The Annual Meeting and Awards Recital featuring performances by NEPTA's competition winners will be held on Monday, May 24, 9:30am, at the First Parish in Watertown.  The business portion of the morning will precede the concert including the following important announcement submitted by nominating committee chair, Peg Bachelder:       

The Nominating Committee presents the following slate of nominees for officers for 2011-2013:

                  President:  Colleen Campbell of Wellesley

                  Vice-President:  Irina Gelman of Brighton

                  Executive Secretary:  Eleanor McLaughlin of Sudbury

                  Recording Secretary:  Linda Vieira of Acton                 

                  Treasurer:  Lindsey Robb of Roslindale

For Board for the term of 2011-2014, the nominees are:

                  Sivan Etedgee of Newton

                  Ranko Konishi-Houston of Cambridge

                  Houry Schmeizl of Chelmsford

Our NEPTA music sale is back for the last time this year, once again graciously organized by Ruth Ross, Music Library and Donations Chair.   Please join us prior to the May 23 meeting at the First Parish starting at 9:00am.  Members are asked to bring their checkbooks and any music that they are willing to donate that morning.  Music on sale will include some collections from our NEPTA Music Library that Ruth is gradually disbanding with prices ranging from $1.00-$2.00.   The sale serves three purposes, one being teachers have access to music that perhaps has gone out of print, secondly standard teaching methods and collections can be acquired at a very reasonable price, and lastly  all the proceeds go directly to the NEPTA Scholarship Fund.  Please direct any questions to Ruth Ross at rrosspiano@aol.com.

Would you like to advertise your private studio or compositions? As a NEPTA member, you will receive a discount on one eighth (1/8) page size ads for your own teaching or compositions ($30 instead of $40)

NEPTA, the largest and most active piano teachers' organization in New England, is preparing its 2011-2012 programs for the season. The program booklet includes our calendar of events with accompanying advertising which is beneficial to our members. This booklet is distributed throughout New England - to a membership of over 300, to music schools, businesses and libraries in the area. As an advertiser, you will receive wide circulation, an up-to-date membership listing and a complimentary copy of the 2011-2012 booklet.

Orders must be postmarked by Friday, June 10th, 2011. Please make checks payable to NEPTA, INC. and download and return the order form as soon as possible to Nina Grimaldi.   

Dues must be paid by May 31^st to be included in next year's Directory and to avoid a $10.00 Late Fee. With the exception of all Honorary Members, you must renew online with a credit card or by sending a check with a paper form, but first you must check/update your information through the website.   In addition, 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 new 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. Don't want referrals any more, go back and update your information by removing the checkmark in the checkbox "Do you want referrals from the website?"

Due to the treacherous weather this past winter, invited past President Joan Reddy was unable to personally deliver her talk regarding the 60th anniversary retrospective. The following is a delightfully written account submitted by Joan.

Back in the 60's, when I first arrived in Massachusetts, I met Sally Konitzky Reed in Cambridge. I was singing in a concert choir there, that she was accompanying. We became friends, and Sally told me about NEPTA. She urged me to join, and told me in glowing terms all about the programs, the founders, and the aims for piano teachers such as ourselves. I thought I was too busy getting to know Boston, teaching, and raising my four children, so I put it off. Later I heard about the organization from many other sources, and decided to try it out. I served on a lot of different committees and eventually on the Board and grew more and more impressed with the overall workings of the group.......not only the programs for teachers and recitals and competitions for students.....but also the people involved, and how seriously they took their responsibilities to each other and the community.

I was asked in 2005 to become the VP for 2 years and to expect that to include becoming President for the following 2 years. I accepted with pleasure and served as VP while Barbara Jones was President. And then I was to be elected President.....the only trouble with that was that I fell and broke my hip in May of that year, and so I was installed in absentia later that month, and conducted my first Board meeting in my home from a wheelchair.

Also at that same meeting, I received a phone call that I have to categorize as one of the very most difficult of my life.....my sister was calling from Michigan to tell me that she was to be put on pain meds that would make it impossible for us to speak together again. The presence of my good friends from NEPTA there that day helped me enormously through that very hard day and also in facing her passing soon after.

The surprises weren't over yet. When I conducted my first Annual meeting, I took 2 incredible falls, handing out thank you gifts. I blamed it on the clingy skirt, which I gave to Goodwill that same week, but I think it was just the desire to be very much there and to get it right for an organization that had given me a lot and continued to earn my respect and admiration.

So what happened during my tenure as President? Nothing earth shaking, but business as usual in NEPTA is never humdrum. I contributed all I have learned from leading other groups and found cooperation and skill and good will at every turn. We advanced the program together and brought in some new leadership for the many jobs at hand. And through my time as President I had the excellent and gracious help of Lydia Reed-Guertin as my VP. Who could ask for anything more!

NEPTA's final Teachers' Exchange of the year was held on Monday, April 11 at the Wellesley Public Library, featuring presentations by Betty Reed, Christina Dietrich and Maria-Pia Antonelli on the "Teaching Strategies and Solutions for Students with Learning and Physical disabilities".   It was a very gratifying morning of personal accounts and reflections of their combined experiences over the years, bringing music into the life of students who are faced with daily physical and emotional challenges.   Many thanks go to all three of these very talented and patient teachers for their stimulating and educational talk, revealing the possibilities of working with these special students. A more detailed description of the meeting can be found by reading the  Teacher Exchange Meeting Notes submitted by Jean Alderman.

On Monday, April 25, our meeting began with thoughtful reflections by Joan Collins, former NEPTA president, on her perspective of past experiences within NEPTA.  Joan knows so much about our organization, and has been such a valuable contributor over the years, and it was very fulfilling to hear her commentary.  Following Joan's speech, Roberto Poli, led our student Masterclass with performances by Angelique Scully 14, student of Tanya Schwartzman, Kyuil Lee 16, student of Wanda Paik,  and Yong Murray 16, student of Niva Fried.  Roberto was very eloquent, and detailed with intelligient and creative performance suggestions, and it was exciting to hear the advancement of these goals, performed by these talented pianists.  Many thanks go to Janet Ainsworth, Student Masterclass Chair, for preparing all of the details and organizing this wonderful event that benefits greatly our students and membership. 

Submitted by Elizabeth Ann Reed: 

The NEPTA Mentoring Program is up and running and growing.  We have seven Mentees, five of whom have been paired with Mentors.  The feedback has been glowing with appreciation for the opportunity to observe master teachers and to consult with them privately for continuing education.  Our roster of Mentors is growing and now includes:  Janna Bruene, Sylvia Chambless, Elizabeth Landman, Betty Reed, A. Ramon Rivera and Linda Vieira.  They have reported back that the Mentees' questions have led to new perspectives and ignited new ideas.  The learning possibilities are much more than twofold when two teachers meet and talk and question and create.  Consider being a part of this innovative and exciting program!   

For information, contact the NEPTA Mentoring Program Chair: 

Betty Reed, 617-489-6862, pianoears@gmail.com.    

Thank you Betty!

Congratulations go to the following winners of the Alice Hamlet Senior Scholarship Competition and the Ruth Davidson Competition held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston adjudicated by Michael Lewin, George Lopez and Jon Sakata:

Alice Hamlet Senior Scholarship Competition

First Place: Janet Lee, student of Clara Slater

Second Place: Michael Suo, student of Natalia Harlap

Third Place: Yoo Min Lee, student of Natalia Harlap

Ruth Davidson Competition

First Place: Yoko Fukumura, student of Clara Slater

Second Place: Raagini Rameshwar, student of Janet Ainsworth

Third Place: Layla Siraj, student of Helena Vesterman

And finally congratulations go to the following winners of the  

A. Ramon Rivera Contemporary Music Awards:     

Alice Hamlet Competition:

Michael Suo, student of Natalia Harlap and  

Ruth Davidson Competition:

Yoko Fukumura, student of Clara Slater

Diana Tetzlaff, chair of the High School competition Committee, and Judges Michael Lewin, George Lopez and Jon Sakata

Diana Tetzlaff, chair of the High School Competition Committee, reported there were a total of 11 entrants in both competitions representing 11 teachers of our membership and the judges were very impressed with the caliber and preparation of these pianists.  Diana spent numerous volunteer hours, setting up the fine details of the entire day, and fielded many phone calls and emails, upholding the standards of NEPTA with her professional and experienced background.   Diana had the gracious help of her husband, Jonathan Tetzlaff, leading up to and on the day of the competition, making sure students and teachers were informed about the seamless schedule and process.  Bravo!

The Repertoire after 1950 Committee will be meeting shortly to discuss possible choices for the required piece in the 2012 high school competitions. At this time, NEPTA would appreciate recommendations by our membership for it is often through these connections that rich and intriguing pieces come to the forefront. Please email your suggestions to Colleen Campbell at: campbell.c2@gmail.com by May 31, 2011.

Hogan Reed-Guertin has served on the NEPTA Board for two years with perfect attendance. From the very first meeting Hogan made it clear that he wanted to be involved, not closed off in a separate room - something I'm sure our President has thought about suggesting to the current Executive Secretary.  He welcomes every Board member with a friendly face and one short bark (he likes to get the meeting going).   Hogan has moaned during discussions of reducing certain budget items, and has never abstained from voting, no matter how challenging the issue.  We suspect Hogan might like to be President one day because of his penchant for jumping into Lydia's chair the minute it is empty.   Our Treasurer reports that after petting Hogan affectionately his (Lindsey Robb) blood pressure goes down about 50 points.  But Hogan's most memorable contributions to our meetings have been his infectious enthusiasm for gourmet food.  He set up the refreshments protocol - no food on the table until after the meeting (This motion was enacted after his partially successful attempt to snatch a loaf of pumpkin bread at the first meeting).  He has interrupted at least one long meeting to make sure the Board refueled with muffins and coffee provided by Lydia.  He is always willing to help.   He once cleared the table by eating the leftover quiche.   His loyalty to NEPTA is unquestionable, growling at the mention of another musicians' organization that will remain anonymous.   His humorous contributions to the Board meetings will be fondly remembered. We'll miss you Hogan!
Submitted by Elizabeth Ann Reed