APRIL 2004 NEWSLETTER

 
DATE: April 20, 2004
PLACE: H&H Music, 713 FM 1960 W.
TIME: 9:30 AM—Board Meeting 10:15 AM—CCMTA Meeting 11:00 AM--Program

GUEST:  HELLENE HINER

PROGRAM:  SOFT MOZART

Hellene Hiner has had several articles written about her since she moved here from the Ukraine, the most recent being an extensive article in The Houston Chronicle. Perhaps you read it. She had the kind of draconian music study we in this country can hardly imagine enduring. She was a drop-out at age 11, but finally relented a year later and toughed it out until graduating with honors at age 15. She went on to study for four more years at a music college and then five additional years in a conservatory.

Her experiences convinced her that there has to be a better way, one that would enable very young children to love to learn to play music. She devised a method she called Soft Mozart and moved to this country in 1993 to find a more receptive climate for such an innovative approach.

Our ever-alert program chairman, Dorothy Kirkpatrick, read the article, visited her, saw the program in action, and invited her to share her teaching method with us.
 

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  •   Sunday, May 2nd—3:00 PM—Don H. Harris Activity Awards Ceremony—H&H Music
  •   Tuesday, May 11th—10:30 AM—May Luncheon—Raoul’s Restaurant
DEADLINES
  •   April 13th—Don H. Harris Activity Awards entries to Chairman Don Harris (see attached inserts, Application Procedures, Awards Deadlines)
  •   April 20th meeting—CCMTA Scholarship entries to Chairman Sharon Goldsberry
  •   April 20th meeting—CCMTA Senior Award entries to Chairman Linda Anthony
  •   April 20th meeting—Memorial Summer Camp Scholarship entries to Chairman Rebecca May
  •   April 26th—May newsletter copy to editor Doris Erickson
  •   April 30th—Firm deadline for checks & entrée selections for May Luncheon to Chairman Nancy Johnston (see below)
  •   May 1st—TMTA Participation Award, Whitlock Memorial Scholarship Awards to State (see SA Handbook)

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Yearbook Correction: It just came to light that both Ellen Bush and Holly Foster have the same cell phone number listed. It belongs only to Holly Foster. Cross off Ellen’s—she doesn’t wish to list hers.

From the President: “When April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May.” Get ready for the showers that bring the flowers. We have lots of business for the April meeting, our last business meeting of the year, so be sure that you are in attendance. We will be looking especially at changes for the high school piano competition and the piano contest. Deadlines are listed above. I should have some information regarding summer camps to you via email asap. Don’t forget to put the end-of-the-year May luncheon on your calendar. Should be a great one. See you on April 20th.

May Luncheon: A reservation form for those who weren’t at the March meeting is enclosed. Chairman Nancy Johnston would like to have all reservations and checks at the April meeting if possible. Otherwise you need to mail them to her so that she receives them no later than April 30th. (CCMTA pays for each performer and one parent, along with honorary members and honorees from H&H and The Music Rack.)

Andrea Cannon Newly Certified: Andrea just earned the right to an asterisk before her name and the NCTM initials after her name by becoming a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. She’s only the second guitar teacher in the whole country (the first in all of the south/southwest) to do so. Andrea majored in Guitar Performance with an emphasis on jazz at the Berklee College of Music. She has been selected for Teacher Excellence Grants by the Suzuki Association, MTNA and TMTA. Congratulations! CCMTA is proud of you!

TMTA District Performance Contest Results: Congratulations to all the winners from our association who advanced to State (along with alternates) at the contest at Baylor in Waco; they were as follows:

Grades 7-8 Piano Solo
   •   Anushka Sinha - (Don Harris)
(2nd alternate)
   •   Ben Donahoo (CMTA,CCMTA local) - (Don Harris
Grades 9-10 Piano Solo
   •   Robert Conrad (CMTA,CCMTA local) - (Don Harris)
Grades 11-12 Piano Solo
   •   Alex Caire - (Don Harris)
(1st alternate)
   •   Alex Weckiewicz (CMTA,CCMTA local) - (Don Harris)
(2nd alternate)
   •   Ben Karfunkle - (Joanne Griffith)
Grades 11-12 Piano Concerto
   •   Shanel Parlar - (Holly Foster)

Member of the Year to be Voted Upon: Member of the Year Chairman JoAnne Griffith has advised that the vote taken at the March meeting to award all four nominees “Member of the Year” honor did not follow the guidelines set forth in the Yearbook on page 62. She has ruled, therefore, that all nominees be voted on by secret ballot at the April meeting, with the winner to be presented with a plaque at the May Luncheon. The nominees, by request, have submitted their resumes to be published in this newsletter. One nominee, Colleen Bell, has withdrawn her name from consideration. Profiles of the others follow.
Doris Erickson
  •   Newsletter Editor March 1991 to present (except for 1994-95): Gather information, type, have duplicated, deliver to mailer, send by e-mail to webmaster
  •   Recording Secretary September 2000 to present
  •   Yearbook Committee September 1998 to present: Responsible for Membership Directory, Committee and Chairmen lists, extensive proofreading
  •   Website Membership List: Revised and keep it up-to-date
Dorothy Kirkpatrick
  •   First Vice President September 2000 to present: Find quality presenters for programs, prepare May Luncheon programs and printing
  •   Chaired Fall Festival for four years and Spring Festival for three years
  •   Student Affiliate Membership Chairman for four years
  •   Hostess for four years and planned May Luncheon for two years
  •   Ensemble Chairman this year
  •   Piano Contest Repertoire Committee last two years
  •   Member of the Year 2001-2002
Rebecca S. May
  •   President of CCMTA (for second year in a row)
  •   Hosted New Members Coffee in September
  •   Fund-raiser Chairman: Coordinated sale of 100 yard signs. Performed two piano selections for TPFS Recital
  •   Back-up Historian (the lady with the camera and the tape recorder)
  •   Worked at the following events: Holiday Festival—Registration Table; Theory Tests, Fall & Spring—Administered Dictation Questions; Provided programs for the Winners Recital for Piano Contest
• Chairman Memorial Summer Camp Scholarship
• Yearbook Committee

Proposed CCMTA Officers for 2003-2004: The Nominating Committee, Linda Anthony, Jan VanDerbur, and Don Harris offered a slate consisting of all current officers except for 3rd Vice President. Andrea Cannon is unable to continue in that position, and Nancy Johnston has agreed to serve if elected. The vote will take place at the April meeting (the Member-at-Large will be nominated from the floor). Additional nominees, with the consent of the nominee, may be offered from the floor. The elected slate will be installed at the May Luncheon.