February 2010
Calendar at a Glance
February 9th 9:00 - 10:00 Board Meeting
10:00 - 11:00 General Meeting
11:00 - 12:00 Program - Teacher Performances
President’s Message
Dear Colleagues,
If you were unable to join us last month to be inspired by the fine guitar music of Steve Kuykendall, I hope that you will take time this month to nourish yourself by listening to another musical performance. Whether it's classical or jazz or some genre you can't even put a name to, fine music is fine music and does much to lift us up, give us hope, and revitalize us.
With the busy months ahead, I know I appreciate, all the more, reminders of why what we do is so important.
As I write this, some of our fellow teachers are practicing away to present next month's program. I hope you can join us. In addition we will be voting on the important matter of changing the date of when we hold the Piano Celebration. Please see the survey at the end of this letter, and carefully consider how you will cast your vote. Thank-you for all you do to keep our Branch moving ahead, providing quality instruction to students and teachers alike.
Please read the following and carefully consider how you will vote at the February meeting. It's not too late to return your survey.
Piano Celebration — Fall 2010???
At our last two meetings there was some discussion about changing the Piano Celebration to a fall event, beginning Fall 2010. Because this event is a major fund raiser for our organization, we want to carefully consider the matter. We are very interested in the opinions of our members, and ask that you take time to give us your feedback on the survey at the end of this article.
Below is a list of pros and cons that are committee developed. Feel free to add your comments at the end of the survey.
Pros
— even out our events calendar
— goal/focal point for repertoire in fall
— students will learn more literature
— CSUF has a lighter calendar in the fall
— might inspire summer study
Cons
— CSUF football schedule (makes traffic/parking impacted)
— soccer and football/marching band season
— earlier in the year could mean less preparation time for the student
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Please cut and paste your responses in an email and send to Tina Carter.
Piano Celebration Survey……
1. Does your studio currently participate in Piano Celebration?
2. If yes, how many students do you typically enter?
3. If the Piano Celebration is held in early November, would your studio participate?
3a. If not, why not?
4. Would the number of students you enroll increase, decrease or remain the same?
5. Additional comments/considerations -
Many Thanks,
Tina |
Current Piano Celebration News
We are looking forward to an exciting event for our students the weekend of February 20th and 21st. Registrations are in and there are over 300 students participating again this year! Teacher packets with student evaluation times and teacher work schedules will be mailed out the first week of February. Please note that any student scheduling conflicts should first be handled within your own studio times. If that is not possible, the DEADLINE to submit EVALUATION TIME CHANGES is (POSTMARKED) NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 10th!!!
Thank you for honoring this deadline as Beth is working very hard to fill many scheduling requests from approximately 30 teachers. This year, the students receiving Superior and Excellent ratings will be awarded medals and students receiving any other rating will receive very nice Grand Piano Pins. Also, every student participating will receive a certificate, as usual. We look forward to working together to make this a very special event for our students.
Questions? Contact Jean Wilkins.
Website Information
Dear MTAC Fresno County Branch Members,
Hope you're all doing well! As has been mentioned in the last several meetings, we are building a new website, www.mtacfresno.org. I'd like to include a directory, similar to what is in our yearbook, to post online. It will include the following:
Your Name Phone Number Email City & Zip (NOT STREET ADDRESS)
Unless I hear from you, I will include ALL of the above. I've already heard from a couple of you who are not comfortable with having your email address posted, but will leave the other information. This is fine: those in charge of Student Placement will be at the top of the page, so even if only your name is listed, interested browsers will be able to contact you.
Please let me know ASAP, and please check out our brand-new www.mtacfresno.org!
Sincerely,
Sarah A Carter
Corresponding Secretary and Website
webmaestro@mtacfresno.org
559.291.8002
Announcements
ASCAP - Calling all Recital Programs!
The State Office requires us to send in our recital programs so that composers whose works are performed in our studio recitals can receive compensation. Please bring your printed programs to our monthly meetings so they can be sent on to the State Office.
Korean-born pianist Joyce Yang, Silver Medalist of the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will appear in recital for the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts series on Friday, February 5, at 8 p.m. in the CSUF Concert Hall. She will be replacing Mikhail Rudy who had to cancel his North American tour due to a hand injury. Ms. Yang's program consists of works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Schumann, and contemporary composers Lowell Lieberman and Carl Vine. As always, pupils of MTA members will receive complimentary tickets if their teachers leave a message at 278-2337.
A special event of the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts series (not part of the subscription series) will feature pianist Vahan Mardirossian (Paris) and cellist Alexander Chaushian (London) in a duo recital on Friday, February 26, at 8 p.m. in the CSUF Concert Hall. Their program consists of works by Debussy, Shostakovich, and Franck. Also for this special concert, pupils of MTA members will receive complimentary tickets if their teachers leave a message at 278-2337.
The Fresno State Piano Majors are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth with a marathon recital including many of the composer's sonatas, ballades, scherzi, polonaises, nocturnes, impromptus, etudes, mazurkas, and other works. The event takes place in the CSUF Wahlberg Recital Hall on Sunday, February 28 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 general and $2 for students.
San Joaquin Valley TOWN HALL Lecture Series
PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ARTS, Robert Fitzpatrick
February 17, 2010
Tickets $20
For Additional Information, click here
Submitted by John Hord
Pacific Artist Series February 25, 2010, 7:30 PM
Michener Duo: Jane Shelly, flute and Walter Saul, piano. McDonald Hall Atrium, Fresno Pacific University, $10 general admission, $7 seniors and students.
Pacific Artist Series March 20, 2010 7:30 PM
Joanna Hersey, tuba. McDonald Hall Atrium, Fresno Pacific University, $10 general admission, $7 seniors and students.
FRESNO PACIFIC SUMMER MUSIC CAMP - for middle school, junior high, and senior high music students ages 11-19 as of September 1, 2010. Dates: June 20 - 25, 2010, on the Fresno Pacific Universitywalter.saul@fresno.edu. campus. For information, email
VOCE
Four clarinet students, of member Wilbert Rimper, will be participating in the VOCE Competitions coming up on February 14th, at the Crowden School of Music, Berkeley.
Organ Concert presented by the Fresno State Music Aumni and Friends, featuring former Fresno Branch member Hsiao-Ching Chao, doctoral organ student at USC. Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. CSUF Concert Hall. General Admission $10, Seniors and Students $5. Proceeds toward CSUF MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP. Featuring the music of: Bach, Boellman, Bruhns, Mendelssohn, and Locklair.
Member Information. Joyce Williams has a new e-addressJoyceWilliams88@comcast.net
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS THE 20th OF EVERY MONTH. Entries made after the deadline are not guaranteed to be included.
Please see the next page for important membership information
VERY IMPORTANT: STATE MEMBERSHIP DUES POLICY
Dear MTAC Members:
Did you know that at midnight on July 31, 2010, your membership in MTAC will automatically expire (as if by magic) within our database, UNLESS your 2010 membership dues have been received at the State Office? It’s true! Even more importantly, this expiration will trigger a “lockout” of your ID number so that you (and your students) will be excluded from CM registration and CM participation for the coming academic year.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY FOR THE CM EXCLUSION IS TO PAY MEMBERSHIP DUES BY THE FINAL DEADLINE OF JULY 31st.
As usual, the dues invoices will be mailed to our members in mid-April, allowing an ample time frame of more than 15 weeks (prior to 7/31) in which to submit payment and retain a membership in good standing. Nevertheless, our membership dues are always “due upon receipt.” If you are planning an extensive summer retreat or feel you may accidentally forget, a wise policy might be to pay upon receipt. Otherwise, please plan to calendar the date of July 31st. Our State Board and State Office does not want YOU or any other member to incur the penalty for late payment!
According to policy, if you have missed the July 31st deadline, you may still reinstate and will be able to enjoy participation in branch activities and other State Program (except CM) which have deadlines later than your reinstatement date.
Wishing you the very best,
Carol Oaks
State Membership Secretary
