Montana

Music News

Published Since 1968 Affiliated with the Music Teachers National Association Winter 2012

A P ubl i cat i on o f th e

MONTANA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

contents MSMTA Officers 2 President’s Message 3 Scholarship News 4 2011 National and State Conferences

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Music News from UM

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MTNA Competition Results

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Local Associations 12

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MSMTA 2011 Conference Highlights

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Business Meeting & Treasurer’s Report

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CHAIRS AND LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS

MSMTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Diane Volkman 684 Martini Lane Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Home: (406) 892-4687 [email protected] IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Christopher Hahn 4663 Calistoga Lane Missoula, MT 59808 Home: (406) 541-2211 [email protected] SECRETARY Dorothy Beck-Peterson 409 Stephens Missoula, MT 59801 Home: (406) 549-3915 TREASURER Carla Bell 2700 1st Ave. North Great Falls, MT 59401 Home: (406) 761-8746 [email protected] MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Karen Woodgerd 104 Southridge Drive Missoula, MT 59803 Home (406) 251-2767 [email protected] NW CERTIFICATION/COMMISSIONER Susan Todd NCTM 2620 SE Meadowlark Dr Hillsboro, OR 97123 (503) 515-2670 [email protected]

CHAIR PEOPLE: (Standing Committees) Advertising Laura Morris Fall Competitions Elinore Quander MTNA Foundation Charlene Waddingham IMTF Eva Maxwell Legislative Palma Wolverton Scholarship Linda Holden Spring Festivals Judy O’Dell Historian Linda Holden Certification Chair Elinore Quander College Faculty Christopher Hahn Composition Competition Leann Vralsted Local Associations Leann Vralsted Technology/Web Page Carla Bell Mentoring Betty Hanzel Library/Workshops Jean Alexander

LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS Butte-Anaconda -- Ruth Rotondi 3069 Atherton Ln Butte, MT 59701 (406) 494-4340 [email protected] Billings – Lee Hancock 1804 Colton Blvd Billings, MT 59102 (406) 850-4082 [email protected] Missoula – Paula Graves 459 Ridgeway Drive Lolo, MT 59840 (406) 273-4993 [email protected] Kalispell Area -- Suzanne Rohrbach 2334 Mission Way N Kalispell, MT59901-2229 (406) 755-3736 [email protected] Great Falls -- Judith O’Dell 1108 24th Ave SW Great Falls, MT59404 (406) 761-4989 [email protected] Southwest Montana -- Trevor Ostenson 324 Kimball Ave Bozeman, MT59718 (406) 582-1829 [email protected]

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DATES FOR THE 2012 CONFERENCE & COMPETITION

November 1-3, 2012 To be held in Kalispell

MTNA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS The Carew Tower 441 Vine St., Ste. 3100 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-3004 (513) 421-1420 mtna.org

Montana

Music News

A P ubl i cat i on o f th e

MONTANA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

MONTANA MUSIC NEWS is published 2 times annually by the Montana State Music Teachers Association, affiliated with the Music Teachers National Association and is also found on the MSMTA website at http://www.msmta.com Publisher/Editor: The University of Montana Eric Dufresne, Production Manager Printing & Graphic Services The University of Montana Office 406-243-4213 Fax 406-243-2615 Front Desk 406-243-2711 http://www.umt.edu/ printingandgraphics/ Deadlines are: Jan. 1 and Aug. 1 ADVERTISERS INDEX Morgenroth Music Hansen Music Popplers Music, Inc. Eckroth Music Montana State University The University of Montana

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Message from the President Greetings and Happy New Year to you all! I wish for you a year of full studios, awesome students, and many opportunities for growth and collaboration! As I look back on my first year as MSMTA President, I realize that I again am grateful for the opportunities that MSMTA has given me in the last 35 years or so to grow in my profession (and make some wonderful friends along the way!) It is my honor and privilege to give back to the MSMTA organization that has, and continues to be, a great part of my life. As I contemplate the events of the past year, especially the rescinded decision concerning the elimination of non-piano competitions by the MTNA board, I realize what a golden opportunity has presented itself to us! We are now apprised of the importance to the MTNA membership that voice, string, and woodwind teachers hold, and that these teachers are in fact held in very high regard by MTNA members; high enough to fight for their rights to take part in MTNA events. The question remains, what can WE do to help our fellow teachers grow in their profession? I write this as I gaze at a mural that was painted by a local high school student and placed in my music room at school. It’s large and colorful. It is four 4’ x 4’ pieces of wood lined up across the wall behind the risers and painted with beautiful abstract and rounded instruments at each end, tied together with lovely curved lines of notes and piano keys. This young artist is not musically trained, however her notes are perfect, the piano keys are depicted correctly and there is an instrument included from each of the four instrument families! Did she learn from this collaboration? I think so. Will our music students learn from her wonderful art? Yes. This is what collaboration is all about, in my mind. My intention for this year is to promote creativity and collaboration. It may be as simple as having a group class with some string and/or voice students, or as detailed as finding MSMTA members to contribute to our curriculum guide with suggestions for voice, string, and woodwind students. Creativity will be a focus for our conference in November. Our clinician, Wendy Stevens, will share ideas for promoting creativity and composition in your studios. We will also be showcasing our commissioned composer, Charles Nichols at this year’s conference. What innovative and creative ideas do you have for collaboration in your local chapter? And do you have suggestions for promoting ideas on a state level that will develop programs for our non-piano teaching MSMTA members as well as our piano teaching members? Will you join me in a year filled with creative collaboration of all areas of the arts? Best regards for a wonderful year! Diane Volkman NCTM MSMTA President 3

The Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship Sponsored by the Montana State Music Teachers Association

This scholarship honors a dear member from Helena, who devoted her life to the profession of piano teaching. Its purpose is to support a student in their junior or senior year of undergraduate studies in music, whose goal is to teach piano. Criteria for Application

The student must be a sophomore or junior working towards a degree in music, who intends to teach piano. The degree should be in piano pedagogy or music education, which included piano pedagogy classes. The student may be enrolled in an in-state or out-of-state program to qualify. The student’s former teacher must currently be a member of the Montana State Music Teachers Association and have been a member during the last year of the student’s study before college. Students may be nominated by the student’s pre-college MSMTA teacher or by their current collegiate teacher. A letter of recommendation is sent to the MSMTA Scholarship Chair. The student must meet an appropriate degree of proficiency decided upon by the keyboard faculty of that institution.

Procedure

An application form, with a letter of recommendation must be submitted by a teacher to the Scholarship Chair by Feb.15th. A recipient will be selected by April 15th by the scholarship committee, which will consist of the Scholarship Chair, the MSMTA President and another member. The recipient and teacher will be notified in writing. The scholarship money will be disbursed to the student at the beginning of the following fall semester. Each scholarship must be at least $500.00 The amount of this scholarship may be changed as funds permit. This is to be determined by the Scholarship Chair and the State President of MSMTA. The Scholarship Chair will send information to all the Montana colleges and universities by November 1st about the Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship, sponsored by MSMTA. A notice about this scholarship will also be submitted by August 1st to the editor of the MSMTA Fall Newsletter. A mass e-mail will be sent out to the state membership by Nov. 1st of each year. These will be the duties of the Scholarship Chair. Diane Volkman, MSMTA President Linda Holden, Membership Chair

Application Form

MSMTA Cinda Tompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship Date Name of Student Address Studying in the Department of Music at Degree Program Pursuing Expected Graduation Year Current Teacher Former MSMTA Teacher Return to:

Linda Holden, MSMTA Scholarship Chair



540 Westwind Road, Valier, MT 59486 [email protected] 4

MTNA 2012 National Conference, New York, NY MTNA is headed to the Big Apple for its 2012 National Conference! The Conference will take place March 24–28, at the Hilton New York, located on the Avenue of the Americas. You won’t want to miss headliners such as master class clinician Menahem Pressler. Conference attendees have the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the globe, experience sessions by internationally known pedagogues, performances by accomplished artists—all in one of the greatest cities in the world. We’ve listened to your requests, so we’ve allowed plenty of free evenings during the conference for you to explore the city. Check out the Experience New York section of the conference website to plan your nights in the city that doesn’t sleep! https://members.mtna.org/conference2012/index.html

SAVE THE DATE!

MSMTA STATE CONFERENCE AND COMPETITIONS NOVEMBER 1,2,& 3, 2012 HILTON GARDEN INN, KALISPELL, MONTANA NOTE: THIS CONFERENCE IS BACK ON SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER.

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Highlights from Kenneth Christensen, NCTM Report of the Chair, National Certification Commission • Collaborated with the MTNA staff to initiate the MTNA Certification Marketing Plan for 2011-2012 • Submitted a second set of pieces for the flute and voice Teacher Profile Projects • Presented a power point session at the Montana State Music Teachers Association Annual Conference on the process of completing the MTNA Certification Teacher Profile Projects. November 10-12, 2011 • Submit a second set of pieces for the organ Teacher Profile Project • Create a Teacher Profile Project for clarinet • Continue to monitor the possible collaboration of CFMTA certification and MTNA certification • Continue to promote the MTNA Certification Program through the marketing plan initiated by the MTNA staff.

Report of the MTNA President-elect Kenneth Christensen, NCTM MTNA Activities: • Attended the MTNA Board of Directors summer meeting July 14-16, 2011 in San Diego, California. • Attended the Montana State Music Teachers Conference November 10-12, 2011. Participated as an advisory to the MSMTA Executive Board Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Membership. Assisted Ingrid Jacobsen Clarfield as her “left hand” in the presentation of her pedagogical sessions. • Participated in weekly conference calls with MTNA CEO Gary Ingle, President Benjamin Caton, Immediate-past president Ann Gipson.

Professional Activities: • Participated as a guest clinician, teacher and performer for the University of Montana Piano Camp. Missoula, Montana, June 20-24, 2011 • Presented an all day workshop on the “Life and Music of Johannes Brahms. Southwest Montana Music Teachers Association Bozeman, Montana, July 29, 2011.



• Performed in the Intermountain Opera of Bozeman summer production of “Sweet Betsy From Pike” Bozeman, Montana, August 7, 2011 • Participated as rehearsal pianist, assistant to the conductor and collaborative artist for the Intermountain Opera of Bozeman production of “Hansel and Gretel”. October 1-16, 2011

Spring Festivals

Please call or e-mail me with the following information for your Festival Certificates. I need 2 weeks advance notice. • Dates and location of your Festival • Number of Honors Seals needed (if you give honors) • Number of Certificates You need to send a check to our treasurer, Carla Bell. The cost is $1.00 per certificate ordered. Judy O’Dell, Festivals Chair

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News from The University of Montana School of Music By Steven Hesla The University of Montana music building is enjoying a major facelift, with projects that began last summer and continue during various breaks. A gorgeously refinished maple floor graces the Music Recital Hall. Come take a look. First semester was packed with many recitals, as always, including the ever-popular annual “Pianissimo” event, with pianos and pianists aplenty on stage in an evening or rousing ensemble repertoire and performances. The Keyboard Benefit Fund has grown significantly through this and other Keyboard Benefit events and these monies are helping our piano and organ majors with scholarships as well as attendance at important events such as MSMTA State Conferences, along with assisting with other critical needs of the Keyboard Division. We were naturally proud of our state winners from Missoula and from UM, who performed well in Boise, ID, winning a number of honors, with everyone representing themselves and our state very well. From UM, the MisSoula Piano Trio, comprised of members Sarah Harmsworth, violin (Margaret Baldridge), Kevin Leifermann, cello (Fern Glass Boyd), and Seth Quay, piano (Christopher Hahn) were selected as alternate divisional winners in the MTNA Young Artist Chamber Music Competition. Scott Koljonen (Steven Hesla) performed beautifully in the MTNA-Steinway Young Artist Piano Performance Competition. Sarah Harmsworth (Margaret Baldridge) received an honorable mention in the MTNA Senior String Performance Competition, and Ellen Peterson (Alicia Bullock-Muth) received an honorable mention in the MTNA Senior Voice Performance Competition. Our Spring Semester got off to a strong start with Dr. Nancy Cooper’s Organ Recital, Jan. 25, in the Music Recital Hall. The Keyboard Benefit Recital, 200 Years of the Romantic Piano, celebrating the bicentennials birth-years of Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin and Liszt, took place on January 30th, featuring performances of these composers’ masterworks by Barbara Blegen, Margery McDuffie Whatley, Christopher Hahn, and Steven Hesla. Nancy Cooper travelled to Billings in early November to play a recital and present a workshop for the Yellowstone Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Her UM faculty recital will take place on Tuesday evening, February 7th, at 7:30 pm; she will be joined by UM faculty member Margaret Baldridge in the Montana premiere of Naji Hakim’s “Capriccio” for organ and violin. Nancy will be teaching a choral music course in Vienna, Austria, this coming May-June for UM students as well as MOLLI members. Come join us! More information about Nancy, Steven and Chris’ MOLLI classes is available online on the MOLLI website. Christopher Hahn just received exciting news of a sabbatical award for Spring Semester 2012. His assignment will be to coauthor an annotated compendium of graded piano concertos to be published by Alfred Music with his CanAm Duo partner, Karen Beres, faculty member at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Steven Hesla’s chapter on pedaling, Artistic Damper Pedaling: a Master Lesson in “Piano Pedal-gogy” will appear in the upcoming 4th edition of Creative Piano Teaching by James Lyke, Geoffrey Haydon, and Catherine Rollin. The new edition is scheduled for release at the MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee. Our enrollments in the Keyboard Division currently include nearly 30 piano and organ majors and minors. All are members of the Keyboard Society, and everyone is involved in supporting each other as well as helping the School of Music to thrive with solo and collaborative performances involving their instruments. We are proud of these wonderfully talented and ambitious students, many of whom did their pre-college study with MSMTA member teachers. Thanks for all your great work with these kids. Music Day, our annual recruitment and official scholarship audition day happens this year on Friday February 4th. However, appointments to interview and audition can be made by interested students up through March 1st of each Spring Semester. We appreciate your interest and support, as always, and welcome your students to contact any of us at any time. Have a wonderful spring. It’s just around the corner. Sincerely, Nancy Cooper, Christopher Hahn, and Steven Hesla

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IMTF, Independent Music Teachers Forum

MSMTA Curriculum Guide Our MSMTA Curriculum guide has been revised by Jean Rohrer, Kate Hansen, Charlene Waddingham, and Margaret McGillvray. It took almost 3 years and they have done a wonderful job! THANK YOU ladies for sharing your wisdom and insight, we are lucky to have you in our association and very grateful! There are still paper copies available to members, however, we would like to put it on our website for our members to more readily access. Stay tuned...

The Independent Music Teachers Forum convened at the 2010 MSMTA Conference under the leadership of Eva Maxwell. The topic was “The MSMTA pedagogue will continue to grow by teaching with creativity and vibrancy.” This is one of the most valuable sessions at our yearly conference because it gives our members a chance to share all of their wonderful ideas and talk about what works (and sometimes doesn’t work) in our individual studios. Everyone enjoyed our discussion and came away with valuable insight into our colleagues teaching styles. Thank you to all who attended, we will see you next year! If you have any ideas about what you would like to have discussed this year, please email Eva Maxwell or Diane Volkman.

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Competition Results, 2011-2012 MONTANA STATE WINNERS MTNA COMPETITIONS (teacher’s name is listed last) Senior Strings: 1st Place: Magnus Johnson (Billings), Mary LaMonaca 2nd Place: Jehremy Felig (Billings), Mary LaMonaca Honorable Mentions: Bryan Mitchell, (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; Anastasia Nelson, (Billings), Mary LaMonaca

MTNA Junior Piano: Winner: Arthur Befumo (Missoula), Lori Armstrong Alternate: Lisa Yang (Bozeman), Henry Campbell Honorable Mention: MIlou de Meij (Bozeman), Henry Campbell MTNA Senior Piano: Winner: Sattie Kwon (Billings), Dorothea Cromley Alternate: Tess Michel (East Helena), Ken Christensen Honorable Mention: Jiyao Li (Bozeman), Laurel Yost

MSMTA Fall Festival: Solo Programs: Elementary: Overall Winner: Elizabeth Light (Billings), Lynn Bassett 1st Place (Baroque): Colby Frewin (Billings), Elinore Quander 1st Place (Classical): Elizabeth Light (Billings), Lynn Bassett 2nd Place: Paloma Whitworth (Billings), Kate Hansen 3rd Place: Sophia Whitworth (Billings), Kate Hansen 1st Place (Romantic): Ragan Cosgrove (Billings), Sondra Subotnick 1st Place (Contemporary): Lilly Murphy (Billings), Kate Hansen

MTNA Young Artist Piano: Winner: Seth Quay (U of M), Christopher Hahn Alternate: Anna Biegel (MSU-Billings), Dorothea Cromley MTNA Senior Voice: Winner: Maddy Rassaby (Bozeman), Linda Curtis Alternate: Madison Van Winkle (Bozeman), Linda Curtis

Junior: Overall Winner: Elizabeth Andrews (Billings), Kate Hansen 1st Place (Baroque): Isabella Whitworth (Billings), Kate Hansen 1st Place (Classical): Ryan Detrick (Great Falls), Judy Pleskac 2nd Place: Joey Nichols (Billings), Kate Hansen 1st Place (Romantic): Mason Ashment (Billings), Elinore Quander 2nd Place: Chloe Peila (Shepherd), Lynn Bassett 1st Place (Contemporary): Elizabeth Andrews (Billings), Kate Hansen 2nd Place: Cole Janssen (Bozeman), Deborah Schuerr 1st Place (Educational): Alie Evans (Billings), Elinore Quander

MTNA Junior Strings: Winner: Claire Griffin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca Alternate: Gabe Ballotta (Bozeman), Trevor Ostenson MTNA Senior Strings: Winner: Lauren Griffin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca Alternate: Elliott Mackin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca Honorable Mention: Rachel Huether (Absarokee), Mary LaMonaca

Senior: Overall Winner: Michael Lester (Bozeman), Joni Benson 1st Place (Baroque): Hank Rose (Billings), Sondra Subotnick 1st Place (Classical): Michael Lester (Bozeman), Joni Benson

MSMTA Fall Festival, Short Program: Elementary Piano: 1st Place: Jessica Gorham (Shepherd), Lynn Bassett Junior Piano: 1st Place: Austin Hammett (Great Falls), Ann Cogswell 2nd Place: Rachel Light (Billings), Lynn Bassett 3rd Place: Britta De Groot (Dillon), Charlene Loge Honorable Mention: Alex Wittorff (Shepherd), Elinore Quander Senior Piano: 1st Place: Julie Almer (Billings), Carol Mathew 2nd Place: Ingrid De Groot (Dillon), Charlene Loge 3rd Place: Bridget Mayer (Billings), Elinore Quander Honorable Mention: Laurin Hart (Helena), Echolyn Travis

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Competition Results, 2011-2012 continued

Junior Piano: 3rd Place: Britta De Groot (Dillon), Charlene Loge; 2nd Place: Rachel Light (Billings), Lynn Bassett; Elementary Piano: 1st Place: Jessica Gorham (Shepherd), Lynn Bassett; Junior Piano: 1st Place: Austin Hammett (Great Falls), Ann Cogswell; Honorable Mention: Alex Wittorff (Shepherd), Elinore Quander

Senior Piano: 2nd Place: Ingrid De Groot (Dillon), Charlene Loge; 1st Place: Julie Almer (Billings), Carol Mathew; Honorable Mention: Laurin Hart (Helena), Echolyn Travis; Emilee Donaldson (Clancy), Echolyn Travis; 3rd Place: Bridget Mayer (Billings), Elinore Quander; Shanna Blaede (Billings), Elinore Quander

DON’T MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT EMAILS AND NOTIFICATIONS! Be sure to update your contact information. If you have any changes in your contact information, or you want to verify the information for a fellow member, please visit http://mtna.org/ and http://msmta.com and update your member profile or visit the members only page on the MSMTA site.

Senior Strings: Honorable Mention: Anastasia Nelson, (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; 2nd Place: Jehremy Felig (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; Honorable Mentions: Bryan Mitchell, (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; 1st Place: Magnus Johnson (Billings), Mary LaMonaca

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SOLO PROGRAMS

Junior: Cole Janssen, Ryan Detrick, Joey Nichols, Isabella Whitworth, Alie Evans, Mason Ashment, Elizabeth Andrews, Chloe Peila

MTNA Senior Voice: Winner, Maddy Rassaby (Bozeman), Linda Curtis; Alternate, Madison Van Winkle (Bozeman), Linda Curtis

MTNA Junior Strings: Winner, Claire Griffin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; (not pictured) Alternate, Gabe Ballotta (Bozeman), Trevor Ostenson

MTNA Junior Piano: Honorable Mention, MIlou de Meij (Bozeman), Henry Campbell; Winner, Arthur Befumo (Missoula), Lori Armstrong; Alternate, Lisa Yang (Bozeman), Henry Campbell

MTNA Young Artist Piano: Winner, Seth Quay (U of M), Christopher Hahn; Alternate, Anna Biegel (MSU-Billings), Dorothea Cromley

Senior: Michael Lester, Hank Rose

MTNA Senior Strings: Honorable Mention, Rachel Huether (Absarokee), Mary LaMonaca; Winner, Lauren Griffin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca; Alternate, Elliott Mackin (Billings), Mary LaMonaca

MTNA Senior Piano: Alternate, Tess Michel (East Helena), Ken Christensen; Honorable Mention, Jiyao Li (Bozeman), Laurel Yost; Elise Lawrence (Missoula), Christopher Hahn; Winner, Sattie Kwon (Billings), Dorothea Cromley

Northwest Divisional Winners…Congratulations to; Young Artist Composition Winner: Benjamin Murphy, Teacher- Lee Heuermann Senior Voice Honorable Mention: Madeleine Rassaby, - Soprano, Teacher-Linda Curtis

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Local Association News Great Falls Music Teachers will be holding their Spring Festival March 16 and 17. Ken Christensen and Linda Holden will be adjudicating piano and Fay Buness will adjudicate voice. Judy O’Dell, GFMTA President

meeting. On Sunday, March 11, our teachers are presenting a Scholarship Fundraiser - Studio to Stage. Our March meeting is led by Lydia Brown about the Marlboro Festival. In April, Lucien Hut is presenting a program about “Outside Parameter of Pianism.” We finish the year with our end-of-the-year social in May. Thanks, Paula Graves

Butte Anaconda

Billings

BAAMTA plans for early in the New Year include a master class and workshop for teachers on February 26th, sponsored by the Butte Symphony Association.You’re all cordially invited to attend. The clinician for the Butte master class and workshop is Jody Graves, who will be soloist the preceding evening, February 25th, with the Butte Symphony, playing Rhapsody in Blue. Tickets for the concert will be available at the Mother Lode Theater, Ph. (406) 723-3602, @ 315 West Park Street, Butte, MT 59701. We’re all really excited that Jody is coming, and would love to have MSMTA members from all over the state join us. In early March, our annual Spring Festival is scheduled, with Julie Gosswiller as adjudicator. We wish all our MSMTA colleagues a great musical year! Ruth Rotondi, BAAMTA President

“Hello from the Billings Music Teachers Association. We hope you had a great time at the conference in Billings this past November. All the sessions, competitions, get- togethers----what a special time for teachers to share, learn, and just have fun. With a new year starting, we look forward to exciting events and performance opportunities for our students. The Sonatina Festival in February, ensemble recital in March, and BMTA Spring Festival , just to name a few. We always have a special workshop during these months which helps our own musical growth and education as teachers too!! We wish you all a happy and healthy 2012!!!

Great Falls

Kalispell Happy New Year from the Kalispell Area Music Teachers Association! This September we had a wonderful interactive Hand Bell program presented by Paul Gregory. In October we had a Teacher Round Robin about Group Lessons, and in November we discussed the highlights of the MSMTA State Conference. In December we held our 13th Annual KAMTA Vocal Festival with adjudicator, Angela Andersen Wilkes. And KAMTA wrapped up 2011 with our 12th Annual Scholarship Alumni Concert. This concert helps support our scholarship program and the primary performers are former KAMTA Scholarship recipients. We had a wonderful variety of music this year with performances of viola, piano, voice, and flute ensemble. In 2012 we look forward to programs about music history and jazz improvisation presented by KAMTA members, as well as teaching adult students, presented by Molly Morrison. KAMTA will host our annual Spring Festival in March with Molly Morrison and Gloria Johnson as piano adjudicators. We will also be very busy preparing for the 2012 MSMTA Conference which will be held in Kalispell next Fall. We hope you plan to come and join us in the beautiful Flathead Valley! Suzanne Rohrbach, President Kalispell Area Music Teachers Association

Southwest Montana Music Teachers Association Southwest Montana Music Teachers association will hold its Winter Recital on Sunday, February 12th. This event will take place in Reynolds Recital Hall at Montana State University where students have the opportunity to perform prepared solo or ensemble pieces for voice, strings, and piano. Pianists have the added opportunity to perform on the new 9 foot grand Steinway piano. SMMTA is also planning its Spring Festival for Saturday, March 31st. This is an all day event hosted by the School of Music at MSU where students can participate in piano, strings, or voice masterclasses, percussion and rhythm classes, and composition masterclasses.

Missoula Greetings from Missoula, MT! We have a lot of exciting programs and events planned for 2012. Our January meeting features a vocal presentation by some of our vocal teachers. We are hosting the Division Competitions at UM January 13-15. The students from UM are presenting a Concert at the UM Recital Hall at our February 12

2011 MSMTA Conference Clinician Ingrid Clarfield Keys to Artistic Performance: Color, Choreography and Characterization Keys to Stylistic Mastery: Students are Never Too Young nor Too Old to Understand Style Submitted by Sharon Weaver-Knowles , NCTM Ingrid Clarfield’s energy, creative thinking, humor and positive personality shone through every moment of her presentations. I will attempt to summarize her two Friday presentations as one unit here. Ms. Clarfield emphasized that we ought to begin working with artistic expression early in a child’s development rather than waiting until he or she is ready for the Romantic repertoire. We need to explain to children how to color their music by helping them to think in orchestral terms. She pointed out that children need to be exposed to all the instruments of the orchestra in order to have a grasp of the many different qualities of sound possible .We need to show them how harmonic progressions impact color and teach them to hear melodies as vocal lines. Ingrid first teaches balance between the hands with the melody being brought out with a quiet accompaniment and then teaches voicing within the hands. Schnabel said “The highest form of artistry is voicing.” Finding the “tune” when it goes between the hands or when the left hand has interesting lines to be brought Ingrid Clarfield and her contagious smile! out is included under voicing. In terms of choreography, Ms. Clarfield emphasized that it has to enhance the musical outcome. The music dictates what is needed. She videotapes every lesson and then has the children watch the video without the sound. Gestures, she convinced us, affects the tone that is produced and the timing. In terms of timing, she commented that for expressive purposes, it is “better to be late than on time”. We need to help the students focus on artistic endings, an example being keeping the head down while listening to the sound fade away. Rests are always an issue. Why don’t kids observe rests? “Because they don’t know what to do during a rest!” We must give them something to do and for long rests, make them theatrical. Ms. Clarfield, in her repertoire series “Keys to Artistic Performance”, published by Alfred, is very specific about how to work on each piece. She went through Book 1 of Ingrid Clarfield and her left hand artist the series in her second session. Her enthusiasm for the series is contagious. A few Ken Christensen. of the specifics she related regarding specific pieces included playing just melody first and then blocking and voicing notes and working with arm circles in the Etudes by Catherine Rollins and in Chopin’s Etude in A flat. In Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2, the left hand should be practiced with two hands. Clementi, Op. 36, No. 1 should have the sound of the timpani in the opening left hand. It’s usually played too quietly. She emphasized that going from major to minor is about color. Play minor piano and major forte for color and humor. Augmented 6ths give color. We must point that out and get the student excited about it. Because Ms. Clarfield was left without the use of her left hand and arm after suffering a stroke four years ago, Ken Christensen agreed to provide her left hand during her sessions. What a challenging task! And he performed masterfully. I think we are all amazed and grateful that Ingrid Clarfield is determined to continue her wonderful teaching and clinics regardless of her handicap – which does not affect her incredible ability to teach. 13

The Road to Chopin: From Method Book to First Chopin Pieces Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield

Ingrid Clarfield with students who performed in her master class.

Years for MSMTA Membership These members were honored at the 2011 conference

Important note: All information is received by our Membership Treasurer directly from MTNA. It seems that years of membership are calculated from the year after a member has joined. For instance, if you joined in 2002 you wouldn’t have completed one year of membership until 2003, so you would get your 5 year pin in 2008 (not 2007) and your 10 year pin in 2013 (not 2012).

10 years Jennifer J. Charlton Katherine Skinner Mary Anne Moseley Bonnie Steingruber Suzanne Rohrbach Laurel Yost 15 years Gloria Clark Charlene Loge Sue K. Clarke

Ms. Clarfield shared with us many, many pieces that she considers ‘pre’ Chopin. As an introduction to the composer she recommends Keys to Artistic Performance, Bk.1 pub by Alfred. For an introduction to Nocturnes, she played such pieces as Nocturne by Paul Sheftel and Ocean Mist by Mary Sallee. To prepare students to play the Chopin Preludes she recommends First Loss by Catherine Rollin and Cello Song by Dennis Alexander from Mr. A Presents First Lyric Pieces, Book 1. For the Waltz we heard Tender Thoughts by Dennis Alexander and Elegant Waltz by Martha Meir and many other lovely waltzes appropriate for the student who is preparing to play the Chopin Waltzes. Ingrid recommends the Waltz in A Minor, Op. Posth. as the first Chopin Waltz to teach, followed by the Waltz in F Minor Op. 70 #2. To introduce Mazurkas we heard Mazurka for Chopin by Catherine Rollin and Mazurka in F by Eugenie Rocherolle. We all enjoyed a performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in Eb Major Op.9#2 by MSMTA member Kevin Rindlisbacher. Thank you Kevin for your lovely performance.

Ruth Rotondi was honored for her musical excellence and commitment to MSMTA.

30 years Albert R. Brewer 35 years Ruth Rotondi Betty Hanzel Leann Vralsted Marcy Holston Eva Maxwell 45 years Marieanne Hanser Carol Strizich

“Friends of Hesla”

25 years Doreen Laing Carol Thompkins

Steve Hesla was also honored for his musical excellence and commitment to MSMTA.

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MSMTA GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

The MSMTA General Business Meeting resumed on Saturday, November 11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. President Elect, Sharon Weaver Knowles recognized our new MSMTA members. She expressed that our main goal is to grow as an organization. She encouraged us to invite potential members to our meetings and activities. Once they join it is important to get them involved in our projects. Next on the agenda were committee reports. Listed below is a brief summary. Membership: Karen Woodgerd reported that total membership is 140. There were 3 new members during the past year and two reinstated. There are 14 collegiate members. Librarian: Jean Alexander reported that there were three videos checked out by one individual during the 2010-2011 year providing revenue of $15.00. Jean encouraged teachers to utilize the large collection of DVD’s and videos in our library. She also recommended that local associations invest in the new text, Creative Piano Teaching compiled by James Lyke,Geoffrey Haydon and Catherine Rolling. Steven Hesla has written a chapter in the book entitled, “Artistic Damper Pedaling”. Spring Festivals: Spring Festivals were held in six Montana cities in 2011. A profit of $196.00 was reported. Certification: Montana is ranked eleventh nationally in percentage of certified members. Competitions: Elinore Quander reported that 5 travel grants were given last year. Seventeen students performed in the 2011 MTNA competitions. Sixteen students entered the Fall Festival Short Program and 17 participated in the Solo Program. Adjudicators were Sara Schultz Hancock, strings, Dr. Stephen Hart, voice and Greg Presley, piano. Fall Festival: To deal with declining numbers of entries and rising costs of the Fall Festival the membership voted to increase fees by $10.00 for each level. This will help cover expenses, but will not solve the problem of going in the red each year. Carla Bell suggested that we look into finding sponsors to underwrite our costs. The silent auction for the Cinda Tompkins Memorial Scholarship brought in $520.00. There was some discussion about continuing the silent auction each year for the scholarship. Jean Alexander thought it might decrease Foundation contributions if done each year. Steven Hesla was concerned that too few people shared the financial burden of a silent auction. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to the MTNA Board’s elimination of the brass, woodwind, string, and vocal competitions. The decision has raised concerns by members nationwide. Ken Christensen, a member of the board as president elect, addressed the issue and the reasons for the

NOVEMBER 10, 2011 THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, BILLINGS, MT

The General Business Meeting of the 84th annual MSMTA conference was called to order by President, Diane Volkman. The minutes from the previous year’s meeting were read and approved. Carla Bell presented the Treasurer’s Report. The newsletter will now be printed twice a year instead of 3 times. It will be mailed in February and late September and will also be available on the MSMTA website. The change resulted in a savings of $700 from the previous year. Congratulations were given to Ken Christensen, the new President Elect of MTNA and to Sharon Weaver Knowles, president elect of MSMTA. Thanks were given to Ruth Rotondi for her years of service as state historian. Linda Holden will take on the duties of historian and plans to add a digital component to the records. The numbers of participants in the Fall Festival have been declining over the past few years. Twenty three students performed in 2010 compared to 16 in 2011. The numbers in the Solo Program have also been less. Elinore Quander reported that money has been lost each year with the Fall Festival. She recommended that the Fall Festival fees be raised $10/level to help cover expenses. The Cinda Thompkins Piano Pedagogy Scholarship has been designated a Memorial Scholarship. This means that contributions can be made to the scholarship in memory of Cinda. A silent auction will be held at the banquet to raise money for the scholarship fund. The next topic of discussion was the decision made by the MTNA board to discontinue competitions in the brass, woodwind, string, and vocal areas. The State Presidents Advisory Council will participate in a conference call on November 27. Diane urged MSMTA members to voice their opinions on the matter, so she can pass them along during the call. The issue is also on the agenda for the December MTNA board meeting. MSMTA has raised $1550 toward the nomination of Boyce and Margie Fowler as Foundation Fellows. $2000 is required to make a nomination. Kay Lund has been selected as a future nominee. Curriculum Guides are still available. Later this year they will be published on the MSMTA website. Notepads are still on sale and tickets are on sale for the MTNA Foundation raffle. Half of the money earned from the raffle goes to the Foundation and the other half goes toward the General Fund. The meeting was adjourned to be continued on the following day. 15

board’s decision. He stressed the fact that MTNA is financially secure. The decision about the competitions was a cost effective measure. The board believed the $100,000 lost in competitions over the past 3 years could be better spent for the membership, 12% of whom teach in areas other than piano. The board listened to the concerns of the membership and put the topic on the agenda for their next meeting in December. Ken was in favor of a proposal to rescind the decision and find ways to fund the competitions. He supported the formation of a Blue Ribbon Committee to fix problems within the competitions and to provide programs and incentives for members who teach brass, woodwinds, strings, and voice. Diane asked for suggestions and proposals that she could share with the Presidents Advisory Council in the November 27 conference call. After discussion, the membership voted on the following proposals: • MSMTA supports the continuation of the MTNA voice, strings, woodwinds and brass competitions. • The criteria for the advancement to the next level if a competitor is the only entrant in a category needs to be addressed. • MSMTA supports the development of programs and incentives to support our brass, woodwinds, strings, and voice members. Next year’s conference will be in Kalispell. Spencer Meyer will be the concert artist and Wendy Stevens the clinician. Charles Nichols is the commissioned composer and Del Parkinson has agreed to adjudicate piano. After the presentation of door prizes and a hearty thank you to the Billings teachers for a great conference, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Dorothy Beck Peterson, MSMTA secretary

2011 MSMTA Conference / Competition Report

Conference/Competition Summary Income $9,825.00 Expenses Facilities $2,131.00 Banquet, Lunch, Catering $3,056.81 Office Expenses $625.16 Artist/Clinicians $3,358.58 Commissioned Composition $0.00 Adjudicators - Competition $1,777.61 Concert Expenses $0.00 Miscellaneous $0.00 Competitons Office Expenses $106.81 Subtotal: $11,055.97 Total: ($1,230.97)

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Thank you to Kevin Rindlisbacher and Steinway of Spokane for providing beautiful instruments for our annual conference and competitions. We are very grateful for your generosity.

Foundation Fellow I would like to nominate Kay Lund for MTNA Foundation Fellow. We need to raise $1000 before we can send in the application. Will you join me in supporting the foundation and honoring a member of MSMTA that has contributed to our organization for many years? Checks can be made out to MSMTA, designated for the Kay Lund Foundation Fellow Fund, and sent to our Treasurer, Carla Bell. Please spread the news! Kay has many friends and former students who love her dearly!

Kay Lund, NCTM

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Montana

Music News

A P ubl i cat i on o f th e

MONTANA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Montana Music News Montana State Music Teachers Association Diane Volkman, President 684 Martini Lane Columbia Falls, MT 59912

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