Professor and Director ofDoctoral Studies in Piano Performance.

DR. IRENE PEERY-FOX, NCTM was formerly afaculty member at the Peabody Conservatory of theJohns Hopkins University Preparatory Division.Currently, she serves as full professor on the Brigham

Young Universitypiano faculty whereshe teachesundergraduate andgraduate pedagogy,as well as being theg r a d u a t ecoordinator. Herstudents have beenfrequent prizewinners ini n t e r n a t i o n a l ,national, state, andlocal competitions.She is listed in the

Canadian Dictionary of Music and Musiciansand in Outstanding Young Women of

American as well as in the GrovesDictionary, as contributor for anarticle on George Boyle. Otherarticles have appeared in Clavierand Keyboard Companion. As a

frequent lecturer and presenter, IrenePeery-Fox has given workshops and masterclasses at the World National PedagogyConference in Nashville and the MTNANational Convention in Salt Lake City, as wellas others in Russia, at Sacramento State andMichigan Universities.

Dr. Peery-Fox received her doctoral degreefrom the Peabody Conservatory of the JohnsHopkins University, where she studied withLeon Fleisher. Before her doctoral work, sheearned bachelor of music and master of sciencedegrees from the Julliard School, studying

under Irwin Freundlich, Jeaneanne Dowisand Ilona Kabos. She has alsoearned an ARCT degree from theRoyal Conservatory in Toronto anda performing arts degree from the

University of Alberta, Edmonton.


2004 MMTA STATE CONVENTION’S ARTIST & CLINICIAN

MMTA 28 YEARS AGOSEPTEMBER 1976

The 91st Fall Convention of theMichigan Music TeachersAssociation will be held atHospitality Motor Inn, Lansing,October 17, 18, and 19. The GreaterLansing Chapter of MMTA, underthe chairmanship of Eileen Keel,will be the local host.

Thomas Richner will be guestclinician at the convention. He isrecognized as a major Americantalent on three separate fronts....as a concert pianist, concert organistand one of the country’s leadingauthorities on the performance ofMozart’s keyboard music. Fewperformers have gained his level ofrepute as both organist and pianist,and no other pianist has challengedhis world-wide reputation as aforemost Mozart performer.

MTNA-MMTASTUDENTCOMPOSITION

All student compositions must bereceived by the MTNA-MMTAComposition Chair by August 30,2004. Allow six days mailing timewithin the state. Send materials andapplicatins to the State Chair, Dr.Jere Hutcheson, School of Music,Michigan State University, EastLansing, MI 48824. Guidelines andapplications are available online athttp://www.mtna.org/ or by calling(888) 512-5278 to request a hardcopy of the application.

Any questions should be directed toDr. Jere Hutcheson via e-mail:[email protected] or phone (517)355-7664.


You are cordially

invited to enjoy a

spectacular time of

learning, wonderful

music, excellent food

and great friends.

MMTA StateConvention

October 17-18-19, 2004

Marilyn SlukaPresident


CERTIFICATIONNEWSThe Certification Committee met onJune 11, 2004 at Central MichiganUniversity in Mt. Pleasant to evaluatethe portfolios of new applicants and thedocumentation of renewing teachers.Congratulations to Jessica Fielder -Farmington who earned her MMTAStandard Certificate in Piano and toAdrienne Wiley - Midland who wasawarded the MMTA College FacultyCertificate.

Plan to attend the banquet at the Octoberstate convention in Kalamazoo and greetthese certified teachers and offer yourcongratulations. The CertificationCommittee will offer a session at theconvention on the procedure forbecoming certified and also how toprepare your documentation forrenewal. Teachers who already holdcertificates are encouraged to becomementors for new applicants.

Congratulations to the following teacherswho renewed the MMTA StandardCertificate in Piano for 2004: Mary S.Bates - Ann Arbor, Cheryl Cameron - PortHuron, Jane Greenfield - Alto, Lori Jahn- Hartland, Georgia Kline - Schoolcraft,Adrea Marks - South Haven, NancySkriba - Suttons Bay, Margaret Thorstein- Coopersville, Susan Rogalla Tindall -Muskegon, Ellen Tipton - Battle Creek,Judy Vander Ark - Grand Rapids, JackiVander Slik - Holland, and MarjorieWiltse - Rockford.

The MMTA Emeritus Certificate wasgranted to the following teachers: SuzanneAmbrose - Auburn, Rochelle Goldman -West Bloomfield, Beatrice Johnston-Machowicz - Plymouth, Marilyn M.Sluka - Livonia, and Joyce Stapish - BayCity.

Those teachers renewing their EmeritusCertificate were: Barbara J. Collins - PortHuron, Delaine Counseller - Lansing,Eileen Keel - Lansing, Laura L. Lindow -St. Clair Shores, Joan L. Morrison -Northville, Mary Penzien - Auburn, JoyceE. Ried - Deckerville, Janet S. Walworth -Grand Blanc, and Margaret J. Warczak -Auburn Hills.

Names of the teachers who successfullyrenewed their national certification willbe published as the informationbecomes available. If you would likemore information of certification, pleasecontact the Executive Secretary, SallyLewis, at (231) 941-8938 or by e-mail:[email protected]

Sally A. LewisCertification Executive Secretary9766 Londolyn BluffTraverse City, MI 49686Phone: (231) 941-8938e-mail: [email protected]

STUDENTACHIEVEMENTTESTING UPDATESThe Student Achievement TestingCommittees bring you a fewreminders as you begin your fallpreparations for Student AchievementTesting.

For Piano Level 7 TechniquePlease check your SAT Handbook forthe Intervals, ascending anddescending from the tonic (p. 106 and110). We will be asking students thisyear to also play the descendingintervals. It has not been asked thisway on the previous tests, so please besure that your students are prepared toplay either up or down from the tonic.

Levels 4-10 RepertoirePlease be sure to check the dates of thecomposers to fit into correct musicalperiods. Even though some music isstylistically correct, for SAT, thecomposer must have lived during theappropriate period.

This requirement is for all students,regardless of whether they willparticipate in Semi-finals or Finals. Ifyou have a question, please consultwith your local chair, or with BarbaraCollins or Penny Draper, auditionschair. It is in the best interest of the

students to have this correct, so theydo not need to learn another piece atthe last minute, or worse yet, bedisqualified.

Sight Reading and Transposition AllLevelsRemember that students areencouraged to play the five-fingerpattern or scale and cadence in the keyof the piece and of the transpositionbefore sight reading and transposing.

Judges InstructionsThe instructions for the performancejudges as well as the testers of theory,aural awareness, technique and sightreading will be given to all local chairsin October. You may request copies ofthese which will help you to prepareyour students as to the way they willbe tested and graded.

Looking forward to another great yearof SAT. Please be in contact with yourlocal and state chairs about anyquestions or suggestions. We arealways eager to hear from you. Youteachers and your students are whatmake SAT such a wonderful program.

Barbara J. CollinsSAT Coordinator


DEADLINE

FOR THE

December

2004

MMT

IS

November 15th


PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE2004-2005

BAY AREA MUSIC TEACHERSASSOCIATION AND MIDLANDMUSIC TEACHERSASSOCIATION

Contact: Nina Frurip phone: (989) 631-9308

September 18 - 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Midland Center for the Arts Lecture Room

Box Lunch - 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $8.00Speaker: Marvin Blickenstaff

Topics: (1) Pedagogy Session: The End is the Beginning: Coaching a Piece to Performance (2) LiteratureSession: From Russia withLove: Intermediate Repertoireof Kabalevsky & Khatchaturian

Registration fee for non-members ofMidland or Bay Area Music TeachersAssociation $10.00. Registration at thedoor $15.00.

Members of Midland and Bay Area MusicTeachers Association must register but willnot be charged a registration fee.

HOLLAND PIANOTEACHERS FORUM

Contact: Jane Cronkite phone: (616) 392-4868e-mail: [email protected]

September 13 - 7:45 p.m.Nykerk Music Building, Wickers Auditorium

Speaker: Lisa KoopsTopic: Children’s Music and

Games of Gambia, Africa

October 11 - 7:45 p.m.Nykerk Music Building, Wickers Auditorium

Speaker: Stephanie BurrTopic: More Choices for Our

Students Guild & Federation

November 8 - 7:45 p.m.Nykerk Music Building, Wickers Auditorium

Speaker: Holland Forum MembersTopic: My Niche: What I Do

Well in My Studio

LIVONIA AREA PIANOTEACHERS FORUM

Contact: Rochelle Goldman phone: (248) 626-3890

October 6 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music, 15630 Middlebelt, Livonia

Speaker: Dr. Kazmierz BrzozowskiDirector InternationalFestival, Lublin, Poland

Topic: Dance Elements inChopin’s Compositions

November 3 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speakers: S. Goeffrey, B. Krachenburg,S. Rea, M. Siciliano,I. Vilensky

Topic: How Teachers Present PianoRepertoire To Their Students

December 1 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speaker: Joan HaggardTopic: Women & Composition

Through the Centuries

January 5 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speaker: Christina DragoneTopic: Jazz 101 for the Classically

Trained

February 2 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speaker: Alexandra Mascolo - David CMU

Topic: Master Class

March 2 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speaker: Dr. Steve Aldridge,Wright State University

Topic: Classicism in 19th & 20th Century Piano Repertoire

April 6 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Speaker: Catherine McMichael,U of M Flint & SaginawValley State University

Topic: First Steps in Improv& Composition

May 4 - 9:30 a.m.Hammell Music

Appe Winners Recital and AnnualMeeting followed by Luncheon.

METROPOLITAN DETROITMUSICIANS LEAGUE

Contact: Arvi Sinka phone: (248) 689-6932

September 27 - 10:00 a.m.Hammel Music, Bloomfield Hills

Speaker: Gerardo Ascheri

October 25 - 10:00 a.m.Hammel MusicSpeaker: Thomas Lymenstull

Topic: Teaching 20th Century Music

November 22 - 10:00 a.m.Hammel MusicSpeaker: Lesle Tung

Topic: Basics of Advanced Technique

PIANO TEACHERS FORUMOF GRAND RAPIDS

Contact: Pam Rush phone: (616) 956-3268e-mail: [email protected]

September 10 - 9:30 p.m.President’s Room, St. CeceliaSociety New Members Informal Coffee

Contact: Judy VanderArkphone: (616) 956-3268

October 8 - 9:30 a.m.Hosted with Music Department,Calvin College

Speaker: Kwang-Wu Kim,PresidentLongy School of Music,Cambridge, MA

Topic: A World of Opportunity: Helping Our Students to Stay Motivated

November 6 - 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. (2 sessions)Ballroom, St. Cecelia Society

Speaker: Randall Faber Workshop

Luncheon reservations available $20.00registration fee for guests.

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