Desert Valley Music Teachers Association
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DVmTA Newsletter​s and blog

September 2019 Newsletter

9/26/2019

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Seeing “Avengers – Endgame” this past weekend reminded me how prevalent the “superhero” franchise has been in our culture for many years now.  I guess the fanaticism comes from the fact that there is something romantic and awe-inspiring about beings who have special powers that enable them to make things right with the world.  Although some superheroes like Superman do not belong to the human race, many started out as just normal people who by some other-worldly fluke of nature became endowed with their special powers – think Captain America and Antman.  Are superheroes the only ones with superpowers though?  I think not!

While I was still teaching general music in the public schools, I received a T-shirt in lieu of flowers after a third-grade music performance.  It was one of my favorite “teacher” gifts ever!  The shirt said, “I am a Music Teacher.  What’s Your Superpower?”  I thought, “I have a superpower?  Of course, I have a superpower!”  Having to leave videos for substitute teachers was enough of a reminder to me that what I was doing was special and very, very few people could step in and do my job!
           
If you are reading this, you, too, have been endowed with superpowers!  You are a music teacher.  You can do something special that not many people are able to do!  You are giving your students a true gift when you sit down at the piano with them each week.  In addition, don’t forget that DVMTA is here to support you and intensify those superpowers by offering free professional growth opportunities for you at our general meetings and fun, inexpensive experiences for your students! (See articles below) As you continue to navigate through this year and encounter problems in your studio caused by all of the various things that are competing for your students’ time and attention, just remember how special and important you are and put those superpowers to work!  You are a music superhero!

Carolyn Rooder, DVMTA President

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August Brunch 2019-August 16, 2019

9/26/2019

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​Welcome to the new DVMTA year 2019-2020!
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Our DVMTA kick off Brunch was a huge success as we look to "Embrace the Future" in another exciting year of events of activities. Members and guests enjoyed great food, visited and were presented with information for this year's meetings and events. DVMTA President Carolyn Rooder encouraged members to look to the future as we adapt our teaching and planning to better serve our members and students.  We're looking forward to a great year! Special thanks to Amy King and the August Brunch Committee for the fabulous food and fun!

DVMTA 2019-20 Board
President: Carolyn Rooder
Vice-President: Hollie Lunt
Secretary: Kelli Riding
Treasurer: Lori Weidemann
August Brunch/April Brunch: Amy King
Music Marathon: Dana Rodgers
Original Composition: Toni Tetreau
December Luncheon: Lacy Range
Cavalcade: Jenna Hartley, Linda Carpenter
Awards in Excellence: Lorri McHardy
April Brunch: Corinne Walker

Achievement Day: Buffie Meeker
Awards Plus: Carolyn Eldredge
Membership: Tammy Shorts
Hospitality: Karen Cox
Social Media/Community Relations: Claire Westlake
Parliamentarian/Technology: Shannon Payne

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August 2019 Newsletter

9/26/2019

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I am happy to report that the Desert Valley Music Teachers’ Association is alive and well after a successful 2018-2019 season, and we are anxious to “Embrace the Future!” as we kick off another year of wonderful events for our music students!
 
This year’s theme, “Embrace the Future”, calls to mind my first trip to Epcot Center at Disney World a “mere” 30 years ago.  I was in awe of all of the amazing ideas and gadgets presented in one of the attractions – phones you could carry around in your pocket, phones with the ability to see the person you were talking to, self-driving cars, etc.  Now, we are actually living what were once just dreams of the future!  As I have aged, it hasn’t always been easy to adjust to the lightning fast technology that demands our participation these days.  However, attempting to “Embrace the Future” has actually been quite an exciting journey for me!  This old dog is learning some new tricks with positive results and having a good time doing it!
 
I thought “Embrace the Future” was an appropriate theme for DVMTA because a lot has changed since our organization was founded nearly forty years ago!  In the last few years, we have seen a glimpse of how these changes have affected our events and operating structure.  With an “Embrace the Future” attitude, our organization is empowered to meet the challenges of the times.  It gives us license to make changes when the old ways of doing things just don’t work anymore. 
 
An “Embrace the Future” attitude can do wonders for improving what you do in your studio as well!  Don’t fear trying new things!  Incorporate the use of a music app instead of flashcards during lessons, have your students explore the amazing array of composing experiences available on the computer or digitally record your students’ performances periodically and create a portfolio so that the students can hear how they have progressed throughout the year! Changes don’t have to be technological in nature, though, to make a difference for your students!  Choose a skill that you feel you have not focused enough attention on and find a way to address it more often in lessons or choose a DVMTA event to enter your students in that you haven’t tried before!  As you will see in the articles below, our events cover an exceptional variety of music opportunities – community outreach performance opportunities (Marathon), creativity (Original Composition Festival), fun and fellowship with fellow musicians (Organ Stop Pizza Night), ensemble playing (Cavalcade), competition (Awards in Excellence), celebration and recognition of progress and participation (Achievement Day and Awards Plus).  Our organization was created to give teachers the ability to offer these unique and important opportunities to students.  When students participate in these events, which would be nearly impossible for the average studio to pull off single-handedly, it takes their music studies to a whole new level!  So, go forward with an “Embrace the Future” attitude this year and take advantage of the wonderful opportunities DVMTA has to help your students be the best they can be and have fun while they are at it!

Carolyn Rooder, DVMTA President

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June 2019 Newsletter

9/26/2019

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Congratulations, everyone, on another successful DVMTA year!  As we entered the second half of the year, two big questions were looming.  Would Cavalcade be able to act as a fund-raiser as it had been set up to do in the past with the increased cost of running the event?  Would Awards in Excellence be able to continue funding winners at the same level?  I am happy to report - Yes! and Yes!  A combination of increased fees, additional fund-raising efforts, careful event planning, generous business partners and member support all worked together to keep the organization financially stable.  You all deserve a pat on the back for encouraging your students to participate in our events.  Not only is student participation vital to the success of our organization, but the events we offer (Marathon, Original Composition Festival, Cavalcade of Rhythm, Awards in Excellence, Achievement Day and Awards Plus) are all vital means of promoting students’ musical growth in ways that cannot be achieved solely within our individual studios!  Keeping our organization strong benefits everyone!

Now, as we settle into the summer months, I hope you all have plans that involve some well-deserved rest and relaxation!  I also hope you have a chance to think about how being a member of DVMTA can benefit you and your students in the coming school year.  Perhaps one goal can be to enter one or two students in an event that you haven’t tried before – just to get your feet wet!  Another goal may be to talk to some members you don’t know as well to form some new connections at the August brunch.  I have learned tons just talking member to member!  How about arranging to visit other members’ studios occasionally throughout the year to gain some new ideas and perspective?  General meetings are always chock full of sage advice and practical instruction that help us all to be the best teachers that we can be, so you can make an effort to attend as many as possible.  DVMTA is here for you as a tremendous support to your music studio.  If you are not already doing so, plan on taking advantage of all that DVMTA has to offer in the coming year!  In the meantime, have a great summer!  I look forward to seeing you all at the August Brunch!

Carolyn Rooder, DVMTA President

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  • Home
  • Join/Renew
  • Find a Teacher
  • Events
    • 2022 Music Marathon
    • 2022 Original Composition Festival
    • 2023 Cavalcade of Rhythm
    • 2023 Awards in Excellence
    • 2023 Achievement Day
    • 2023 Awards Plus
  • Members
    • Documents >
      • General Documents
      • * Member Documents *
    • General Meetings and Calendar
    • Membership List
    • DVMTA Board and Committees
    • Noble Award Donation
    • Library
    • Resource Links
  • News and Blog
  • About