Happy New Year! I love the flurry of activity associated with the holidays, but I’ll admit it’s also nice to settle back into a normal routine again. It’s been wonderful to welcome students back, to hear their excited news, and to see what might remain of the Cavalcade music we learned before the break. . .

January often brings a feeling of a fresh start. Whether you’re one of those super-organized types that has already set goals in multiple areas of life, or whether you just feel a nudge to try something different, let DVMTA be part of that reset. For yourself, attending our general meetings can give you inspiration and tools to be a better teacher. Plus it’s great to have friends who understand the challenges you face. For your students, our events are set up to help them progress and succeed. If you have not yet tried our spring events, I encourage you to do so. If you didn’t register anyone for Cavalcade, I invite you to come and see the show for yourself. As a director, sometimes that first rehearsal makes me cringe and wonder whether we’ll put it together in time. But somehow, it always works out and the students put on a fabulous show. If you’ve not tried our April competition, take the plunge and enter just one student. It’s not too late to choose music and prepare two songs, especially for a lower-level student. If you’d like some help in getting them ready, talk to Diana Palmer about having them play at the February masterclass. It’s an excellent way to get outside feedback and extra preparation for that student. And if you haven’t yet tried Achievement Day, I can’t recommend it highly enough. That event alone has transformed my teaching. Whatever annual incentive we’re working on is always set up with Achievement Day in mind. We work on theory, ear training, sight-reading and more throughout the year so that March and April don’t become a cram-it-all-in-desperately overload. But again, it’s not too late to think about it. There are multiple practice tests and other helps on our website. Maybe you could try having your primer and level 1 students try it out this year, then keep expanding as you feel confident. Randi Buell, our event chair, would be happy to answer any questions, as would any of us that have participated.

I hope to see you all at our January 31 general meeting. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate and learn together.

Happy New Year!

Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President

Read the full January 2025 Newsletter

As usual in November, my thoughts turn toward gratitude. I have been richly blessed in many ways, but music has been a particularly large blessing in my life. As a child, organ lessons brought me closer to my mother, and I learned the importance of perseverance and practice.

As a teen, being in band and choir gave me wonderful friends and lots of opportunities to learn and grow. In college, music was both a course of study and an outlet for fun. In the years since, music has been a solace in difficult times, an unexpected source of income, a way to serve others, and a continuing bond for my husband and me. I have come to know many wonderful people singing together in choirs. I have made many friends, especially here in DVMTA—friends who understand my frustrations and my joys. I have no idea how many students have come through my studio over the years, but they have also taught me innumerable lessons.

As we head into the busyness of the holiday music season, may we each take a moment to ponder the blessings in our lives. What are you grateful for? What has music done for you? Is there someone to whom you should express gratitude? About ten years ago, I was able to reconnect with my high school choir teacher in Virginia (let’s hear it for modern technology!).

He saw talent in me that I was too shy to recognize at the time, and his  encouragement basically altered the course of my life. I was planning on getting an MBA but instead decided to study music. That one decision led not only to meeting my husband, but to a lifetime of making music in a variety of ways. I was able to tell him how much I appreciated not only the amazing choral music he taught us, but how his encouragement made a profound difference in my life. I will always be grateful for him and for other musical mentors. Some of those mentors I found here in DVMTA and their influence is still felt in my studio.

I’m grateful for each of you and for your contribution to making DVMTA the blessing it is to me. I’m grateful for each board member and for all who help make our events a success. It takes many hands, and I’m grateful you are willing to share your time and talents. I hope you each have a wonderful holiday season, filled with friends, family, and of course, music.

With great love,

Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President

Read the full November 2024 Newsletter

What a wonderful time of year! It’s finally cooling down a bit, and we’ve had a chance to rest and recharge during Fall Break (I hope!). Now it’s on to Music Marathon, fall recitals, recording compositions, and all the busy fun.

Many thanks to Carol Lancaster for presenting at our September meeting. One of the things I love most about DVMTA is the wide variety of teachers we have—brand new as well as “seasoned”, technology-lovers as well as those sticking to tried and true, the experimenters and the traditionalists—there are myriad ways to teach, and I find that students need a variety of approaches. I have students aged 7 to 62, at all levels.

When I do my planning for the week, I must consider their individual needs and be prepared to adapt to them. I’m so grateful for my interactions with you over the last 25 years. I’ve learned how to tailor concepts to many levels and many styles of learning.

Thanks also to our Fall event chairmen and committees. I’m looking forward to Music Marathon and seeing the creativity of you teachers. I’m always amazed at our Original Composition recitals. Thanks for making that extra effort we all know is necessary to help students get those pieces written down and recorded. And although Cavalcade is technically a spring event, they’ve been busy getting everything ready for us. I think our read-through on Friday the 25th will be such fun. It takes so many hands to make

DVMTA work, and I’m grateful for each one of you!

Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President

Read the full October 2024 Newsletter

What a pleasure to reconnect with everyone at the August Brunch! The food was delicious and a lot of important information was shared. Thanks to Kelli Riding and all who helped make it a wonderful morning.

As I’ve been thinking about this year’s theme of “Collaborate, Create, Celebrate!”, I’ve become more aware of how those three things apply in my teaching. Of course, my collaboration with DVMTA teachers has been a huge blessing over the years, and I’m able to have my students participate in events like our upcoming Music Marathon. But I’ve also noticed the collaboration that happens between me and my students. We have been choosing our pieces for the fall recitals and Marathon, and I usually play

several pieces and allow them to choose. They still must play two pieces with contrasting styles, but they feel more ownership and (theoretically) will be more willing to practice if they have had a say.

Not too many of my students choose to do the Original Composition festival, but for those who do, I’m always surprised by their creativity. The biggest challenge is often reining them in, not allowing them to go down too many rabbit holes in one piece. But as we analyze form or look at how other composers used motives and sequences or the I, IV, and V chords, students see how they can apply that in their own compositions. Those lightbulb moments are part of the joy of teaching for me.

I was talking with one of my adult students last week, the grandfather of one of my students, trying to get back what he was able to do as an 11-year-old. He sometimes gets frustrated that his hands just won’t do what his brain understands they need to do. He’s a wonderful musician, a singer and brass player, and even though he’s only been taking lessons since June, expects a great deal from himself. We looked back at the pieces we started with in June, and he was able to play through them easily. His

scales are fluid and he feels more confident when his hands have to move around the keyboard. He kind of sat back with a thoughtful, “Hmm, I guess I am getting better.” For me, it was a moment to celebrate, that realization that hard work really does pay off and goals can be reached even if you’re in your 60s!

I encourage each of you to look for those little moments, the times we can collaborate, create, or celebrate with our students. The work we do as teachers is important; we are inspiring another generation to love music as we do. Keep up the great work!

Lorri McHardy
DVMTA President

Read the full September 2024 Newsletter