Indiana’s state round of the MTNA Performance Competitions will be held at Ball State University on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Entry deadline is 3:00 pm EASTERN TIME on Wednesday, September 12. Teacher dues must be paid by this time. For competition details please consult the website at mtna.org. Beyond this, you may direct questions to Jim Helton, MTNA Competitions Chairperson: jhelton@bsu.edu
Indy Teacher Groups to Welcome Dr. Paul Wirth
Dear Piano Teachers,
“With 26 years (at the time of release) of experience teaching young artists at the pre-college level, Dr. Paul Wirth first explains, and then demonstrates the teaching of his successful “Gravity Based Technique.” Clearly, and in great detail his step-by-step method of teaching students the art of piano technique is revealed in this 90 minute DVD. Joined by 8-year-old student Serena Lu, the joy of technique is evident throughout the teaching demonstration, as advanced concepts – “the single most important skills any pianist can learn” – are applied to the pre-college age group.”
Testimonials
“After seeing your last presentation, the technical ideas, and the ways you motivate your students re-energized my teaching. My students are playing more freely and with better dynamic control, and it has been exciting for us all! Thank you so much for your insight and willingness to share it with others….”–Nancy Bachus
Pianist, Teacher, Editor and author of the Alfred “Spirit” Series“Paul Wirth’s exceptional results with his students are well documented by their outstanding achievements in competitions, auditions, solo recitals, and orchestral appearances. At the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Dr. Wirth’s two presentations of gravity-based technique brought enthusiastic response from the audience. This GRAVI-DVD was made primarily in preparation for those presentations. Dr. Wirth’s logical approach and his well-articulated explanations render these concepts easily understandable and most helpful to all piano teachers. The examples of student performances are highly impressive.”–Marvin Blickenstaff
The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy“I just can’t be complimentary enough about it. It’s lucid as can be, it’s convincing, it’s beautifully constructed, there isn’t one wasted word, and the demonstrations all along the way are just excellent …. Paul Wirth is masterful, and the perfect person to be putting this pedagogy down into a concrete form. I also think that someone can actually learn to do this method by watching the DVD. I never thought that it would be possible without a lot of close, careful, personal training – but the Gravi-DVD is so clear and logical and appealing, that I’ve changed my mind.”–Hans Boepple
Pianist/Teacher of Young Artists, Santa Clara University, CA
SCHEDULE FOR DR. PAUL WIRTH AT UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, 3/2-3/3.
Hoosier Auditions – District F Updates
The details for District F (Columbus) competitions have been updated.
District Chair: Starla Raley
Audition Site: 1st Christian Church, 512 W. Main St., Madison, IN 47250
All details for district sites can be found here. Competition guidelines and entry forms are available here.
For questions regarding Hoosier Auditions, please contact Daniel Lin, chair.
2018 State Conference Call for Proposals
The conference committee for the 2018 IMTA State Conference to be held at Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne on October 5-6 is now accepting proposals on all aspects of music teaching and learning.
Both full session and lightning sessions submissions are welcome.
See details, along with the online submission form on the Call for Proposals page here on the IMTA website.
For questions regarding the IMTA State Conference please contact DJ Smith, Conference Laison.
Opus Festival 2018
Hello to all the teachers of IMTA!
It is time again to encourage your students to write music and submit their pieces for the 2018 OpusComposition Festival.
The Opus Composition Festival is a competitive event designed to encourage students to create and write music. This event promotes creativity and educates students in the art and craft of musical composition. All students who enter receive a special certificate of participation, a ribbon, and a judge’s comment sheet.
Winning entries are offered an invitation to be performed at the 2018 IMTA State Conference. Additionally, winning entries will be offered a reimbursement of entry fees into the MTNA Composition Competition.
Entries must be postmarked no later than Saturday, March 17, 2018.
Please refer to the https://indmta.org/opus/ for the rules and detailed guidelines.
Sincerely,
Caroline Ahn
IMTA Opus Composition Chair
Opus Festival Forms and Deadline Extension
The entry forms for the 2018 Opus Composition Festival are now available.
Both the entry form and the guidelines are available on the Opus page or you can download them from here:
Opus 2018 Entry Form
OPUS 2018 Guidelines
The entry deadline, normally the first Saturday in March, has been extended to Saturday, March 17, 2018. For questions regarding the Opus Composition Festival, please contact Caroline Ahn, Opus Chair.
Two Indiana Students, Winners in East Central Division Performance Competitions
Music Teachers National Association is pleased to announce the results of the Performance Competition for the East Central Division (ECD).
Included in those results, Indiana is proud to announce we have two winners, two alternates, and two honorable mentions from our state.
Winners:
- Junior String, Abigail Ko, Violin, student of Mimi Zweig
- Young Artist String, Clara Scholtes, Violin, student of Mauricio Fuks
Alternate:
- Chamber Music (Wind), Empyrean Saxophone Quartet, students of Otis Murphy
- Senior String, Lydia Rhea, Cello, student of Hans Jensen
Honorable Mentions:
- Senior Woodwind, Benton Westbrook, Saxophone, student of Otis Murphy
- Young Artist Woodwind, Ting Hua Liang, Saxophone, student of Otis Murphy
The winners now advance to the national competition which will be held at the MTNA National Conference in Orlando, Florida in March 2018. Alternates will be the representatives should the winners in their category be unable to compete.
Good luck to both Abigail Ko and Clara Scholtes as they compete in March!
Here is the full slate of results for the ECD Performance Competitions:
Chamber Music Wind
WINNER Zenith Saxophone Quartet (MI) John Nichol
Parker Fritz, Soprano Saxophone
Diego Kieliszewski, Alto Saxophone
Ben McDonald, Tenor Saxophone
Taylor Huitema, Baritone Saxophone
Continue reading
Hoosier Auditions State Entry Form Now Available
The state entry form for the 2018 Hoosier Auditions is now available. Visit the Hoosier Auditions page to download the form as well as find all information, rules, and fees for the competition.
Good luck to all students competing at both the district and state levels this year!
Indiana Student Winner of ECD Composition Competition
Music Teachers National Association is pleased to announce the results of the composition competition for the East Central Division (ECD).
Among the winners is Indiana student Alyssa Campbell a student of Caroline Ahn who was named the winner in the Young Artist competition.
The winning compositions automatically advance to the national competition as national finalists. The results of that competition will be announced by the end of January.
The full slate of winners and honorable mentions include:
Elementary:
Winner: Aaron Wang, Student of Catherine Rollin, MI
Honorable mention: Ethan Scheuermann, Student of Afrim Shabani, IL
Junior:
Winner: Lucas Huang, Student of Bradley Sowash, OH
Honorable mention: Elijah Hill, Student of Sharla Fritz, IL
Senior:
Winner: Barbara Juminaga, Student of Matthew Hagle, IL
Honorable mention: Joe Welage, Student of Andy Villemez, OH
Young Artist:
Winner: Alyssa Campbell, Student of Caroline Ahn, IN
Honorable mention: Nathan Lain, Student of Karen Ball, IL
The East Central Division judges were:
Daniel McCarthy
Mark Phillips
Carl Schimmel
Now Accepting Nominations for Commissioned Composer
IMTA is pleased to announce that we are now seeking formal nominations for the Commissioned Composer program. This program is a joint effort by MTNA/IMTA and is a great opportunity for composers.
The selected Commissioned Composer will be asked to write a piece for the following year’s IMTA state conference and will then have their composition submitted by IMTA along with composers from other states to compete for the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the year.
Nomination are not limited in any way. Please visit the IMTA/MTNA Composer Commissioning page for more information and to fill out the nomination form for 2018 commissioning.
The deadline for nominations is December 1st. Please contact IMTA’s Composer Commissioning chair, Caroline KyungA Ahn with any questions.
We are looking forward to many great composers to participate!