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For
the
Record – Fall 2010
Upcoming Events and Reminders
Remembering Ben
Whitten
Membership
MusicLink
Local Associations
From the President’s Desk
Jacqueline Herbein, NCTM
Dear
Colleagues,
Great
moments can arise when good planning and beautiful surroundings intersect.
Without a doubt, such was the case with the 2010 PMTA Conference at Bedford
Springs Resort! This was a conference of
firsts – a first summer conference, a first conference not partnered with
competitions and the Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival, a first conference
held at a resort. There were many new
faces in attendance, along with spouses and families. Quite a few took advantage of the resort
activities – the spa, golf, hiking trails and swimming pools – and between
sessions there were innumerable opportunities to relax and socialize with
colleagues. The food was both
spectacular and sumptuous and even the weather cooperated by allowing us to
gather outside for the welcome reception and impromptu late-night
conversation. What a splendid
opportunity to nourish our spirits while refreshing our minds!
Conference
Artist Brian Ganz was astounding – communicating with a musical depth not often
heard and connecting personally with his recital (and master class) audience. What inspiring gifts he shared with all of
us! Keynote speaker and
pedagogue-in-residence Suzanne Guy was a treasure – witty, insightful and down-to-earth. She helped us renew our commitment to
pedagogical excellence. Guest Clinicians
James and Kathryn Douthit provided an easily understood introduction to
learning styles that gave us insight into our own students and had us chuckling
as James described some of his. And
Duquesne University professor of entrepreneurship and composition David Cutler
provided a wealth of dynamic ideas for us to become more savvy music teachers
(and make more money in the process!).
Rounding out the weekend were terrific workshops by our own PMTA
clinicians – every single one of which was well received! Thank you to Matthew Allison, Donna Beadle,
Elizabeth Burnett, Joao Paulo Casarotti, Kristin Demsey, Enrico Elisi, Danise
Gallaway, Roger Hayden, Gilya Hodos, Kay Hooper, Marja Kaisla, Lee Kikuchi,
Joann Kirchner, Jamie Mazza, Lauren McCurdy, Christine Moulton, Susan Nowicki, Katelyn
Panza, Catherine Shefski, Nanette Kaplan-Solomon, Maria Taylor and Crystal
Whitaker. Your expert presentations
added incredible variety to our conference!
For
those who were not in attendance at the 2010 – you really missed something
special. James Douthit, one of the clinicians
and former PMTA president summed it up:
This was one of the
best conferences in my memory. I think you could not have asked for a
better conference. I LOVE not having to deal with Dorothy Sutton and the
competitions at the same time, and I believe it is much more beneficial for the
teachers, as they can focus exclusively on their own development and not have
to worry about students.
These
same thoughts were echoed by nearly everyone in attendance!
Because
of the great response from attendees, the board agreed that we should give this
resort venue conference another try before returning to the more traditional
campus-based conference. To that end, we
will hold the 2011 conference June 10-12, 2011 at the Inn at Pocono Manor,
right in the heart of the Pocono Mountains.
Mark your calendars NOW as you will not want to miss out! There is plenty to do for the whole family
while you attend conference events, so plan to bring them along - horseback riding, biking, archery, fishing, clay
shooting and even outlet shopping at the Crossings Premium Outlets! You might want to consider staying an extra
couple days at the prices we’ve been able to negotiate so you can relax at the
Laurel Spa right on the resort grounds or visit nearby Camelbeach Waterpark! More details coming up in the next newsletter!
Between
now and next June we have a number of state events (see below). Plan now to get your students involved.
I
am pleased to announce that Jeff Harris will be our treasurer this year,
completing James Rodkey’s term. I am
grateful to those currently serving on the board and to those serving at the
local levels. However, we desperately
need members who will assume leadership positions on the executive board of
PMTA. MTNA president Ann Gipson
addresses the issue of volunteerism in the August/September issue of American
Music Teacher. Nelson
Rockefeller
once said “You can’t leave footprints in the sands of time while sitting down.” Please consider creating your own footprints
in our state organization for others to follow and know that those who have
already left footprints are always ready and willing to help mentor you in your
position.
As
summer is drawing to a close, I wish everyone a smooth start to the fall
semester and I look forward to a wonderful year of musical activities.
Jackie
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UPCOMING EVENTS
November
20-21 is the Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival and MTNA/PMTA Performance
Competitions held at Penn State University.
Remember, DSPF is on Saturday, November 20, the MTNA/PMTA competitions
on Sunday, November 21. If you will be
at DSPF, please consider staying to help monitor the competitions on
Sunday. As Penn State is on Thanksgiving break that
weekend, we cannot depend upon student monitors.
January
22 (and 23), 2011 the state will take part in the MTNA International Day of
Collaborative Music, which is part of MTNA’s year-long celebration focused on
collaborative music-making. (Visit www.mtna.org and click on the Collaborative
Music block on the home page for complete information.) Plan now and be
creative - get involved through a local
association event or a personal studio event.
Toni Hall and Gloriana Sewell are spearheading this event for
Pennsylvania and have been in touch with all local association presidents – be
sure to document your participation and let them know what you have planned and
then send them an event summary.
Other Reminders
August
31 is the absolute deadline for dues to be paid in order to maintain your
listing on PMTA’s teacher referral website link (www.pamusicteachers.org - Find a
Music Teacher). And, of course it goes
without saying that dues must be paid in order to participate in local
association fall student events.
PMTA
Website: Karen Nagle and Millie Eben
have been working diligently to make sure the PMTA website has been updated and
is functioning properly. The transition
to a content management system has not been a smooth one. Please take a moment to delete your old PMTA bookmark
or favorites address, access the website by typing in www.pamusicteachers.org and then
re-bookmark. Also, if you run across any
website issues, report them immediately to Karen Nagle (info@pamusicteachers.org).
PMTA
has new guidelines for website advertising for
organizations/businesses/individuals NOT holding PMTA membership. (Visit www.pamusicteachers.org - click About
PMTA tab, Officers and Chairs, PMTA Policies and Procedures link). Please direct any potential sponsors or
advertisers to Karen Nagle at info@pamusicteachers.org
.
Check
the website for local association news and schedule of events – click on the
local associations link on the left-hand side of the home page. Remember, the Local Association Schedule of
Events is submitted quarterly to Karen Nagle (info@pamusicteachers.org) according
to the following deadlines: July 20, for events August to November; November 20
for events November to February; February 20 for events February to May; April
20 for events May to July. Note: These
are the only times this information will be updated!
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REMEMBERING BEN WHITTEN
PMTA
has lost a legend with the passing of Ben Whitten on Sunday, June 13th
at his home in Philadelphia. He was
truly one of the “great souls” of the music world. Ben was a distinguished teacher, clinician,
artist, and performer.
Ben
was raised in Mississippi and Memphis and began studying the piano at an early
age. He received bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in music at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, where he studied with Austin Conradi and Leon Fleisher. It was there that he met pianist Jane Peebles
from Norfolk, Va. They married in
1955. After a brief stint in the Army,
Ben taught at the Peabody Preparatory for children. In 1959 he began his career as a professor at
West Chester State Teachers College, now West Chester University. In 1991 he retired from West Chester but
continued to teach privately. He also
taught at Elizabethtown College, the University of the Arts, and the Wilmington
Music School.
Ben
performed in many venues, from faculty recitals, community concerts, as well as
at Carnegie Hall. The New York Times described Mr. Whitten as “a mature musician
whose vitality comes from understanding the music at hand and knowing how to
make it come to life.” His performances were wonderfully musical and often
featured the romantic repertoire that he loved.
PMTA bestowed many honors upon Ben. He was state president from 1975-1979,
teacher of the year in 1979 and 1998, and received the distinguished service
award in 1983. He had a wonderful
capacity for encouraging everyone (students and teachers alike) to be involved
in the MTNA world. He was always present
at competitions at the local, state, and national levels. If he didn’t have a student performing he
most likely was adjudicating. His
judging comments were eloquent and penetrated to the very basis of a student’s
performance.
Hearing
Ben’s students perform was always a treat!
There was always a polish and musicality that was imbued in the
performance. Nine of his students
appeared as soloists with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He frequently had students win prizes at all
levels of competition in the MTNA piano competitions.
Ben
was committed to the MTNA Foundation and supported it in many ways. He was a member of the MTNA Legacy Society, a
Foundation Fellow (2003), and served as a member of the MTNA development
committee. He endowed a Collegiate
Chapter of the Year Award for MTNA.
I
am blessed with many memories of Ben as a friend, colleague, and musician. He was truly a “character” with an outrageous
sense of humor, keen intellect, and colorful personality. You never knew what he would say! As a colleague I loved his frequent visits to
my studio to check in and share the latest gossip. His robust enthusiasm for
music, travel, art, and fine cuisine was contagious. His curiosity for learning continued
throughout his entire life. Students
were in awe of his unpredictability, his creative occasional profanities, and
his empathy.
He
is survived by his wife Jane, three children Benjamin, Nathaniel, and Victoria,
as well as two grandchildren. There are
hundreds of piano students whose lives have been forever touched by his
influence not only as a musician but perhaps more importantly as a
humanist. This Southern gentleman had a
genuine knack for understanding the complexities of each student he
encountered.
Memorial donations may be
made to the Benjamin Whitten Endowment of the Music Teachers National
Association, 441 Vine St., Suite 3100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The family plans to hold a celebration of his
life at a later date
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MEMBERSHIP REPORT - JANE O'MARA, CHAIR
You
have all received your new membership renewals from MTNA. The membership year runs from July1, 2010 to
June 30, 2010. Please pay your dues in a
timely manner. All dues must be paid by
August 31, 2010 if you intend to
participate in the Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival, the PMTA/MTNA
Competitions, or be included on the states teacher referral website.
To
All Members: If you have a change in any
of your contact information (phone number, email, address), please notify
your local membership chair so that we can keep our listings current. Local membership chairs should then forward
the information to me and I will then forward to our administrator, Karen Nagle
and to MTNA. If you do not belong to a
local, then forward the information directly to janesnotes1120@hotmail.com.
Please
read the Welcome New Members section below.
If there is a member who is not listed with a local, and their hometown
is near your chapter, please contact them and invite them to join your local.
Welcome NEW Members
*Reinstated
Tanya
Ryzik, Philadelphia - PHC
Harry
Strack, Camp Hill - CAC
Michael
Campbell, Mechanicsburg - CPC
Michael
Eben, Reading, RGG
Elizabeth
Stoltzfus, Leola - LAC
Nini
Chen, Wynnewood - MLC
Natalie
Phillips, Pittsburgh - GPC
Lin-San
Chou, Irwin - WMC
Kim
Jamison, Pittsburgh - GPC
Julie
Pacheco, Trevose,
Ioannis
Potamousis, Lancaster - LAC
Harry
Strack, Camp Hill - CAC
Reinstating Members
*Joao
Paulo Casarotti, Philadelphia - Temple
*Fabiola
De O F Pinheiro, Brazil - GPC
New Collegiate
Members
Monica
Schaffer, Wynnewood - West
Chester
Ekaterina
Kalinina, Feasterville - Temple
Emily
Jennings, Haddon Heights, NJ – Temple
MusicLink - SUE GARNHART, CHAIR
It
is time to think about becoming a part of MUSICLINK for your potentially able
and deep desiring students but who are financially needy. These students
are ones for whom you might already offer scholarship. This program is
under the MusicLink Foundation which is National with over 3500 students and
with teachers contributing more than 240,000 hours of instruction.
Learn
more about MusicLink by looking into the benefits of MusicLink on this website:
www.musiclinkfoundation.org/
Discounts and free music from major
publishers
Camp scholarships for your MusicLink
student(s)
Grass Roots Grants for alliance
partner organizations
Teacher Reimbursement Grants to
assist in materials and music
Assistance in providing instruments
for your MusicLink student
Communication with teachers
nationally who share your interest in reaching students in need through music.
If
you have questions, please email Sue Garnhart
Local Association News
Click
here for more information about Local Association
activities throughout the state
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