Our first DVMTA general meeting of the new year was a great success. Members and friends met on January 27, 2023 at My First Piano. We were privileged to have Dr. Hannah Creviston be our presenter. Dr. Creviston is a Clinical Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy, Director of the Music Prep Program, and Coordinator of Class Piano at ASU. She instructed us on Teaching Rhythm, not Math: the Use of Music Learning Theory Principles in the Private Studio. Dr. Creviston shared many tools to help students learn rhythm through listening and movement. Members were able to participate in learning how movement allows students to learn principles of rhythm and the demonstrations were a lot of fun. Thank you to Dr. Hannah Creviston for an inspiring meeting. 

January is here and a new year has begun, full of opportunities and possibilities. Perhaps the new year has prompted you to set personal and professional goals to help you spark positive change and accomplish great things. During a recent Facetime video call with my 4 ½ year old grandson, Calvin, he asked me if I wanted to see his goals. My daughter helped him write them down in different categories, and then he made them extra special by adding pictures and making them colorful. His goals made me smile. Here are some of my favorites: be a peacemaker, learn how to read, start learning piano, play t-ball, play outside every day, make new friends in Kindergarten, help others when they need help…Calvin has big plans for the new year, and that cute little guy inspired me to think about my personal goals and goals for my studio and students.

What do you want to accomplish as a piano teacher in 2023? You have an important job that really matters and makes a difference in the lives of your students. Our goal as an organization is to create lifelong musicians. I encourage you to think about each student and how you can help them learn, grow, progress, and reach their potential. Ask them what they would like to accomplish and help them plan how to get there. We have three exciting DVMTA events coming up that can help our students meet their goals and become better musicians: Cavalcade, Awards in Excellence, and Achievement Day. These events are wonderful growing opportunities for our students, and I hope you and your students will support them by participating. Awards Plus in May will honor and celebrate the hard work of DVMTA students as Devoted Performers and Senior Scholars. We have lots of fun ahead of us, and I look forward to being a part of it with each of you.

Happy New Year!

Tammy Shorts
DVMTA President 2022-2024
​
Read the full January 2023 Newsletter