Don Freund named 2013 IMTA Teacher of the Year

Editors note: As is customary with this annual presentation, the previous Teacher of the Year introduces the current recipient in a way that attempts to keep the identity of the recipient “secret” as long as possible. These are the comments read by 2012 Teacher of the Year, Bill Hughes.
This individual is described as a “total musician.”That musicianship is expressed in a variety of ways.
This very talented pianist’s performances have been described as “top notch.” This person’s playing displays finely developed technique and keen stylistic understanding in performances in a broad range of styles—from very early music through Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier to music written “yesterday.” This individual’s playing of recently composed music displays “intense energy” and a keen understanding of the music’s idioms and structures.Continue reading

Butler University Collegiate Chapter attends 2013 MTNA Conference

-Editor’s note, this post is a series of reflections by the members of the Butler University MTNA Collegiate Chapter
The Butler MTNA Collegiate Chapter attended their third MTNA National Conference this year, thanks in large part to the support of the Indiana Music Teachers Association.  For all three members who attended, it was their first time experiencing the national conference.  On Pedagogy Saturday, they presented a poster showing the chapter’s activities throughout the previous year.  The conference was a fantastic and greatly fulfilling experience for all three members.  You can read some of their personal reflections below:Continue reading

2013 IMTA Conference Call for Proposals

The Indiana Music Teachers Association is pleased to announce its 2013 Conference at Butler  University, Indianapolis. The conference will take place November 1-2, 2013.
The Conference Committee welcomes proposals on all aspects of music teaching, learning, creation, performance, pedagogy, technology, scholarship, career considerations, entrepreneurship, and other areas of interest to independent and college music teachers.
GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • Membership in IMTA is not a requirement to submit a proposal or present a session.
  • Participants must be willing to present on either day of the conference should their proposals be accepted.
  • Electronic submissions are required.
  • Conference sessions are generally 50 minutes including Q & A time.
  • Complete proposals include the following:
  1. Name, institutional affiliation if applicable, email, mailing address, telephone.
  2. The proposal title.
  3. The proposal format:  paper, performance, composition, workshop, or lecture-recital.
  4. An abstract from 200 – 500 words.
  5. A brief biography of all involved persons (250 word maximum per person).
  6. A list of required audio-visual equipment.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Proposals must be submitted by 12:00 midnight EST on Monday, April 1, 2013.
Submit proposals online at http://indmta.org/callforProposals.htm

Bill Hughes named 2012 Teacher of the Year

Dr. Claudia Bossard, IMTA president read the following presentation at the Friday evening banquet honoring Bill Hughes, Teacher of the Year

Good evening.  It is my pleasure to reveal the name of the 2012 IMTA “Teacher of the Year.”
As is customary with this annual presentation, during my remarks, I will attempt to keep the identity of our recipient “secret” as long as I can.  What follows are testimonials to this person’s career from former and current students and colleagues.
This individual is an extremely dedicated and inspiring  teacher.
This person is a “master teacher” in our state and community.
This human being is active in support of IMTA programs and colleagues.
By putting each student “at ease” in their lesson by focusing on the discovery process – of what is in the score and what it takes physically to produce the right sound – this individual makes learning contagious and gets students engaged in the process of learning.
Everyone is fond of this person!
As a teacher, this dynamo has that special combination of knowledge and personal warmth that I aspire to have!
This individual has earned my admiration as a musician, my respect as a teacher, and my friendship.
The disciplines HE has taught me have helped me as I face the challenges of work and life.
I commend his holistic approach to music and life as an example of how music can enrich multiple areas of life.
The commitment to his students and his art are extraordinary.
This gentleman has to be one of the most genuinely nice human beings on the planet!
This person has an endless reservoir of anecdotes and stories about composers and performers that add so much to the learning experience with him.
He is skilled in creative methods of teaching the piano.
It is a privilege to be one of his students.
He is one of the most complete musicians I know and he has dedicated his life to sharing it with students.
I consider the time I spent with him in his studio not only important to my development as a musician but as a leader.
I was prepared to quit playing the piano until I met this motivating teacher.
A former university professor, he is always supportive of pre-college students as he shares his knowledge and expertise with enthusiasm and a refreshing approach.
I consider my life to be abundantly richer for having him as a teacher and friend.
In case you do not know who this individual is yet, please join me in honoring Dr. Bill Hughes as our 2012 IMTA Teacher of the Year!

 
 

IMTA Conference Schedule Updated

An updated conference schedule that includes locations for each session is now available on the IMTA Website.  A PDF version is also provided for printing. See the complete schedule at http://indmta.org/conferenceSchedule.htm

Butler University students share reflections on the 2012 MTNA Conference

The Butler MTNA Collegiate Chapter attended their second MTNA National Conference this year thanks to the generous support of Indiana Music Teachers Association. At the conference they presented the collegiate session “Getting Started with Online Marketing,” which displayed strategies for online marketing specifically for music teachers. This was the chapter’s second presentation at a national conference, their first being “Grow and Play Together: Preparing Children to be Successful Collaborative Musicians” at the 2011 MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee, WI. The conference was a rich experience for all members of the chapter. You may read some of their personal reflections below:Continue reading

IMTA Announces 2012 Annual Conference

The 2012 Indiana Music Teachers Association Conference will be held on September 21-22 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.  This year’s Conference Artist is Mr. Randall Faber.  Mr. Faber gave recent recitals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, St. Louis, Ann Arbor, Dallas and Austin with future engagements at the Wasserman Festival, the Gilmore Festival and the Portland International Music Festival.  Dr. Faber holds three degrees from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.
In addition to the Friday evening Artist Recital, Mr. Faber will present two 90-minute pedagogy sessions earlier that day.  On Saturday Mr. Faber will teach a master-class and present another pedagogy session.
Also included in the Conference will be technology sessions and the world premiere of the 2012 commissioned composition.
Our on-site Chair Janet Piechocinski has organized an amazing Conference!  Janet encourages you to reserve your hotel early as the weekend of our Conference is also Rose Hulman’s homecoming.  Also please notice three of the hotels have a cutoff date of August 20th for reservations.
Two days on a lovely collegiate campus with time to study and converse with fellow musicians is an opportunity not to be missed. For more information visit the Indiana Music Teachers Association website.

Indiana Wesleyan University Announces 8th Annual Piano Pedagogy Conference

 
Indiana Wesleyan University announces the Eighth Annual Piano Pedagogy Conference scheduled for April 13-14, 2012. The conference features Franz Mohr and Dr. Sam Holland. Mohr is former chief concert technician for Steinway & Sons, who was critically important to many of the greatest of the pianists of our time. As the close colleague of legendary musicians such as Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Glenn Gould, Rudolf Serkin and many others, Mohr attended to their Steinway instruments, making delicate adjustments that affect tone, balance, and other characteristics of sound. Born in Duren, Germany on September 27, 1927, Mohr studied music at the Musikhochschule in Cologne and the Academy of Music in Detmold, Germany. He joined Steinway & Sons in New York City in 1962 and retired in 1992. He is presently an active advisor and consultant to Steinway & Sons. Sponsored by Meridian Music Company of Carmel, Indiana
Holland is an award-winning professor and director of the Division of Music at the Southern Methodist University. He has presented hundreds of lectures and recitals throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His articles have appeared in every major English language professional keyboard journal and he is the author of over seventy critically acclaimed method books and recordings published by Alfred Publishing Co. and the Frederick Harris Music Co. Dr. Holland is executive director of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy.
For more details go to: http://www.indwes.edu/pianopedagogy
Or contact Dr. Euni Rickey at: euni.rickey@indwes.edu

Conference Chair Cheryl Everett reflects on 2011 Event

The 2011 IMTA Conference was a marvelous event.  As conference Artist, James Tocco played a brillant recital and in the Saturday morning masterclass demonstrated several teaching styles.  Karen Taylor’s enthusiastic keynote address on Friday evening was titled In Praise of Teachers.  She shared the legacy of her teacher, Walter Robert. On Saturday we were treated to the premiere of the commissioned composition, Sonatina, for Piano Solo composed by Aaron Travers and performed by Vincent Adragna.  Also on Saturday afternoon the Hoosier Audition Winners and Opus  Composition Performers took the stage to present their music to an appreciative audience. Sessions on both days offered a balance of news in technology to informative lecture-recitals. With two days of beautiful weather, the lovely IU campus location and months of behind the scenes effort by David Cartledge and the Conference committee, this Conference has left each of us with inspiration and fond memories of our time together.

Editor’s note; Cheryl Everett is the IMTA Conference Chair. Members are invited to submit their reflections on the conference to newsletter@indmta.org