Nothing says it's time to prepare for DVMTA event season better than our annual Cavalcade of Rhythm music preview and read-through, which was held October 27th at The Music Store. After months of selecting the perfect songs and pieces for students to play together in their duet ensembles, teachers get to play through the pieces and select the groups for their students to join. We always enjoy this meeting. There is lots of excitement and laughter, and much anticipation for this amazing event. Thanks to the Cavalcade committee, Carolyn Eldredge, Sara Pratt, Charles Newton and Lisa Hunt for organizing the music and helping us prepare. Happy fall, everyone, and welcome to the beginning of the DVMTA events season! Each event is an opportunity to take a musical journey with your students where learning and growth will take place. If you feel hesitant or nervous to participate in an event, remember you have the support, assistance and guidance of fellow teachers and dedicated committee chairs who will help you every step of the way.
We have twenty-seven teachers who registered students for our upcoming Music Marathon community recitals. For those of you participating, this month will be busy with encouraging and guiding students as they diligently prepare a piece to perform at one of our wonderful venues. October is the time to encourage your creative composers to finish recording and writing down their songs for the Original Composition Festival. I have two students who love to create their own songs. We’re in the process of using notation software to finish Brachiosaurus and Outer Space, and we have all grown in the process. I’m grateful for the feedback they will receive from a seasoned professional and the opportunity to play an original piece at a recital. Now is also the time to start thinking about which students would enjoy learning and playing duets for Cavalcade. Broadway-themed music has been chosen, and we will play through the songs at our meeting on Oct. 27 at the Music Store. Students who go on this journey will gain valuable ensemble experience. These events provide added motivation for students to practice and wonderful opportunities for students to share their music with others! So, fasten your seat belt, and get ready for a fun and rewarding ride. I’m grateful to be on this journey with each of you! Tammy Shorts DVMTA President 2022-2024 Read the full October 2023 Newsletter DVMTA members were delighted to gather together on September 29th for our first General Meeting of the new year. We love these opportunities to gain instruction and improve teaching skills. We were privileged to have Dr. Mandarin Cheung-Yueh, one of our own DVMTA members, present a Master Class. She worked with several DVMTA students one on one to help them with listening and playing technique, and demonstrated valuable skills that we as teachers learned from. Many thanks to Dr. Mandarin Cheung-Yueh for sharing her time and talents with us!
I had to grin when I asked one of my students what she thought of fourth grade so far and she replied enthusiastically, “I think it’s going to be my best year yet!” After being with many of you at the August Brunch and hearing about the year’s events from the board, I can also say this could be DVMTA’s best year yet!
We invite you to embark on musical journeys that will empower you and your students with learning and growth. Decide where you will go with your students and DVMTA can help you get there with tools and support. 1. Educational General Meetings: Sharpen your skills Effective teachers in any field are continually learning. Professional development is about building your skill set and knowledge base so you can improve your teaching. That’s why we encourage you to attend the five General Meetings planned for the year. You learn proven teaching techniques, gain fresh perspectives, and deepen your understanding of piano pedagogy. The Meetings are planned to provide you with ideas and strategies that will invigorate your teaching and give you confidence. The September General Meeting will give you an opportunity to take a front row seat to watch a professional teacher work with two students. 2. Motivating Student Events: Exploring new musical horizons Let’s challenge ourselves to explore new horizons with our students. Encourage them to embark on musical journeys that go beyond their comfort zones. Whether it’s preparing a piece to play for an audience or judge, mastering a challenging composition, or collaborating with other musicians, the possibilities are endless. The upcoming Music Marathon in October provides the opportunity for students to perform for an audience at various locations in the community. Students entering the Original Composition Festival go through the process of composing a song, performing it, and receiving valuable feedback from an experienced musician. The great composer, Leonard Bernstein said, “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” Let’s plan together as an organization and in our studios to make this year exceptional. Thank you for being a part of DVMTA. We’re thrilled to have you on board for what promises to be a remarkable year of learning and growth. See you at the September General Meeting, where we’ll kickstart our journey together! Tammy Shorts DVMTA President 2022-2024 Read the full September 2023 DVMTA Newsletter |
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