Pikes Peak Music Teachers Association

NEWSLETTER

February, March 2015

PPMTA is a non-profit organization affiliated with Colorado Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association

Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The newsletter is delivered as a service to members of PPMTA.

President’s Corner – Sarah Groh Correa

Hello PPMTA Members & Friends:

Music in 2015

As a new year begins, I recalibrate my studio policies, tuition and schedule. I look at each student’s attendance, goals and repertoire. I also consider the opportunities they have at their school, local, state and the national level. I receive phone calls and emails from new inquiring students and schedule lesson interviews with them. I look at my budget, my unneeded expenses, and taxes. I also consider how my studio has been working with my family and home schedule. I think through how much I want to take on as a performer in the community and if I have time to increase my volunteer hours. All of this can seem overwhelming if these items are not already an ongoing endeavor and a carefully planned part of my career as a teacher and studio owner.

At some point we all decide what is too much and where we want to increase our time in the arts. I have learned that I must decide the right path for me and not be a hostage to the “should do’s” and “ought to’s.” It helps to have friends who value the same musical ideas and participation. I can take a hint from their ability to say Yes & No. Or I can ask for their opinion when I can’t see the right answer. In all the paths that we clear to create this musical profession, there is a value and story in each one of us. There were right choices, wrong choices and failures that became right experience. It is my pleasure to walk with each one of you as we clear a path in the state of Colorado. The membership of PPMTA assumes a musical presence in four Colorado universities or colleges, insight as board members at the local and state level and participates in multiple festivals and continued educational offerings throughout the nation. We exemplify a musical life to our students by how we act, choose and connect all the parts of a music career.

For more opportunities for participation and enjoyment a list of state and national events is included on page 6 of this newsletter. Local PPMTA events are noted throughout this newsletter and community events are included on page 6. Ask a friend to join you. Or enjoy the list and know when you have reached your limit. I wish you all the best in this 2015 New Year!

Sarah Groh Correa, President

PPMTA PROGRAMS SPRING 2015

Regular Meeting Schedule: 2nd Tuesday of each month

Graner Music Recital Hall, 4460 Barnes Rd.

9:00 a.m. Coffee & Conversation

9:30 a.m. General Meeting

10:00 a.m. Program Presentation

FEBRUARY 10: Matthew Tomatz, LPC “Developing the Whole Musician: Building Mastery While Managing Performance Anxiety”

MARCH 10: Eliana Murphy-Ellis “Clara Schumann the Teacher: Breaking the Boundaries.” This promises to be a fascinating look into this composer’s teaching history! Also PPMTA Town Hall Meeting. Membership discusses future PPMTA events and PREP Book discussion.

APRIL 14: NATHAN SMITH “Video games: What They Can Teach Us”

May 12: Year End Brunch and Installation of Officers

Thanks everyone and hope to see you soon!

Susie Marten – VP Programs

2015 Non-COMPETITIVE SONATINA & VOICE FESTIVAL

Piano, Voice, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds and Ensembles

February 7, 2015

Graner Music Recital Hall

Chairs: Dee Boatman (719-488-9476) Sylvia Holt (719-228-1585)

Entries have been received and plans are in the works for a wonderful Sonatina & Voice Festival. Our judges will be hearing excellent performances from our students who are always well prepared and excited to share their music with family and friends!! Thanks to all participating teachers for supporting this bi-annual event.

Dee Boatman & Sylvia Holt, Festival Chairs

2015 COMPETITIVE SONATINA & VOICE FESTIVAL

Piano, Voice, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds and Ensembles

February 28, and March 1, 2015

Nazarene Bible College & Graner Music Recital Hall

Entry Deadline: January 28, 2015, NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED

Chair: Sara McDaniel, NCTM 719-596-9281,

Please read the information on the website and in your handbook about procedures for registration. Online registration must be completed by Jan. 28 and is emailed to Jan Saffir. Also a copy of this registration and the permission forms & payment (one check per teacher) for each student should be sent to: Sara McDaniel, 5525 Wagon Master Dr. 80917. These must be received by Sara by Jan. 28 in order to participate. POSTMARK DATES WILL NOT BE HONORED. No exceptions will be made due to late entries.

You must be available to work in order to enter students. If you absolutely cannot be there Feb. 28, another non-participating PPMTA teacher must agree to take your duty. Please read page 11 in the handbook (also online) to clarify this rule.

Please note that the sonatina list is now divided according to AGE, not grade in school. We will abide by the updated list on the website and in your handbook, pages 18-24.

Please call or email Sara with any further questions at 596-9281, . We look forward to an exciting and rewarding festival.

Sara McDaniel, NCTM, Festival Chair

ACHIEVEMENT DAY

Saturday, April 18, 2015

First Christian Church

Entry Deadline: March 18, 2015

Chairs: Susie Marten ()

Bob Johnson ()

Achievement Day will be a FUN and POSITIVE day for your students! Achievement Day is a non-competitive activity that provides positive reinforcement for students at all levels of musical achievement. Students can challenge themselves in performance, theory, and related music activities. It is open to all instruments. This year, in addition to the used music sale and art/written/musical composition displays, we hope to offer face painting and maybe even a craft table! If you are new to the event, contact Susie or Bob and they will walk you through it or even set you up with an A-Day Mentor to be your guide. This can be a great end-of-the-year progress indicator for parents as well as a final day of productive fun for students. Check out the PPMTA Handbook for details!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulation Allison Bullock who took first place in the High School Musical Theater Category of the West Central Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). This was a four state competition held in Denver in October 2014. She is a student of Barbara Taylor, NCTM.

CSMTA CONFERENCE

Are you planning to attend CSMTA Conference this year? Conference dates are June 3-5, 2015 and it will be held in Pueblo. Please consider attending and sharing in the wealth of information and knowledge offered at this yearly event. Let’s show our support to our neighbors to the south and attend CSMTA Conference in Pueblo!

PPMTA 2015 SCHOLARSHIPS

Are you aware that PPMTA is offering a $1000 scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to pursue a music degree? This is the second year that PPMTA has offered this scholarship program to students of our members. If you have a student interested in applying, he/she must submit an audio or video recording of two (2) contrasting pieces along with a 500 word essay about how PPMTA activities have influenced their music development. Applications are due to the PPMTA treasurer (Colleen Bell) no later than March 15, 2015. The winner will be determined by the PPMTA board and will be invited to perform at the PPMTA brunch in May.

Also, PPMTA is once again offering two scholarships to two individual students for the purpose of attending summer music camp this year. As with the above $1000 scholarship, this is the second year that PPMTA has offered these summer music camp scholarships. PPMTA will award the cost of the music camp up to $250. So if you have a student planning to attend a summer music camp and he/she would like to apply for one of these scholarships, students must submit an audio or video recording of two (2) contrasting pieces along with a 500 word essay about the impact of attending summer music camp on their musical development. Applications are due no later than March 15, 2015 to the PPMTA treasurer (Colleen Bell). The winners will be determined by the PPMTA board and will be invited to perform at the PPMTA brunch in May.

Please contact Colleen Bell with any questions.

Colleen Bell, Treasurer

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

New member: Lois Williams, 719-651-3312

410 Picasso Ct, Co Springs 80921

Renewing member: Sandra Bodrero 719-573-7480

2209 N. Murray, 80915

Sylvia Holt, VP Membership

PPMTA Executive Board

President Sarah Groh Correa 235-1646

Programs, 1st Vice President Susan Marten 488-3483

Student Activities, 2nd Vice President Linda Densmore 535-8978

Membership, 3rd Vice President Sylvia Holt, NCTM 228-1585

Publicity, 4th Vice President Bob Johnson 380-8273

Secretary Christie Lee 465-3417

Treasurer Colleen Bell 232-9269

PPMTA Committees

Festivals

Jazz, Rag, and Blues Festival Barb Taylor NCTM, Kearin Ragsdale

Non-Competitive Sonatina Festival Dee Boatman, Sylvia Holt

Competitive Sonatina/Vocal Festival Sara McDaniel NCTM

Achievement Day Susan Marten, Bob Johnson

Publications

Newsletter Donna Caulfield

Website Megan Pheiffer-Miller

Handbook Jill Hanrahan

Hospitality

December Brunch Host Joan Sawyer

May Brunch Host TBA

NEWS FROM BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Sylvia Holt NCTM, VP Membership

If you have any changes in name, address, phone, etc. you must contact PPMTA, CSMTA, & MTNA to update the changes.

PPMTA: Sylvia Holt, NCTM

CSMTA:

MTNA:

Donna Caulfield – Editor: Newsletter

Newsletter Deadlines

April/May March 15

Megan Phiffer Miller – Editor: PPMTA Website

Please check the PPMTA website at www.ppmta.org for more information about the organization and complete festival information and forms.

Jill Hanrahan - Editor: Handbook

The handbook, including all forms for student activities, is available at the PPMTA website at www.ppmta.org.

CSMTA & MTNA NEWS

STATE

Saturday, February 21, 2015 - 4:00 pm Concerto Competition Winners Concert

Monday, March 9, 2015 - 11:59 pm DEADLINE: Rising Stars Deadline (Western Slope prelims)

Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 11:59 pm DEADLINE: Rising Stars deadline (Denver festival)

Saturday, April 11, 2015 (All day) Rising Stars Festival Western Prelims

Saturday, April 25, 2015 (All day) Rising Stars Festival - Denver

Saturday, April 25, 2015 (All day) Student Theory Activity

Wednesday-Friday, June 3-5, 2015 CSMTA State Conference – Pueblo, CO

See more at: http://www.comusicteachers.net/#sthash.kv9FGcTK.dpuf

NATIONAL

2015 National MTNA Conference – March 21-25 – Las Vegas, NV

See more at: https://members.mtna.org/conference2015/index.html

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

First Christian Church Music Series

First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Avenue

Contact: Carol Wilson, 633-8888,

On Sunday, February 8 at 3:00 p.m., First Christian Church at 16 East Platte Avenue is presenting their annual chamber music concert, played by members of the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs and Friends. The program will feature delightful music from the Baroque and Classical periods as well as from the present time for small ensembles of strings, woodwinds, and brass, some with piano, harpsichord or organ. A free will offering will be taken.

Music to be performed will include movements from: string quartets by Franz Joseph Haydn and Bedřich Smetana, played by Sarah Phillips and Katie Randall, violin, Thomas Matthews, viola and Olympia Vida, cello; a concerto for two cellos by Antonio Vivaldi, played by Veselka Kuzma and Tim Ogilvie, cello and Carol Wilson, harpsichord; a quintet by Johann Christian Bach, played by Phyllis White, flute, Joyce Hanagan, oboe, Kay Wehofer, violin, Veselka Kuzma, cello, and Carol Wilson, organ; a quartet by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played by James Rasmussen, violin, Anita Maresh, viola, Veselka Kuzma, cello, and Carol Wilson, piano; a trio TBD played by Phyllis White, flute, Joyce Hanagan, oboe, and Carol Wilson, piano; et al.

Pikes Peak Community College Piano Day

March 7, 2015 will be the annual PPCC Piano Day at Centennial campus theatre. There will be PPCC faculty participating and a guest artist, Jan Saffir. Students may participate in either a master class or a recital. More info will be available and a form to submit at a later date. The fee is $10 per student. For more information, contact Abe Minzer or Sara McDaniel.