Last month's meeting featuring Ellen Winner, speaking about The Effects of Instrumental Music Training on Children's Brain and Cognitive Development was fascinating and thought provoking.  Dr. Winner was engaging as she welcomed questions from the audience and ideas and recommendations for future studies.  Clearly this is a field that warrants further research, and I'm sure the results will continue to confirm what a valuable influence we have in the lives of young students.  Please click on this link to find beautifully prepared notes by NEPTA's recording secretary, Linda Vieira.  

 

At this same meeting, the audience was treated to a brief retrospective talk by former NEPTA President, Irene Golan, as we continue to celebrate the 60^th anniversary season.  I particularly loved hearing Irene's account of her experiences serving as Program Chair, accommodating speakers in her home while juggling the demands of a teaching and family life.  NEPTA has always played a very important role in Irene's life, and clearly, the feeling is reciprocated by so many, as she is a pillar of our organization. 

 

Warm Regards,

Lydia Reed-Guertin

President

I hope you will all join me at the next Teachers' Exchange meeting on April 11, 2011 at the Wellesley Free Library as our invited panelists share their ideas and strategies for working with students with disabilities.  Maria-Pia Antonelli, long time NEPTA member and a retired teacher from the Perkins School for the Blind will share her experiences, Christina Dietrich, a new member of NEPTA, will speak about her discoveries and successes in relating to students with Autism, and Betty Reed, NEPTA's Executive Secretary and Mentoring Chair, will focus on hand disorders relating to double joints and unusual hand shape.  This should be a wonderful exchange, as we learn more about enriching the musical lives of these extraordinary students.

Janet Ainsworth, student Masterclass chair and member of the Senior Recital committee, has been very busy preparing the last details for the student Masterclass to be held on Monday, April 25, 9:30 AM at the First Parish of Watertown.  Our master teacher, Roberto Poli, Artist in Residence and co-chair of the piano department at the Rivers School Conservatory faculty member of the New England Conservatory's Preparatory School will join us for the first time in this role, and it promises to be a fantastic morning of music and coaching.  The following students and repertoire will be featured on the program:

 

Angelique Scully 14, student of Tanya Schwartzman

Sonata No.16 in G major, Opus 31 No.1, Allegro Vivace  Beethoven

 

Kyuil Lee 16, student of Wanda Paik

Années de Pelerinage 2nd year:Sonetto del Petrarca No.104  Liszt

 

Yong Murray 16, student of Niva Fried

Fantasy in F minor, Opus 49  

Chopin

MILDRED FREIBERG COMPETITION WINNERS     

   

       Competition Judges: Max Levinson, Eileen Hutchins and Robert Levin

   

Congratulations go to the following winners of the Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston adjudicated by Robert D. Levin, Eileen Hutchins, and Max Levinson:

 

First Place:  Angelique Scully  

Student of Tanya Schwartzman

 

Second Place:  Daniel Shaar 

Student of  Natalia Harlap

 

Third Place:

Rick Jeet Gangopadhyay

Student of Eleanor McLaughlin

Colleen Campbell, Irina Gelman and Ta   Irina Gelman, chair of the middle school competition reported that it was a very competitive year with 12 participants, and a full schedule of auditions.  Irina spent hours of dedicated time and effort, in planning all of the details, and coordinating schedules between students and judges, and I am very appreciative of her commitment and volunteer support of this important student event, along with the assistance of Tanya Shrago and NEPTA Vice President Colleen Campbell.   Lastly, congratulations and bravo to all the winners' teachers!   We look forward to hearing their performances at the Award's Recital.

Link to the Luncheon Application Form   

 

I'm very excited to announce that this year's luncheon has been changed from "Porcini's" to "The Talk" Restaurant (http://www.thetalkrestaurant.com ) located just a few blocks away and within easy walking distance of the First Parish.  Being a new restaurant in the area, Nina Grimaldi and Janice Zaganjori Paratore investigated the location, menu and price and came up with outstanding menu selections, and lowering the cost by $1.00.  Over the February break and without telling the staff of my secret NEPTA mission, I had dinner with my husband and another couple at The Talk, and I was very impressed with the ambiance and food.  I hope you will all join me on May 23, as I celebrate the end of my term as President and pass the torch onto Colleen Campbell.   Please note the deadline to send in the form to Nina Grimaldi is: May 6, 2011. 

NEPTA members can renew their dues online for the 2011-2012 program at  www.nepta.info through the secure PayPal site or download the registration form and mail with a check to Lindsey Robb, our NEPTA Treasurer. The deadline to be included in the printed directory is May 31, 2011.  

 

Now that most of you have completed your 2010 taxes, it's not too early to think of donations and write offs for next year.  Please consider donating to the NEPTA Scholarship fund and support our organizational efforts as you renew your dues.  It is through this generous spirit that NEPTA has been able to provide aid to many students, either in recognition of their talents, or facilitating the financial commitment that several families are unable to afford, especially in these uncertain economic times. 

Step 1: Go to the NEPTA website and click on the "Pay Your Dues" link (down the page on the right).

 

Log in (create a password if it is your first time)

 

Update any information in the form.  

 

Add your name and information to the teacher referral list if you are interested in getting student referrals.

 

Click "Continue"  

 

Step 2: Check that the information is correct

 

To pay with a credit card, click "Pay Dues" and proceed to Step 3

 

OR To pay by check: look at the bottom of the page and find this text: "If you prefer to pay by check, click here to download the dues form."  

 

Step 3: (Credit card payment) This will bring you to a shopping cart on PayPal, where you will see your membership type and amount due.

 

If you wish to make a donation to the NEPTA Scholarship Fund, click on "Continue Shopping".

 

Fill out the form

 

Click on Donate to NEPTA Scholarship Fund

 

Click "Pay Dues to PayPal"

 

If you do not wish to make a donation at this time

Click "Pay Dues to PayPal"   

 

Step 4: Click on "Proceed to Checkout"

 

Enter credit card information

 

Click on "Review Order and Continue"

 

Step 5: Click on "Pay Now"  

 

Step 6: Midway down page

 

Click on "View Printable Receipt" if you want a receipt (you will also receive one by email)

 

MOST IMPORTANT: Click on "Attention! You must click here to complete your NEPTA payment". This last step updates the NEPTA database, showing the date of your renewal.  

 

Step 7:  FIND A TEACHER

If you have updated your information and checked that you want referrals from the website, click on the "Find a Teacher" link at the top of the page and put your zip code in the form at the bottom. You should see your listing, with all the information you added to the form. Want to add more or change something? Just go back and update your information. If you no longer want referrals, go back and update your information by removing the checkmark in the checkbox "Do you want referrals from the website?".