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From the Desk of Dr. Derek Polischuk
MMTA Members- I hope that your summer has been a time of refreshment, relaxation and time to recharge. But, perhaps, it's been professionally busy, with lots of teaching, writing, organizing and goal setting. However you have spent your summer, I hope that it has been meaningful to you, your families, and your students.
I am very excited for the academic year on our doorstep.
At MSU I am welcoming a number of young, enthusiastic graduate students who may one day contribute to our profession in ways that I can't yet anticipate. I hope that they will one day find a professional home in MMTA, and that we will likewise welcome them with open arms.
Additionally, I am extremely excited for the excellent MMTA Conference that Laurie Marshall has been hard at work planning. I hope to see you and visit with you at Oakland University on October 20 and 21.
Most Sincerely,
Derek Kealii Polischuk
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From the Desk of Laurie M. Marshall
Dear Colleagues and Friends! We are so very excited to see you at the 137th Michigan Music Teachers Association Annual Conference on October 20 and 21, Oakland University, Varner Hall, Rochester, MI. Register NOW and secure your hotel room at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Auburn Hills.Speakers include Music Teachers National Association President Peter Mack and Executive Director Gary Ingle. Concert Artists include Gala Concert Artists, Susan Yang and Nicholas Susi, Oakland University host faculty Jeff Heisler, Tian Tian, and I-Chen Yeh, and the MTNA and MMTA Student Winners Recital.Join your colleagues for inspiring presentations and leadership meetings. Additionally, come celebrate our colleagues including the MMTA Distinguished Service Award and Local Association Teacher of the Year Awards.Presentations include (in alphabetical order): Sungyeon Ahn and Jiwoon Sim, Michigan State University Collegiate Chapter, and Derek Kealii Polischuk “Many Hands: Music by Women for Piano Four Hands” Women Composers have been undeservedly neglected in the canon of classical music for hundreds of years. We will present two works by Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) and Marie Jaëll (1846-1925) as works that deserve a place amongst the greatest works for piano four hands.Svetlana Belsky“Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album: The Light of a Dark Soul”The 24 delightful miniatures of Tchaikovsky’ Children’s Album are a perfect pedagogical tool for introducing students of all ages to elements of romantic technique and sound production. For the adults and the teachers, these works are so much more — written during a difficult time in Tchaikovsky’s life, following the death of one young lover and a failed marriage, and dedicated to the next young lover, his own nephew, they paint a picture of the composer’s life and his internal struggles. Hearing the complete set performed is a fascinating and revealing experience. This talk will also offer teaching suggestions and ideas.Justin Gray“Music Learning Theory as a Starting Point for an Inspiring Future for Music Education”
As a young, relatively new music teacher, I am constantly asking myself what I need to do to help my students become the most well-rounded, independent musicians they can be. Over the last century and a half, music education, and specifically piano education, has been predominantly led by the proverbial establishment of the “method book.” We all learned the rudiments from these collections of exercises and preparatory through elementary level repertoire, which for the most part is grounded in sound pedagogical practices. But do they do enough? Are we giving our students enough musical skills, or even the right skills, to allow them to express themselves in the fullest way possible. I will explore these questions and more and present my case for why I believe piano education is moving in a new direction. My arguments are presented through the lens of Music Learning Theory and the research of Edwin E. Gordon and will focus on the piano series “Music Moves for Piano” by Marilyn Lowe.Jeffrey Heisler, saxophone & I-Chen Yeh, piano Concert: Latin Influenced Dance MusicBrendan Jacklin “Examining the Butterfly Effect of Repertoire Requirements” Young musicians face many repertoire requirements throughout their studies, with results that limit the compositional voices they are exposed to. These barriers often occur in method books, competitions, auditions, and festivals. This presentation probes these restraints and offers ideas that create greater exposure to the true breadth of classical music.Alexis C. Lamb, Commissioned Composer"Reading Seams" saxophone quartet.
Rivers are complex bodies of water. Not only are they home to a myriad of ecosystems and species, but the direction and pacing of water flow varies and supports these ecosystems. One of the most common visual cues of changing water flow is “seams,” where two currents flowing at different rates meet. Seams are an especially great place for fish to relax in the slower current while the faster current carries food sources directly to them. As an avid fisherwoman myself, one of my favorite parts of arriving at a new site is taking the time to notice, or read, the river before sending out my first cast. However, each river presents its own story and is never an open book. There is so much that we may be able to learn about these fragile ecosystems simply by taking the time to be present with them. Pinlin Liu, Michigan State University Collegiate Chapter “Harmonizing the Trio: Parent, Teacher, and Student in Piano Education”
This presentation discusses the pivotal roles of parents, teachers, and students in the context of piano education, highlighting their interdependence in cultivating musical excellence. It not only needs the teacher’s informative lessons, repertoire selection, and practice plans but also the parent’s supportive role to carry on their piano practice routine. Parents can be very beneficial to a child’s piano learning. This presentation will discuss
the indispensable role of parents, who support a teacher’s work.Emily Peterson “Intersections of Music Therapy & Music Education: Students on the Autism Spectrum” This presentation will be a lecture-discussion that gives an overview of the field of music therapy, consider the intersections of 1:1 music lesson and 1:1 music therapy session, and will provide time for sharing and discussion among participants. As the facilitator does not have an autism diagnosis, she defers to individuals on the spectrum who wish to share their personal experiences.Catherine Rollin“Unlocking Intuition & Freeing Up the Flow of Musical Expression” In this session, Catherine will explore how teachers can inspire their students to think creatively and bring their music to life with imagination, passion, and commitment. Mary Siciliano “Empowering Students with Understanding, Purpose, and Excellence”
This presentation will primarily focus on the pre-college student and the tools to create a teaching studio that aspires to elevate self-confidence and the artistic and pianistic possibilities of each student.Nicholas Susi Masterclass featuring Junior, Senior, and Young Artist students.Tian Tian“J. S. Bach: The Ultimate Pedagogue” Throughout his career, J.S. Bach composed music to teach students in the areas of composition and performance. This session will use various examples to demonstrate how the composer uses motives and patterns to teach technique, timing, pedaling and shaping. It will also explore how Bach's method has continued to influence composers such as Czerny, Haydn, Chopin, and Debussy.Susan Yang “A Path to Thoughtful Programming”
We all love what is familiar, including the pieces we teach and play. But how do we step out of our comfort zone and strike a balance between familiarity and the unexplored? This presentation will share ideas on how to select repertoire and build programs that are meaningful, educational, and engaging for both students and audiences.Zhiqian “Mona” Wu, Michigan State University Collegiate Chapter
“No Pain, No Gain: Playing-Related Injuries Among Students And Practicing Musicians”
The presentation will talk about playing-related injuries among students and practicing musicians. Referring to the presenter’s own experience and research, the following topics will be discussed: the general unspoken misperception of the injuries, the causes, and some specific problems one may experience from the injuries, and how to cope with the injuries/take precautions in our teaching.Music Movement Class w/ Justin Gray“Using Laban Efforts within the Music Lesson”
Join us in a fun and interactive session where we will explore the concepts of Rudolf Laban and the Laban Movement Efforts. We will explore the relationship between our bodies and the music we listen to and how we might be able to guide our students toward a deeper connection with their own bodies and musical minds. This will be a thirty-minute movement session to get our creative juices flowing, our bodies moving, and start the day off with an energizing kick that will be sure to inspire us to learn and grow together.For additional information, please visit the MMTA website conference page. We look forward to seeing you!Laurie M Marshall
Michigan Music Teachers Association, Vice President
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The SAT team is excited to provide MMTA members with 2024 updates.
The SAT Advisory Committee had a productive summer making 5 proposals that have been passed by the MMTA board. Here is a summary of the changes made effective immediately.
- Teachers that have students participating in SAT must not only belong to MMTA but must also belong to a local association. Teachers can belong to one chapter and are welcome to ask a different chapter to host their students.
- Students in levels 9-12 will now have three minutes to prepare Sight Reading. (This additional minute is for Sight Reading only.)
- The technique questions that request dynamic levels between two hands will now use two dynamic levels that have a clearer contrast. Rather than LH p and RH mf, it will now read LH p and RH f. This change impacts levels 8-12.
- The SAT Advisory board has updated the mission and vision statements:
Mission: The Student Achievement Testing Program is intended to provide a non- competitive assessment tool that advances the musical education of the students of MMTA members, by offering a comprehensive sequential based curriculum model of instruction which includes the subjects: Repertoire, Technique, Sight-Reading, Aural Awareness and Music Theory
Vision:
Through the SAT curriculum, teachers and students will have a clear perception of students' progress. Students will develop skills, competency, and a lifelong appreciation of music.
- The last Proposal is as follows. There are a handful of composers who represent two musical periods. Levels 6-12 must choose three different composers to represent their musical selections.
Other SAT reminders:
The SAT memory requirements stand for the 2024 SAT season. A decision on whether to make it permanent will be decided in 2025.
The SAT Advisory committees next goal is to accept three bids for a Statewide SAT online registration system. We will keep our membership updated as this exciting system progresses.
The revisions will be reflected in the SAT Handbook and will be available on the Website by the end of September. A link will be provided when it is completed.
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2023-2024 MMTA Interactive Webinars
MMTA is pleased to host our third season of the MMTA Interactive Webinars. The mission of the MMTA Interactive Webinars is to create an interactive and inspiring learning community within MMTA that equips members to meet the diverse needs of all students. Join us for an exciting lineup of incredible speakers and to experience a vibrant community of fellow Michigan music teachers! All webinars are free to members of MMTA and scheduled from 11:30 am-1:00 pm on Fridays.
September 15, 2023
Taking Off the Training Wheels: Effectively Teaching Past the Method Book and into the Intermediate Level with Janna Williamson
October 6, 2023
Favorite Tips for Successful SAT Student Performances with Jacki VanderSlik, Gail Lytle Lira, Michelle Mitchum, Vivian Kleinhuizen
November 3, 2023
How Many of Your Students Have Hidden Vision Disorders? With Janice Cook
December 1, 2023
Leading with Love: Leadership Skills for Music Teachers with Michele Wells
January 12, 2024
Meaningful Learning in the Private Studio Lesson through Collaboration with Gregory Chase
February 2, 2024
Exploring Career Pathways in Music with six music professionals as panelists.
(FREE to teachers, college students, high school students and parents)
March 1, 2024
Silent Film Recitals with Heather Smith
April 5, 2024
MMTA Member Chat: Studio Year Planning Edition
May 3, 2024
Armor up! Self-Care Strategies for Preventing Teacher Burnout with Paola Savvidou
For any questions, please reach out to:
Joy Morin, Teacher Education Chair, at joymorinpiano@gmail.com or
Emily Suszko, Teacher Education Committee Member at suszkopiano@gmail.com
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Proposed Bylaws Revisions for Review prior to the Annual Conference Business Meeting on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
The Bylaws Revision Committee was composed of Susie Byykkonen (Lake Superior), Carol Conklin (Kalamazoo), Janice Derian (Livonia), MMTA Parliamentarian Christie Otter (Livonia), and chaired by Immediate Past President Béatrice Ellis (Ann Arbor).
The goal was to bring clarity to the Bylaws by eliminating redundancies and ambiguities, and by updating some articles to acknowledge MMTA’s recent changes.
Since the proposed revisions affect the overall Bylaws, they are presented in a document with green highlight for additions and strikethrough lines for deletions in order to clarify the changes that were made. Please note that articles VII and X (in the 2021 version) have been merged as they both related to the Executive Committee. Subsequently, the numbering of some Articles needed to be adjusted.
Please log into the MMTA website: MichiganMusicTeachers.org, go to Member Resources and scroll down to find and review the documents.
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STATE and NATIONAL CERTIFICATION update.
Over the years, MMTA has witnessed the State Certification process evolve. At its inception, a teacher seeking State Certification mailed a heavy scrapbook with various items that demonstrated viability as a candidate for the rigorous testing process that followed.
State Certification was a great success, with many members accomplishing this certification. Over the years, the process was updated. No more scrapbooks, but nonetheless, a valuable form of building a teacher’s credentials. A few years back, the board decided to discontinue State Certification due to a lack of interest from our members.
At this time, the remaining State Certified Teachers will be grandfathered in and given Permanent State Certification status. Teachers will receive a certificate in the spring of 2024. For teachers interested in seeking further credentials, there is a very respectable National Certification process through MTNA.
The chairperson is Melissa Curtice. MMTA has many Nationally Certified teachers and other members seeking this certification.
Our most recent Nationally Certified Teacher is Sharon Gomulka of Livonia Area Piano Teachers. Congratulations on earning your National Certification.👏🏻
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Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League Presents,
Dr. Michael Finlay Recital: Sunday, September 24, at 2:00 p.m.Masterclass: Sunday, September 24, at 3:30 p.m.Lecture: Strategies for preventing Common Playing Injuries, Monday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m.Location: Kawai Piano Gallery2184 S. Telegraph Road Bloomfield Hills, MI
Sara Aylesworth, NCTM, believes every child deserves a safe place to call home, a cozy bed, access to clean drinking water, healthy food, and an education.
In an effort to be mindful of the needs of others, she and her Colleague, Canadian Concert Pianist and Royal Conservatory Ambassador Derek Chiu are hosting a Piano Concert as a Fundraiser to build an Orphanage for children in India.
Please click the link below to access the event registration.
Tickets are a minimum donation of $25 per person.
Event: Angelhouse Piano Concert Fundraiser.
Date: October 15th, at 4 pm.
Location: Oakland Church5100 N. Adams Road, Oakland Twp, MI
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