UPCOMING NEPTA EVENTS *** First Meeting
September 26, 2011 SCOTT McBRIDE SMITH
"Fundamentals of
Good Tone and
Preparing Students
to Handle Stage Fright"
First Parish of Watertown 9:30am Music Sale Immediately Before September Meeting 9:00-9:30am *** October 24, 2011 GAIL BERENSON "Bach to Bartók and Beyond" First Parish of Watertown 9:30am ***
November 14, 2011 TEACHERS' EXCHANGE "Teaching Composition to Students of All Ages" Home of Adele Dreyer 9:30am
|
MEMBER NEWS * * *
Please submit member news for inclusion in the next newsletter by the 15th of the month to
Colleen Campbell
Electronic newsletters
are distributed in
September, October, January, February, March, April and May.
|
|
|
|
|
SEPTEMBER GREETINGS
Welcome, all returning and new members, to NEPTA's 2011-2012 Season. I hope that your summer has been replenishing and replete with wonderful music.
Currently en route to you is the Program Booklet and Membership Directory, beautifully prepared by Lindsey Robb who is also our Treasurer. He was ably assisted by Nina Grimaldi, our Advertising Chair. Providing invaluable help as proofreaders and mailing coordinator were Indiana Chalsen, Lydia Reed-Guertin and Cindy Null. Our Program Committee, headed by Shann Wood, has once again assembled a stellar roster of speakers. Our season includes two very fascinating and timely programs to be presented by the Teachers' Exchange Committee, chaired by Adele Dreyer, and much more. Please mark your calendars.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of all of NEPTA's volunteers but in particular, our Immediate Past President, Lydia Reed-Guertin. The vibrant new design of this newsletter is just one of Lydia's many contributions to NEPTA. She embraced her role as leader and innovator with great enthusiasm and compassion, carrying forth the tradition of the many gifted visionaries who have shaped and led this wonderful organization.
A meaningful and enjoyable task befell me when I took over as President, that of organizing a gathering of past presidents to honor Lydia for her service to NEPTA. We met at the Elephant Walk Restaurant and had a lively exchange of fond remembrances and thoughtful insights about NEPTA's past and present goals. Although Lydia has stepped down as president, true to her generous spirit she will continue to serve NEPTA in several other capacities. We presented her with a gift of appreciation which we hope will forever express our boundless thanks.
I sincerely hope that every NEPTA teacher will benefit fully by attending and participating in all that NEPTA has to offer. I look forward to our journey together and I hope that you will share your concerns and creative ideas with me so that NEPTA can be of greatest service to you.
Colleen Campbell
President
Gathering of NEPTA Presidents
Miriam Gargarian, Joan Collins, Joan Reddy, Lydia Reed-Guertin, Wanda Paik, Sylvia Chambless, Colleen Campbell. Also in attendance: Elfrieda Hiebert.
|
|
|
SCOTT MCBRIDE SMITH AT OUR FIRST MEETING
Our distinguished speaker, Scott McBride Smith, will present "Fundamentals of Good Tone and Preparing Students to Handle Stage Fright". Dr. Smith focuses on national issues of teacher training and piano pedagogy. As President and CEO of the International Institute for Young Musicians, he leads a summer program offering specialized training for gifted young performers from around the world. He has also co-authored many books including "The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher" and the series "American Popular Music". Dr. Smith is the Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Fund Speaker for 2011-2012. Please plan to arrive early for the Music Sale. Please also note that visitors will be welcome without charge. Guest fee for all other meetings is $10.
|
|
SUSAN B. DEMB TEACHER ENRICHMENT FUND
It gives me great pleasure to announce the establishment of the Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Fund. This fund will award two $500 grants biennially for current NEPTA members who actively volunteer in the organization. In alternate years the Susan B. Demb Fund will sponsor a Program Speaker who specializes in teaching piano fundamentals and using technology in the studio. For more details, contact Lydia Reed-Guertin.
|
|
MUSIC SALE
The NEPTA Monthly Music Sale will take place at the September 26 meeting at 9:00 a.m. prior to the general meeting, thanks to the efforts of Ruth Ross, our committee chair. The stock has been greatly expanded due to generous donations from the Sylvia White estate. If there is a particular piece, book or edition that you are looking for, please contact Ruth Ross ahead of time and she will mark it as yours and bring it to the next meeting. All proceeds go directly to the NEPTA Scholarship Fund.
|
|
MUSIC BOOK DOOR PRIZES
The September 26 meeting will also feature a drawing to receive one of two volumes of contemporary music that were purchased by NEPTA for the High School Competition last year. Please be sure to see Ranko Konishi-Houston who will have raffle tickets for you at the door.
|
|
MIRIAM PIZER AWARD
The Miriam Pizer Award, created in memory of Miriam Pizer, was established for students Grades K-5 who are in need of assistance for lesson tuition or other essential expenses. Each teacher may submit one student's name for a lottery drawing. The prize is $250 and the submission deadline is October 15. Please send your name along with your student's name by email to Colleen Campbell.
|
|
ALL NEPTA TEACHERS' RECITAL
Announcing the second annual All NEPTA Teachers' Recital to be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at The Rivers School of Weston. Please note the change of date from our earlier mailing. This will be a very festive occasion featuring magnificent music followed by an elegant wine and cheese reception. Donations will benefit the Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Fund. If you are interested in performing either solo piano or two-piano repertoire please contact Irina Gelman.
|
|
OCTOBER MEETING
Gail Berenson, Professor of Piano at Ohio University, will present "Bach to Bartok and Beyond: Collaboration of Physical Gestures and Sound Concepts in the Teaching of Style" on Monday, October 24, 2012, 9:30 a.m. A Past President of Music Teachers National Association, she has performed and lectured in over thirty states and eight countries. Ms. Berenson is one of the co-authors of A Symposium for Pianists and Teachers: Strategies to Develop Mind and Body for Optimal Performance.
|
|
DUES RENEWAL
Thank you for your timely renewal of membership dues! Please remind your fellow teachers who may have forgotten to renew or are new to NEPTA that dues must be received by September 30, 2011 in order to be eligible to enter students in NEPTA's recitals and competitions.
|
|
NEW JAZZ/POP AND COMPOSITION RECITALS
NEPTA has revised and expanded its student recital opportunities. Please see the exciting new Jazz/Pop Recital and Composition Recital descriptions in your Program Booklet. Many thanks to Ruth Shyu for her thoughtful work in crafting a fresh new perspective for these performance opportunities.
|
|
NEPTA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2011-2012
 Monday, September 26, 2011 Meeting: Scott McBride Smith Monday, October 24, 2011 Meeting: Gail Berenson Monday, November 14, 2011 Teachers' Exchange Monday, December 12, 2011 Teachers' Master Class: Victor Rosenbaum Sunday, January 22, 2012 Junior Recitals Sunday, January 29, 2012 Intermediate I Recitals Monday, January 30, 2012 Meeting: Elfrieda Hiebert Sunday, February 12, 2012 Intermediate II Recital Monday, February 27, 2012 Meeting: John McDonald Sunday, March 4, 2012 Composition Recital Jazz & Pop Recital
20th/21st Century Recital Sunday, March 11, 2012 Senior Recitals Sunday, March 18, 2012 Snow date for all recitals Monday, March 19, 2012 Meeting: Nelita True Saturday, March 24, 2012 Ensemble Recital Sunday, March 25, 2012 Adult Recital Saturday, March 31, 2012 Mildred Freiberg Competition for Middle School Students Monday, April 9, 2012 Teachers' Exchange Saturday, April 14, 2012 Ruth Davidson Competition for High School Students Alice Hamlet Competition for Seniors Monday, April 30, 2012 Student Master Class: Konstantinos Papadakis Monday, May 21, 2012 Annual Meeting Awards Recital and Luncheon |
|
|
|
|
New England Piano Teachers' Association