September 2010

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
Accidentally delete an issue of your WMMTA eNews? Not to worry! You can click here to view all of the eNews archives on the WMMTA website now.

TEACHERS NEEDED!
If you have any openings in your studio, please let WMMTA Referral Chairperson, Margaret Dietz, know (whd9@juno.com or 722-2554). We are receiving calls from families looking for teachers and want to make sure we have a current list of potential teachers to whom we can refer them. Thanks!

FESTIVAL SPONSORS
We are so grateful for the following organizations that sponsored our Back to the Future Festival!

Bethel College

Cargill Cares

Mid-America Piano

Senseney Music

WMMTA Kickoff Workshop Report
On Friday, Aug. 27, WMMTA held it's gala KICK-OFF WORKSHOP to get the school year started with new ideas, activities, and enthusiasm! Judy Harrison did a fabulous job of putting together a cornucopia of activities that provided inspiration for all!


The event began in the balcony of Reformation Lutheran with a choral rendition of "Tony Chestnut."	Next up was a time of ensemble playing from the wonderful Lynn Freeman Olson collection called, "A Folk Gathering." Here, Carol, Laurel, and Lexi perform the piano parts.	Justin, ?, Sally, Julie, Sylvia, and Karen make up the rhythm ensemble.

Next up, Annetta, Corinn, and Karen took their seats at the piano.	Carolyn, Debbie, Jeannette, and Marlene supply the rhythm parts on this one!	Now Abigail, Andy, Julie, and Deborah take a turn on the rhythm parts.

Debra, Natalie, and Megan are the piano trio for this rendition.	The ensembles were followed with a presentation from Sally (assisted by Julie!) on the priceless benefits of being a WMMTA member. Then there was an open sharing time of ideas and points of interest from the KMTA conference in June.	Next up: dinner! The vast array of scrumptious dishes provided a delectable meal for every palate!

The meal was followed by a presentation from Natalie Wickham on "Creative Collaboration: Making Every Lesson Come Alive!" Then the evening concluded with a generous distribution of door prizes supplied by local businesses. What a grand start to a new year of teaching!

Nurturing Creativity and Inspiration
Friday, September 17, 9:30-11:30 am, Senseney Music.

The Wichita Area Piano Teachers League has graciously invited WMMTA members to join them for their September program featuring Wendy Stevens and her compositions.

Wendy Stevens talks about the inspiration and creative process of her new Hal Leonard publications for students and how to apply this to your teaching.
Do you feel you lack creativity or inspiration in your teaching? Do you need an inspirational boost but don't know where to find it? Do you struggle to be creative in teaching new concepts? Do you feel you are stuck in a rut?
If so, please join us in a practical workshop on nurturing creativity and inspiration in your life and your teaching.

Wendy Stevens will be sharing about how composers are not the only "creatives" in music. Every human possesses creativity and can learn to utilize their creative potential in ways that are unique to their personality and ambition. Wendy will talk about how she found the inspiration for her latest books and how she brainstorms for creative ideas in her composing. She will demonstrate how the same creative and inspirational process can be used by teachers to solve student problems, create fresh activities for teaching, and connect with students.

Wendy Stevens is the composer of 13 collections and solos published by Hal Leonard, Augsburg Fortress, and Concordia Publishing House. Her newest publications are Returning to the Piano and American Portraits, published by Hal Leonard.

Jazz Pianist to Give Concert on September 3rd!

On September 3, the Wichita Jazz Festival will be holding a fund-raising concert featuring solo pianist Eldar Djangirov, at 8:00PM in the Wiedemann Recital Hall Theatre on the campus of Wichita State University. Admission will be $25 and with $15 tickets for students available at the door. Tickets will go on sale at the WSU box office on August 16.

"When Eldar Djangirov was signed to Sony Classical at the age of 17, the young pianist from Kansas City was already well known for his prodigious pyrotechnics and precocious knowledge of the bebop tradition. Along the way, he's had the good fortune to meet and/or work with the masters including Dr. Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland, Dave Brubeck, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, etc. Through these opportunities and other wonderful musical experiences, Eldar continues to explore new frontiers through composing and performing, enabling him to ultimately to realize his own musical vision.

Eldar came to the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union when he was ten. His first performance here was at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. He quickly then moved up the ranks and was featured on the NPR Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz show at the age of twelve."

Fall Auditions Recital

Students who are participating in the KMTA District Auditions are invited to perform in a recital in Newman University's Rehearsal Hall on Saturday, September 25 at 3:00 p.m. To register for the recital, download a form from the WMMTA website and send it by email or US mail by September 18. Due to the maximum time allowance for entry, no late entries can be accepted. If you have questions, contact Sally Buxton.

Member News

WMMTA is now on Facebook!
Join the new WMMTA Facebook group to connect with other members, share news and ideas, post pictures, and more! Since the eNews is only issed once a month, this will be a great outlet for disseminating items of interest to other WMMTA members.

Cellist Needed

Katie Weiss is looking for a cellist to play for her wedding in October. If you know of someone who might be interested in this opportunity, please have them contact Katie at 316-258-9396. Thanks!

A Year of Collaborative Music

MTNA has proclaimed this a year of celebrating music making in society and the profession worldwide. Read the YCM (Year of Collaborative Music) flyer to learn about local activities you and your students may enjoy. Here is a calendar of those events:
o Fall: YCM evening for students
o January 22: The International Day of Collaborative Music celebration for WMMTA teachers
o Early Spring: YCM evening for students
o March 6: Collaborative recital: Dr. Julie Bees and former teacher in a piano four-hands recital
o March 12-13: Festival of Collaborative music for WMMTA students
o March 17: Collaborative recital: Leon Fleisher and a string quartet in recital at WSU

Music Progressions News

The Resource Handbook has been updated on the KMTA website with a corrected Level Nine Scale Reference page, the addition of Level 1 and 2 Scale Reference pages, and a revised table of contents to reflect the additions.

Southwestern College Seeks Admissions Recruiter

Position: Admissions Recruiter

Responsibilities: This position is responsible for increasing the number of students who come to the college to participate in its Fine Arts programs and in Discipleship Southwestern (a service learning program). As such, the employee will be expected to increase the number of student applications, cultivate and maintain a portfolio of 60 students to matriculation, and increase the number of activity grants (scholarships) awarded for programs in the Fine Arts and for Discipleship Southwestern. The ability to build effective relationships is vital to the success of this position. The employee will be expected to provide weekly reports to the Director of Admissions, the Division Chair of Fine Arts and the Division Chair of Social Sciences, ensure that faculty members connect to hot prospects, and expand critical contacts in public schools, community colleges, and churches.

Qualifications: Master's degree preferred, Bachelor's degree required; experience with sales through Facebook and other social media tools; outstanding written and oral communications skills; experience with teaching, arts administration, or event promotion a plus.

Supervision: This is an 12 month contract position reporting to both the Director of Admissions and the Division Chair of Fine Arts.

Salary: Around $30,000/year.

Contact: Tim Shook for additional information.

July 16 Board Meeting Minutes

President Laura Vollen opened the meeting in the home of Marlene Hallstrom on Friday, July 16 at 9:20 AM. Present were Marlene Hallstrom, Margaret Dietz, Judy Harrison, Megan Desmarais, Natalie Wickham, Sally Buxton and Laura Vollen.

Acting Recording Secretary, Sally Buxton reviewed the minutes from the June 1 board meeting. Natalie moved to accept the minutes, Margaret seconded
and the motion was approved.

Treasurer, Marlene Hallstrom gave a recap of transactions in both accounts for
2009-2010. She presented a budget worksheet to be completed by the board
for 2010-2011. The board set a proposed budget which will be approved
through email.

First Vice-President/Programs Chair, Judy Harrison presented the program
schedule for 2010-2011. The board helped to finalize dates and events for the
coming year.

Past-President/Newsletter and Website Chair, Natalie Wickham asked for
members to submit newsletter material 1 week prior to the end of each month.

Continuing Education Chair, Sally Buxton reported that Michal Rector had
completed her NCTM certification and applied for a certification scholarship.
Sally moved that we accept Michal’s request for the scholarship and Marlene
seconded the motion. The motion carried.

New Business
The board began to make plans for the 2011 festival. Marlene Hallstrom will
chair the event. The theme is “Making Music Together” and it will be held in
March 2011.

Natalie moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 PM. Judy seconded and the
motion was approved.

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 at least one week prior to October 1st.