STACCATO NOTES The official newsletter of the Seattle Music Teachers Association seattlemta.org

February 2020

C ONTENTS UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES...... 1

PRESIDENT’S LETTER...... 1

GENERAL MEETING AGENDA: FEBRUARY 2020 ...... 2

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES: JANUARY 2020...... 3

MUSIC ARTISTRY PROGRAM...... 5

SMTA IN MEMORIAM: FORREST KINNEY...... 9

MARSHA WRIGHT SONATINA FESTIVAL ...... 9

MUSIC LITERACY PROGRAM...... 10

BACH IN THE SUBWAYS ...... 11

SMTA EVENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHLIGHTS...... 11

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS...... 12

UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES

* February 2 Student Recital * February 18 SMTA General Meeting * February 22 Seattle Institute For A Day * March 2 - 7 Music Artistry Program * March 19 – 20 Bach In the Subways

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Hey there friends!

It’s February, we’re just a month away from the MTNA National Conference in Chicago! If you haven’t been to a national before, they are an absolute blast. See what’s happening in publishing and pedagogy, connect with music teachers from all over, and leave inspired.

Can’t make it to Chicago? No worries, come to our general meeting for some connection and inspiration. Come peruse the used books/sheet music, there are gems to be found! Greetings and coffee at 9am.

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Connecting with fellow teachers is my favorite element of our vibrant community.

Lastly, take a look at the new SMTA website. Make sure your find-a-teacher information is up to date. We are all thrilled with how the website turned out, & hope you like it too!

Thanks so much.

Eric

GENERAL MEETING AGENDA: FEBRUARY 2020

Connect with Colleagues! Be Inspired! Learn about SMTA! Get Involved! SMTA GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY, February 18, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MUSIC CENTER OF THE NORTHWEST 901 N. 96th Street, Seattle, WA 98103 (corner of Linden Ave. N. & 96th St.) Please leave 4-5 parking spaces available near the MCNW back door for a class that is going on during our meeting, thank you.

Join your colleagues at our second meeting of the new season. Our guest speaker will be Susan Pascal.

Presentation: Susan Pascal The in Musical Traditions: Finding New Avenues for Performance

Seattle vibraphonist Susan Pascal has taken her music through four tours of Singapore and concerts, workshops and clinics across the United States. Her Pacific Northwest appearances include the Earshot Jazz Festival and Centrum Jazz Port Townsend, and as a special guest artist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and Seattle’s Gypsy jazz group, Pearl Django.

Pascal’s eclectic musical interests are reflected in her own projects. Susan Pascal’s Soul Sauce quintet is a tribute to Latin jazz icon , and her new Brazil Project band features the rich rhythmic and melodic traditions of Brazil. Her straight-ahead jazz group, the Susan Pascal Quintet has been nominated twice for Best Acoustic Group by Seattle’s Earshot Jazz.

Pascal is heard on motion picture soundtracks including “The Wedding Planner”, “Office Space”, ”Eulogy” and “Mirror, Mirror” and is a guest artist on recordings by vocalist Greta Matassa, “All This and Heaven Too,” "And to All a Good Night," and "The Smiling Hour"; the Vern Sielert’s Dektet recording, "From There to Here"; slide guitarist Orville Johnson’s “Slide and Joy”; and many others.

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General Meeting Agenda – January 21, 2019

9:00-9:30 Coffee, Conversation & Music 9:30-10:00 Welcome, Introductions, Announcements, & Votes: a. New Member Introductions b. Announcements: - Simon-Fiset - MTNA Conference c. Vote to approve the January 2020 General Meeting Minutes.

10:00 Presentation: Susan Pascal: The Vibraphone in Musical Traditions: Finding New Avenues for Performance

11:30 Adjourn

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES: JANUARY 2020

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 21, 2020 MUSIC CENTER OF THE NORTHWEST

ATTENDANCE

SMTA requires 10 members present for a quorum. A quorum was present (24 members were in attendance). Attendance for the meeting was taken, and the minutes were recorded by VP Student Development Kathy Mortensen. Suzanne Grant, Jason Kuo, and Pam Chang brought treats. Margherita Conti provided coffee.

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by President Eric Branner.

MINUTES

Business Meetings and Announcements

New Members (Eric Branner): Eric invited any new members to stand up at the meeting – there were no new members.

SMTA Website Update (Eric Branner): We no longer pay monthly maintenance fees for the website, since we have moved to a square space platform. The website developer, Studio Rocket, is working on improving the Find A Teacher component. The Simon-Fiset competitions had lots of registrations and online registration functioned well.

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MAP (Jason Kuo): The schedule has been put together. The committee tried their best to accommodate special requests for scheduling and to make sure each teacher had their optimal choice of location. The event runs from March 2-7.

In Memoriam (Anne Reese): Forrest Kinney, NCTM passed away in December, 2019. Anne submitted an in memoriam article to the February Staccato Notes. Forrest’s work is present in 100 countries. A small committee is working to ensure that his legacy will continue. A handout that Forrest had created, a meditation on gratitude, is available at our general meetings, while the supply lasts.

Bach in the Subways (Karin McCullough, NCTM): Events are March 19-21. Karin thanked GraceAnn Cummings for arranging Bach in the Subways in Beacon Hill Light Rail station. Laurie Ketron is organizing the event at Crossroads in Bellevue. Stage 7 in Kirkland is also a venue. Website: bachinthesubways.org/seattle

On Teaching (Eric Branner): Eric reflected on teaching, the magic space. Our students’ minds are open and profoundly impacted by us. There is value in connecting with other independent music teachers and entrepreneurs.

Minutes from the November 2019 General Meeting (Eric Branner): Eric asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. MOTION to approve the minutes from the November 2019 General Meeting. Pam Chang moved. RoseMarie Tamburri Seconded. Motion Carried.

Kris Iverson, piano, RoseMarie Tamburri, sound effects, and Mary Jo DuGaw, soprano, performed “A Revolver” by Iverson. This was the premier performance from their upcoming concert. “Play On! Presents: “Tipping Point”, Saturday, January 25, at Haller Lake Music Series. Voice Matters: Vocal Health in Performance, Practice, and Pedagogy Presentation by Mary Jo DuGaw.

Ms. DuGaw recalled her early life in singing, studying at Cornish college, and working as a secretary who talked to people all day. She described the action of the vocal cords, and the nodes or callouses that can develop on the cords, and emphasized that speech is music.

Mary Jo related her experience with Videostroboscopy, a state-of-the-art technology which facilitates the identification of various vocal cord conditions and abnormalities. It provides a magnified view of the larynx, and simulates slow-motion vibration of the vocal cords. This procedure was a revolutionary invention for singers and ear, nose and throat doctors.

Mary Jo started speech therapy, learning the discipline it takes to be a singer, to keep the cords resilient.

Voice students should not push through a cold, which creates more inflammation.

Ms. DuGaw studied voice with Marni Nixon and Marianne Weltmann. She reminisced on their valuable teaching and insights, and their life-long impact. Mary Jo echoed Eric Branner that we teachers are an anchor in our students’ lives.

Ms. DuGaw is well-known to Northwest theatre audiences for her leading roles with Village Theatre, Fifth Avenue Theatre, ACT and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Mary Jo spent two years in New York City where she played leading roles Off-Broadway. Theatre roles have included Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins, Kate/Lilli in Kiss Me, Kate, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Eliza in My Fair Lady, Nellie in South Pacific, Marie in Most Happy Fella, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Mother Superior and Maria (not at the same time!) in Sound of Music, and

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Laurie in Oklahoma! She has appeared in several television commercials and has recorded film, commercial and videogame soundtracks, including Halo II, Halo III and World of Warcraft. She can be seen in the Stephen King miniseries, Rose Red, which aired on ABC.

Next Meeting: The next general meeting will be held on February 18th at 9:30 a.m. at the Music Center of the Northwest, 901 N 96th Street, Seattle.

Minutes prepared by Kathy Mortensen, January 21, 2020.

MUSIC ARTISTRY PROGRAM

Music Artistry Program We have registered a total of 215 students from 31 teachers this year! Special thanks to the scheduling committee members Kate Hokanson and Jennie Hammill for their quick turnaround on the schedule. The official schedule is included below. Teachers who registered students will receive an email from Jason notifying their time slot.

Also, we are in need of volunteers the week of March 2-7, 2020. We will need volunteers to drive the Visiting Artists around, taking them out to lunch, helping with setup/closing, and more. If you are interested, please email Suzanne Grant. Questions? Contact Jason Kuo ([email protected]) or Suzanne Grant ([email protected]).

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Venue: Wedgwood Presbyterian Church Visiting Artist: Kori Bond Dates: Monday March 2 - Friday March 6, 2020

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Venue: United Evangelical Free Church (Ballard) Visiting Artist: Roger McVey Dates: Monday March 2 – Friday March 6, 2020

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Venue: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Shoreline) Visiting Artist: Maria Sier Dates: Friday March 6 – Saturday March 7, 2020

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SMTA IN MEMORIAM: FORREST KINNEY

Forrest Kinney, a long-time SMTA member, passed away on December 8, 2019. He was a gifted pianist, improviser, arranger, composer, teacher, presenter (in the U.S., Canada, and Europe), and prolific author of 45+ inspirational books about music education and creativity that have been sold in 100 countries. His life’s mission was to help musicians become well rounded and able to enjoy what he called the Four Arts of Music: improvising, arranging, composing, and interpreting.

Forrest was a very kind, generous, warm, wise, witty, funny person who was filled with deep gratitude for beauty, nature, and life. He is greatly missed, but his wonderful legacy will continue to bring music, creativity, and joy to the world for generations to come.

For more information about Forrest’s work and his books and videos: www.forrestkinney.com

MARSHA WRIGHT SONATINA FESTIVAL

April 25, 2020 Wedgwood Presbyterian Church

The 2020 Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival concert will be held on Saturday, April 25 at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church. This is our annual celebration of the sonatina form. Students are invited to perform a sonatina movement or complete sonatina, up to 10 minutes long. Solo piano and chamber groups are both welcome.

The online registration period will be March 15 - April 1, later than in past years, in hopes that students and teachers will have a clear idea of repertoire and timing. Now is a great time to start preparing, so that students can have their pieces fully learned, if not quite polished, by the registration deadline. Look for the online form starting March 15 on the SMTA website.

The entry fee is $20 per soloist or complete chamber group for students of SMTA members, $25 for non-members.

We are also pleased to announce that Rachel S. Kim is the winner of the Marsha Wright Commissioned Sonatina Award. She is a student of Sharon Van Valin. Rachel has composed an intermediate level sonatina for violin, cello, and piano trio.

The World Premier of this new work will be performed at the Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival in April.

The Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival and the Marsha Wright Commissioned Sonatina Award are supported by the Dorothy Woodcock Fund.

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Questions? Please email Festival chair Janet Anderson, [email protected].

MUSIC LITERACY PROGRAM

Music Literacy Program (MLP) Fast Facts

What: A curriculum of musicianship skills in five skill areas: Written Theory, Technique/Applied Theory, Listening, Rhythm and Sight Playing with progressive levels from 1 (Beginning) through 10 (Advanced). Students demonstrate their skills at the annual Music Literacy Program event. Teachers may register their students for one or up to all five components; and can mix levels for each skill area depending on the student’s capabilities. (Example: Level 3 Written Theory, Level 4 Listening, Level 2 Sight-Playing, etc.)

When: May 2 and 3, 2020

Where: Music Center of the Northwest, 901 N. 96th Street in Seattle

Registration: Online registration (via the SMTA website) opens March 1 and closes April 1. (No foolin’) Arrival and test times will be assigned after registration closes.

Fee: $20 per student (regardless of how many skill areas are tested)

Eligibility: The Seattle MLP is open to all students (youth and adult) and all levels. The curriculum is designed primarily for piano students; however, other instrumentalists can take the rhythm, listening and written theory assessments (about 20% of the written theory questions use keyboard examples).

Recognition: Each student receives a goody-bag and certificate of participation. Students who score 94% or higher on the Written Theory receive a gold seal on their certificate. Students who score 98% or higher receive the gold seal and their and their teacher’s names will be printed in The Clarion.

Syllabus: See the entire curriculum and checklists on the WSMTA website: www.wsmta.org

Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to facilitate the tests, monitor rooms, run the registration table, and help prepare materials and grade tests. Please consider helping out – it’s a great way to learn about the program if you haven’t entered students in the past. If you have participated, you know what a valuable and important program MLP is, and how much fun we have on test days! Thank you!

Questions: Music Literacy Program Chairs: Thom Stuart – [email protected]

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RoseMarie Tamburri – [email protected]

We hope to see you on the Road to Literacy!

Thom Stuart & RoseMarie Tamburri, Music Literacy Program Co-Chairs

BACH IN THE SUBWAYS

March 19 – 20, 2020 Bellevue Art Museum

Seattle Music Teachers Association would like to have a presence during the annual Bach In the Subways celebrations. The Bellevue Art Museum is inviting musicians, teachers and students alike, to come play Bach’s music from 2-4 pm Thursday and Friday March 19th & 20th.

If you are interested in scheduling your performance, please phone Karin McCullough at (206)789-6059 (no texting, just leave a message on the answering machine) or [email protected]. The museum does not have a piano, so unless someone arranges for a piano to be moved into the art museum, the opening is only for choirs, string and wind ensembles and soloists.

SMTA EVENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHLIGHTS

Student Recital February 2, 2020 Steinway Store, Seattle, WA

Please join us for the next student recital, to be held on Sunday, February 2nd at the Steinway Store in downtown Seattle at 3:00 p.m.. There is an $8 participation fee per student. Limited to the first 8 teachers to respond to [email protected].

Seattle Piano Institute For A Day February 22, 2020 / 12 – 6PM United Evangelical Free Church 1420 NW 80th St, Seattle, WA 98117

Seattle Piano Institute is proud to offer a festive, interactive day celebrating the piano and young pianists.

SPI is proud to offer an inspiring day of piano workshops for talented young pianists. Participants will have the opportunity to perform in master classes led by Robin McCabe and Craig Sheppard, as well as take part in additional interactive sessions in dance and movement, music history and piano repertoire taught by Alethea Alexander, Dainius Vaičekonis, and Mark Salman.

Elementary through high school students are encouraged to apply. Space is limited to 12 - 15 students and priority consideration will be given to applications received before December 15th, 2019.

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Deadline for application is January 8th, 2020. To apply, please send a teacher’s letter of recommendation or a letter of interest along with a video to show playing level to [email protected]. SPI is particularly interested in sharing this opportunity with talented young pianists who have not yet participated in an SPI summer session or similar institutes.

Thanks to our generous donors, SPI will offer this opportunity tuition-free.

Teachers, students and community members are welcome to attend all masterclasses and workshops (space permitting; some workshops will be held in smaller classrooms and thus have limited audience seating). Audience attendance is also gratis.

Adult Student Soirée

Mark your calendars with the Adult Student Soiree Dates for upcoming year! These SMTA sponsored casual and enjoyable events provide a space for both beginner and more advanced adult students to perform in a positive and supportive environment.

* Sunday, March 1, 2020, 6:30 * Sunday, May 17, 2020, 6:30

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Staccato Notes is the official Newsletter of the Seattle Music Teachers Association. The Newsletter is distributed monthly and submissions are due by the 20th of each month. Please e-mail information for the Newsletter to [email protected]. Staccato Notes welcomes articles on topics of interest to members – please consider writing an article on a relevant subject – the more content we receive, the better!

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