The Score

Betty Benton, Editor The Newsletter of the NSMTA September, 2011

President’s Message September, 2011

Dear new and returning members. Wel-come all. In spite of our obvious challenges of weather, economic and political conditions, etc., I hope all of you have had a somewhat relaxing summer. We are looking forward to several exciting programs this year (see program informa-tion), including our Sonatina Festival, Pi-ano Competition and AIM. The deadline for registering for packets for the Helen Marlais program on Sep-tember 26th has just passed. If you did not get to sign up, plan to attend anyway and look on with someone else. Remember, the business meeting and coffee hour start promptly at 9:30. The presentation will begin at 10:30. Plan to stay for the potluck lunch and bring a small salad or dessert to share. We expect a full house. We will have a few AIM workbooks for sale at the September meeting. Also, any music you no longer need will be welcome. Donations will go toward our scholarship fund. The yearbooks should also be available.

I personally feel so grateful to have been teach-ing piano for as long as I have and feel there are many hidden benefits we offer the students in addition to the obvious ones. This favorite poem by Dorothy Law Nolte highlights some of those. It is often used by classroom teachers as well.

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. I look forward to seeing everyone on September 26th at 9:30. Karen Tobias, President

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NSMTA Officers for 2011-12

President Karen Tobias (847)251-6545 KarenTobias314@att.net First Vice President and Program Chair Joni Kurtenbach (773) 774-6906 Denjck@sbcglobal.net Second Vice President and Membership Chair Sue Mueller (847) 272-6475 Smueller33@gmail.com

Recording Secretary Debra Stackhouse (847) 746-3041 Heartrest@yahoo.com Corresponding Secretary Betty Benton (847) 234-5279 Jamesbettybenton@gmail.com Treasurer Louise Chan (585) 506-7711 Louise.k.chan@gmail.com

Directory If members did not pay before the deadline their name will not appear in the directory, but they are entitled to a directory if they have paid dues in September or even later.

September Meeting Monday, September 26, 2011 Location: Music Institute of Chicago 300 Green Bay Road Winnetka, IL, 60093 Business meeting at 9:30 followed by Helen Marlais 10:30 a.m to 12:00 noon “Teaching beginner students: building a solid foundation for a lifetime of success”

Pot Luck Luncheon Following our program we will have a potluck luncheon. Bring a small salad or dessert to share. NSMTA will provide sandwiches and drinks. Bon appétit!

Concert Notice North Shore MTA member Clara Campbell Christian and her husband Brian Christian are playing duo-pianos in Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" on Sunday, October 2 at 4 pm. The concert will be with the North Shore Chamber Arts Ensemble at North Shore United Methodist Church in Glencoe, IL. Their website is: http://chamber-arts-ensemble.org for more information. "The Carnival of the Animals" is a fantastic piece with exciting piano parts and appeals to students of all ages.

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Honoring The Past

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ISMTA Northeast District Auditions The Northeast District auditions will be held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Northwestern University’s Music Administration Building, located at 711 Elgin Road, Evanston, IL. 60208. The application deadline is September 14, 2011. Local chapters in the Northeast District include Chicago (CAMTA), Kankakee Valley, North Shore (NSMTA) and South Suburban. Any member of these chapters with active and current membership dues paid by September 1, 2011 may enter students in the Northeast District auditions. Students must have studied with the teacher at least six months prior to application deadline date. Elementary Piano Competition Age: 9-11 years old as of January 1, 2012 (Teachers note: the age requirements overlap for the elementary and junior piano competitions, please choose the appropriate event for your 11-year old student(s) Each student will perform 2 contrasting pieces. No minimum time is required and pieces must be memorized. Entrance Fee: $20.00; Maximum judging time: 6 minutes ISMTA Duet Competition – Elementary Division, Junior Division, and Senior Division: For piano, 4 hands only Age: 9-10 years old for elementary, 11-14 years old for junior, 15–18 years old for senior, as of January 1, 2012. If both participants are not in the same age group, they will be judged at the level of the older student. The duet team will perform two contrasting selections and must switch parts between selections. No minimum time required and memorization is not required. Entrance Fee: $30 per team; Maximum judging time: 15 minutes ISMTA Junior Performance Competition Age: 11-14 years old as of January 1, 2012 Teachers note: the age requirements overlap for the elementary and junior piano competitions, please choose the appropriate event for your 11-year old student(s) Students will perform at least two compositions from contrasting periods (baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist, or contemporary). No minimum performance time is required. All pieces must be memorized. Entrance Fee: $40.00; Maximum judging time: 15 minutes ISMTA Senior Performance Competition Age: 15-18 years old as of January 1, 2012. Students will perform at least three pieces from contrasting periods (baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist, or contemporary). No minimum performance is required. No concertos. All pieces must be memorized. Entrance Fee: $50.00; Maximum judging time: 20 minutes Students will receive a score rating of “1”, “2”, or “3.” Winners in the Junior and Senior Competitions that receives a score rating of “1” will move on to the state competition on November 12-13, 2011 at the ISMTA State Conference. Winners of the Elementary level will not compete at the state competition, but will be invited to perform in a “Star Recital” at the state conference. ISMTA Collegiate Performance Competition Age: 19-26 years old as of January 1, 2012. Students will perform at least three pieces from contrasting periods (baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist, or contemporary). Minimum performance time is 15 minutes. All pieces must be memorized. Entrance Fee: $75.00; Maximum judging time: 20 minutes ISMTA Collegiate competition is only held at the state level on November 12-13, 2011. Please send application directly to the Collegiate Competitions Coordinator Application form is included in this newsletter. You can also obtain one from the ISMTA website at www.ismta.org. Please follow the age requirements accurately. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone or email. Send applications to: Grace Juang, NE district chair 2770 Kingston Rd Northbrook, Il 60062 240-515-6666 gracejuang@gmail.com

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Sonata-Sonatina Festival Co-chairmen Yeeseon Kwon and Pat Heineman-Vernon announce that the application deadline is Tuesday, January 14th, 2012. The registration starts December 15th, 2011 and all applications are only accepted online, no exceptions. Your NSMTA dues must be paid by Monday, October 31st, 2011 to be eligible. “This year we are honoring the music of George Gershwin. Instead of a sonata or sonatina a student may play one of the following works: Prelude #1, Prelude # 2, or Prelude #3.”

2012 NSMTA Piano Competition

This will be held Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Northwestern University All selections should be played WITHOUT repeats and in the order indicated. Primary Division Grades 1-3 Kabalevsky—Little Song (Music for Millions, vol. 27) Scarlatti—Minuetto Scherzando (Music for Millions, vol. 27) Elementary—Grades 4-6 Bach—Two Part Invention #13 in a minor Tchaikovsky—Morning Prayer from Album for the Young (Music for Millions, vol. 17) Junior—Grades 7-9 Schubert—Impromptu in A-flat Op. 142 #2 (D. 935/2) Bartok—Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56, movements #5 (Poarca Romanesca”) and #6 (“Maruntel”) Senior—Grades 10-12 Ravel—Minuet from Le Tombeau de Couperin Liszt—Concert Etude “Gnomenreigen” (S.145/2)

2011 Recital and Luncheon Picture

A luncheon was held Monday, June 13, 2011 to celebrate the 36th Anniversary of the founders of the North Shore Music Teachers Association at Elliott Chapel of Westminster Place. Pictures of the event are on page 3 of this issue.

2011 ISMTA Conference

The annual Conference will take place November 11th to 13th at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The featured conference clinician will be Dr. Nelita True from the Eastman School of Music. For more information see ISMTA.org.

Chicago Symphony Opening Concert

Charlie Grode at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is offering discounted tickets for the Sept. 24 opening concert of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This concert features Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Yefim Bronfman. The complete program information for the evening is included below. SYMPHONY BALL Saturday, September 24, 2011 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti, conductor Yefim Bronfman, piano VERDI – Overture to Giovanna d’Arco PROKOFIEV – Piano Concerto No. 2 VERDI – The Four Seasons from I Vespri Siciliani This offer, which is for 25% off concert tickets for September 24, is extended to piano teachers as a prelude to the conclusion of the CSO season with the Keys to the City Festival. This CSO festival, which highlights the piano, will run from May 20th through June 12th, 2012. Visit cso.org, select tickets to Symphony Ball, and enter Promotion code PIANO 25% to redeem this offer. Telephone 312-294-3400. Tickets include a post-concert reception. For more information see grodec@cso.org. Helen Grosshans, NCTM, ISMTA President, says she hopes to see you there!

International Beethoven Project

Twenty Chicago area composers each contributed 2 minutes of music based on “Ode to Joy” to be included in a Beethoven Bagatelle. The piano music will be performed by three musicians, Winston Choi, Marta Aznavoorian and George Lepauw at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, September 18th. Tickets to the event cost $30 and will include a noon concert of Mozart and Beethoven music performed by Larry Combs (clarinet), David Moss (viola), Sang Mee Lee (violin) and George Lepauw (piano). At 3:00 p.m. there will be a reading of Beethoven’s letters and then 4:00 p.m. the Ode to Joy Bagatelle Project world Premiere. The location is The Chicago Urban Arts Society at 2229 South Halsted Street, Chicago. Parking is available on site. For tickets call (312)772-5821 or ibp@internationalbeethovenproject.com.

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Frances Larimer A long time North Shore MTA member, Framces Larimer received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy Awards Banquet. The conference was held at the Westin in Lombard, IL, on July 29th, 2011. Speaking at the banquet on behalf of Mrs. Larimer was another North Shore member, Mary Beth Molenaar. Many former students and North Shore members were in attendance. Frances Larimer is best known for directing the Piano Performance and Pedagogy Program at Northwestern University. The programs that Fran created and coordinated for over twenty-five years are known for their emphasis on live observation and student teaching, in addition to rigorous performance and academic expectations. Graduates from Mrs. Larimer’s pedagogy programs hold positions in teaching and administration in universities and community schools throughout the United States and abroad. Others have positions in the music industry as editors and as authors of piano methods and supplementary books. Since her retirement from Northwestern in 1998, Mrs. Larimer has served as a consultant for the Yamaha Corporation, a position that took advantage of her interest in the latest advances in music technology. Over the years, Frances was invited to share her ideas on American piano teaching topics with teachers in other countries, and she presented numerous lectures and workshops in Hong Kong, Jerusalem, and Russia. For many years Fran organized summer piano institutes in St. Petersburg, Russia, for groups of American students and teachers. Attendees studied with the faculty of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and performed in one of the city’s premiere concert halls. Fran has attended every National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy since its beginnings in 1979, and served on numerous committees over the years. Frances was also awarded the MTNA Foundation Fellow award for distinguished service to the music teaching profession in March 2006.

Congratulations Fran!!

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