|
|
|
| Submissions |
Complete submissions of articles, events or other piano themed features are welcome. All submissions are due by the 21st of each month to be considered for publication. Nuances Editor: Grant Billings c/o Steinway Piano Gallery 6629 Mineral Point Road Madison WI 53705
|
| Board Meeting UpDate |
The dates for several Board Meetings have been changed from those listed in the Directory. Board Meetings will be held on: January 25 March 1
May 24
The locations listed in the Directory are correct. |
| Spread The Love! |
Do you know someone who could benefit from joining MAPTA? Send them this issue of Nuances by clicking the link below.
|
|
|
|
President's Message
Debbie Yee | 
Greetings!
The "most wonderful time of the year" is upon us. All of our senses are stimulated during the month of December. Special baking stimulates our olfactory enjoyment. Lights and colorful decorations excite our visual delights. Cold and snow heightens our tactile sensations. Music specially written for this time of year captivates our aural senses.
As teachers of piano we are very fortunate to be essential for continuing the seasonal musical enjoyment which has been going on for ages. We provide students of all ages and abilities the skills to perform music from the past and from the present. We also give them the skills to create their own musical enjoyment for family and friends. And we provide them with the music which they can share with others.
Let us all enjoy this special gift we give to the continuation of the rich musical heritage at this time of year.
Debbie Yee |
|
General Meeting and Program Friday, Dec 10- 9:00 am
Christ Presbyterian Church | |
Diana Popowycz will presenting, "Initiation into Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Embodying Musical Knowledge through Movement." Dalcroze Eurhythmics is the study of music using our own body as the primary instrument. This study of movement systematically serves an educational purpose, a means to an end. It is education for music--we submit physically to what we hear. It is education through music where we train our manifold faculties: self awareness, balance timing, imagination to name a few. Be prepared to enjoy a short lesson in Eurhythmics, where we learn to move our bodies with energy through space and in time.
Diana Popowycz received her Certificate of Dalcroze Eurhythmics from Carnegie Mellon University and has done course work in Eurhythmics at Manhattan School of Music and the UW Madison. She has taught classes, chorali workshops, and clinics throughout the country, most recently at the South Carolina Music Teachers Association. She is a founder and faculty member of the Suzuki Strings of Madison where she teaches a weekly Eurhythmics course as part of SSM's music theory curriculum.Contact Stacy Regehr if you are bringing your children and would like to join in our childcare sharing system.
|
| Piano PlayTogether |
The world premier performance of composer Robert D. Vandall's piano ensemble piece "Fanfare CelebrationŠ". Conducted by Robert D. Vandall and performed at the Madison Area Piano Teachers Associated's 2010 Piano PlayTogether.
25 teachers and their students participated in the grand piano event. In addition to the 25 teachers, the area music businesses provided rehearsal space (Steinway Piano Gallery), pianos (Steinway Piano Gallery and Farley's) and the music for the event (Ward Brodt). It was wonderful sharing such grand music with so many individuals in an event that was superbly run by Jeanne Felix, Patty Ladpli and Diane Madsen.
Click here to view the performance
Thanks to Diane, Jeanne and Patty for all of your hard work!
|
|
|
|
|
Performers Supporting Performers Meeting Friday, Dec 17- 10:00 am
Deborah Ferris' home, Sun Prairie
|
We will start discussing the PSP Recital program.
Anyone interested in performing in an informal setting or just listening is welcome to attend. Please let Ruth know if you have music chosen.
The recital will be Sunday, Feb. 27, 2:00 p.m. at Capital Lakes Grand Hall.
|
|
Round Table Discussion Group Friday, Jan 14 - 9:00 am
Debbie Yee's home, 5718 Piping Rock Road, Madison
Judy Pasch
| |
Teaching is by nature a solitary experience and arguably a lonely profession. But teachers in a school system have a "Teacher's Lounge" whereas a piano teacher, weary from an evening of lessons, can find no sympathetic ear other than their spouses'.
The greatest resource Madison Area Piano Teachers (MAPTA) has is the teachers themselves. The collective insight and wisdom of the members is priceless. It is with this recognition that a small group of MAPTA members came together and began sharing their experiences and seeking advice on piano teaching.
On October 8th MAPTA members Jo Anna Grace, Cynthia Stephen, June Zeeh, Judy Pasch and Debbie Yee met at Yee's home for an official Roundtable Discussion. In the Yee home, a comfortable sofa replaced a "round table" in Yee's cozy piano studio environment. The topic for discussion was Musical Games Used to Encourage Learning.
Yee shared with the group the games she has incorporated over her 35 years of piano teaching. Yee borrows concepts from popular game shows ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire") and board games such "Candy Land." With simplicity in mind, Yee creates "spinner" games that employ music theory and history, piano technique, and listening skills. Multiple-choice games with monetary incentives, often leads to student involving families and friends in musical learning challenges. Other games discussed included standard teaching materials, e.g., flashcards and "Musopoly" available through catalogue companies such as Friendship House or music supply stores such as Ward Brodt in Madison.
If anyone has a special topic for the next meeting, please email Debbie Yee.
|
|
MAPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, Jan 25, 2011 - 8:30- 10:30 am
Farley's House of Pianos, 6522 Seybold Rd, Madison
|
|
|
Upcoming... Honors Festival
Helga Swatzak
| |
It is our honor to co-chair the Honors Festival 2011. Although it is still early, we would like to encourage you to start thinking of any students you might have, 10 - 18 year olds, who might want to work towards the auditions taking place on Saturday, February 19th, 2011. Students may play one or two pieces from memory within a 10-minute time slot for two wonderful guest judges. We highly encourage the preparation of unique and imaginative repertoire by lesser known composers, and look forward to an exciting Honors Recital on Sunday, March 6th. Click here for the 2011 Registration Form
Janet Smith & Helga Swatzak
|
|
Free Pianos for Needy Students - Deadline Wednesday, Dec 15
| |
 Keyboard, old piano or no piano? If you know of any students who need a good piano but can't afford one, the Steinway Piano Society can help. In cooperation with the Wisconsin Foundation for School Music, the SPS Piano Bank makes free pianos available to qualifying students. The deadline for applications is approaching! For more information or to receive an application, contact Andrea Mauch at (608) 850-3566.
|
|
Key-Up-for-Kids Piano Playathon Saturday, Feb 12- 9 am - 5 pm
Hilldale Shopping Center, Midvale Blvd
|
 Piano teachers should have received a personal letter from Madison Area Friends of Piano that has the letter to piano teachers, to piano students and parents, a poster for the Playathon and the pledge sheet. If you did not get this mailing, please contact Renee Farley and one will be mailed to you. Read about the wonderful way this event helps children and also brightens the public's hearts seeing so many piano students playing for such a good cause. MAFOP thanks all of you for encouraging your students to participate. If you've never done this event before, how about starting in 2011? The students raised over $10,000 this past February. This is the 19th Playathon held at Hilldale Shopping Center. Hilldale merchants received a letter a month ago inviting them to donate in some way and several have already responded.
Signing up for a block of time is done by contacting Joanna Grace, at (608) 663-0257.
|
|
MAPTA Continuing Ed Scholarships | |
Scholarship funds are available to MAPTA members for attendance at non-MAPTA events, such as regional and national conferences, events, etc. $500 has been allocated for such scholarships for the 2010-11 year.
A teacher must fill out this form and forward it to the Vice President (currently Dr. Gloria Chuang). Upon board approval and following the event, the member will submit an article for Nuances (about 200 words) and make a short presentation about the content at a MAPTA General Meeting. Recipients will be reimbursed after submission of the article, and completion of presentation.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about piano teaching, and gain valuable knowledge which can in turn be shared within our MAPTA community!
|
|
Madison Symphony Bolz Young Artist Competition: Final Forte March 16, 2011
Overature Hall Michelle |
The Bolz Young Artist Competition brings young musicians from across the state to Madison to compete for top honors. The competition is open to 9th-12th grade Wisconsin students who play violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, piano, percussion, saxophone, organ and classical guitar.
After preliminary rounds have pared the field down to four finalists, the MSO, in partnership with Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television, presents Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte, a free concert in Overture Hall with live and later broadcasts throughout the state. Judges are present to choose the two top winners.
|
| November Events Recap! | |
November General Meeting. Twenty-eight teachers attended a most enlightening and entertaining general meeting presented by our very own Dr. Denise Taylor.
|
| Board Meeting Minutes Nov 2 | |
Minutes from the preceeding Board Meeting are published in Nuances in accordance with the bylaws.
November 2, 2010, 8:30 am, Steinway Gallery
Present: Anita Schulz, Debbie Yee, Joanna Grace, June Zeeh, Jeanne Felix, Denise Taylor, Shad Wenzlaff, Renee Farley, Gloria Chuang, Janet Smith, Grant Billings, Patty Ladpli
- Minutes read from September 28 meeting by Denise. Approved.
- Treasurer's Report: MAPTA Total Assets are $11,756.53. Income in October totals $1,025 from Young Artist Recitals, Membership, and fall workshop fees. Expenses in October are $768.55 for fall workshop and PPT license.
- Fall workshop: Gloria reported that 25 people were in attendance. Speaker was Kenneth Drake. All who were in attendance agree it was an excellent workshop.
- Programs: November and December programs set, should be great. Discussion about recording programs or at the least include a summary of the previous program in the following Nuances.
- Next PSP at Judy Ferreri's house November 19, 10 am.
- EMR: No submission from Dave at Ward Brodt. Shad volunteered to submit to Nuances from the Helen Marlais workshop.
- Nuances/Communications: Office Live - please keep original format that can be edited (such as Word document, not .pdf). Only .pdf docs should be submitted to Nuances.
- Website: Website designer Michael was contacted about creating a new architecture for our website but no changes have been made. He has dropped the ball. At the moment the website is not functioning the way it should be. (If a new member needs to read Nuances, either forward the email or click at the top of the Nuances email which will send you to the webpage that archives Nuances. At this point Nuances is more updated than the website.) Janet Smith's son-in-law is a website designer, maybe he could take on the project. Grant wants to get multiple bids for the website design, $1500-2000 budget. Time frame: finished by late summer (some members suggested to shoot for May 15 in time for next year's membership drive). The goal is to make the website easier to update so it will become updated much more frequently. Debbie suggested we have something ready in time for the January 11 board meeting. Grant agreed to this time frame.
- Publicity: Joanna is available at home if anyone has questions. There will be MAPTA bags available at PPT rehearsals for a donation. The board has many ideas for using any extra bags. Re: PPT publicity: Diane is pursuing television coverage and will know right before the event whether or not we'll get some.
- Referral: Linda is getting lots of calls but the website hasn't been updated so she's currently mailing an updated list rather than refer them to the website. Shad noted that referral will incur extra expenses, there's a budget of $150.
- Honors Festival: The admission forms will be in the December/January Nuances. The charges to the two churches for the facilities would like payment just after the holidays (confirmation that they should submit forms to June). The Smiths are hosting one of the judges to help reduce expenses. June Zeeh is willing to do the certificates again this year. Both judges will hear everybody, which may necessitate adding Friday night as an option. Board feels that Honors should plan for a Friday night also.
- Young Artist Recital: Next recital is Sunday November 7, registration is now closed for it.
- PPT: The logistics of seating has been a real challenge due to more than 220 students participating. They have it all figured out. Jeanne requested that MAPTA subsidizes a very casual lunch for the teachers on the Saturday rehearsal in Oregon. This would include lunch for Robert Vandall and give the teachers an opportunity to socialize with him. There was a synchronization license fee in order to put the premiere of Fanfare Celebration onto YouTube. Permission from parents has been requested, no children's names will be listed on the web. Diane is organizing Robert Vandall's schedule for his visit.
- Scholarship: Shad is revamping the scholarship form in order to remove the ambiguity from the scholarship and make it very clear the timeline for receiving scholarship and the obligation to give a synopsis to MAPTA and submit a summary to MATPA in response to the funding. Grant proposed it be changed to a "grant", not "scholarship" since it is not used for academic purposes.
- Pro Goals: There is no November meeting due to the PPT event. Next meeting is the third Tuesday in January at Ward Brodt.
- Membership: Two new members. We have a total of 77 members, 62 active, 9 associate, 3 institutional, 3 honorary lifetime members. (There are more HLMs but only 3 wanted to be listed in the booklet.)
- Nominating Committee: Grant has agreed to be the chairperson of the Nominating Committee. Looking for people willing to serve on this committee from general membership. Board members should submit names to Grant very soon, so the committee can be announced in the December Nuances.
- New Business: Cynthia Stephan proposes some compensation for Executive Board Members. Her proposal reads as follows: WHEREAS MAPTA is a professional organization, many professional organizations compensate their executive board members, and the executive board members have year round, weekly duties. Cynthia is changing the second half of her statement distributed at the meeting to read: THEREFORE I RECOMMEND THAT: There be a committee to look into compensating any executive board or board member who puts in regular monthly duties be given some form of compensation. In particular, she believe the President, Treasurer and Nuances editor puts in regular weekly and monthly hours. It would be appropriate to compensate these board members.
Discussion: Anita is taking a stand up front that she is "vehemently and violently" opposed to it. It's too difficult to be fair in compensating multiple members. She would like this to remain a volunteer organization, in the spirit of volunteerism. Grant suggests reconsidering hiring an executive director.
Cynthia suggests the committee include researching what other organizations do. Cynthia moved to form a committee, Gloria seconded it. Motion was approved, Cynthia will be chair of this committee. Volunteers to join this committee: Debbie, Gloria, Grant. Cynthia will also solicit members to join the committee in Nuances.
- New Business: Grant would like the recording policy to be put into the next Nuances. Fine.
- New Business: June passed a sympathy card for Barbara Zanoni who recently lost her husband.
- Meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Taylor, Secretary
|
| Board Meeting Minutes Nov 9 | |
Minutes from the preceeding Board Meeting are published in Nuances in accordance with the bylaws.
Called to order 10:35 am.
- Previous meeting minutes accepted.
- Treasurer's Report: Total assets $11,756.53, expenses for October $768.55, income $1,026.76. Treasurer's report approved.
- Fall workshop in October was very successful.
- Program: Thanks to Denise for today's program. May brunch is now settled - Howard and Frances Karp will play 4-hand music. 2nd Tuesday in May. Next meeting is 2nd FRIDAY in December.
- PSP meets one week from Friday November 19, 10 am at Judy Ferreri's house.
- Nuances: Be sure to get any submission to Grant Billings by the 21st of the month. Two comments about getting a printer-friendly copy and keeping all MAPTA submissions at the top of the newsletter.
- Website: We are in the process of finding a new website director. Our current consultant has moved to Minneapolis and has stopped updating the site. Debbie will pursue getting access so we can put an update that the site is under construction.
- Publicity for PPT has been submitted to the Isthmus and Square 77. MAPTA tote bags should arrive any day, in time for PPT. Joanna has found some oversized postcards with old MAPTA logo - what to do with these?
- Referral: Linda Johnson is mailing the referral list out to anybody who requests, via the Trac Phone. Website referral list is not currently working.
- Honors: Janet not here for a report.
- Young Artist Recital: This Sunday is the next one - 12 students registered. 6 students at last recital.
- Piano PlayTogether: First rehearsal this Sunday. All participating teachers should have received instructions for their duties for the rehearsals and performance. There is major construction for on the highway to Oregon, so all students will be given directions for alternate routes at the rehearsal this Sunday (which is at the Steinway Gallery) to prepare them for the following weekend's rehearsals. MAPTA is providing a lunch on Saturday November 20 for participating teachers and Robert Vandall. Last week Diane received a box of sheet music that Robert Vandall will be signing and MAPTA will be able to provide a complimentary autographed piece of music.
- Masterclass coordinated with Union April 20-21. Nothing set in stone but start thinking about this.
- Next Pro Goals meeting will be 3rd Tuesday in January, allowing a little break for the work that's been for PPT.
- Membership update: 77 members, 62 active, 9 associate, 3 institution, 3 HLM.
- Nominating committee: the new by-laws says the slate needs to come out in January Nuances, election is in February. Executive board positions available: President, Vice President, Treasurer. Denise will remain as Secretary. Grant is chair of nominating committee, we need two members from general membership to agree to serve on the committee.
- Second roundtable discussion this Friday at Debbie Yee's house. Topic: Motivation The first roundtable was last month, attended by 5 teachers.
- Meeting adjourned 11:10 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Taylor, Secretary
|
|
The Final Note Grant Billings |
 My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require. ~Edward Elgar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
