DECEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTERDATE: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 PLACE: Home of Colleen Bell TIME: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PROGRAM: Christmas Party There are many deadlines for the January meeting date, but we’ll cover those in the January newsletter. Today please take note of those requiring your attention now. Then, after taking note, relax with your colleagues for a friendly get-together. Colleen Bell has once again opened her home for the occasion. See the enclosed flyer with a map to her home on the back. Just bring a small plate of your favorite goodies. *************************************************************************** CALENDAR OF EVENTS
• Friday, December 8th 10:00 AM to noon—Spotlight on Nancy Johnston’s Studio—Call for directions
• December 16th—Late Student Affiliate registrations (see below) Late Student Affiliate Registration: If you have any students planning to take the Spring Theory Test who are not currently enrolled in Student Affiliate, you need to get the following to Wendy Wells by December 16th: $14 enrollment fees and completed student affiliate registration forms found on our website—www.ccmta.org She needs to send them to state before their deadline. Any student not enrolled by that time cannot take the test. New E-Mail Address: New member Armando Rodriguez can now be reached at armando@6sgs.com Performance Contest: Although the deadline for entering is not until the January 16th meeting, Chairman Sharon Peng advises you to download the necessary forms now. First, read the information on page 21 of our Yearbook. Then look at pages 15-on in the Student Affiliate section of the Handbook, which begins after page 22 of the TMTA section. Then download the forms from the TMTA website— www.tmta.org If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Peng. World of Music: As the World of Music Coordinator for TMTA, Dorothy Kirkpatrick encourages the use of this program in your studio. The test is scheduled for March 3rd. The course is a wonderful addition to any music student’s education and training. It includes the study of the history of music and music literature. Listening to music from your music library helps students to improve their listening skills, learn the stories on which the music is based and learn composer biographies. MTNA Professional Certification: Contact Janice Van Derbur or Dorothy Kirkpatrick for information about becoming certified. Dorothy would like to host regular group meetings to exchange pedagogical ideas, sharing teaching tips, comparing new and old methods. etc. If interested, contact her at d-kirkpatrick@sbcglobal.net . Furthermore. . . Anyone trying to follow the link to Andrea Cannon’s son’s wedding pictures in last month’s column found it unworkable; the correct link is http://www.CannonSong.com/AustinWedding ….For those who haven’t been at the meetings, Doris Erickson was accorded the very great honor of being voted an Honorary Member. Thanks to one and all!….The rest of the Furthermore column this month is devoted to news from Diane Delk about her sons Brian and Justin Davis and other CCMTA alumni and where they are today. Brian Davis (he was a trumpet player and was 1st runner-up in MTNA National HS Brass and won State Performance Contest and 2nd place Whitlock Scholarship - student of Randy Adams and me - he was in CCMTA ensembles and theory tests for YEARS) Brian graduated from TAMU in 2002 and took a commission in the Air Force. At A&M he was in the Corps of Cadets and the Aggie Band and was Corps Bugler. He married his high school sweetheart, Ashlei, also an A&M graduate. Right after he joined the AF he had health problems that caused him to have to transfer out of the pilot program, and he spent three years in England (which they both enjoyed!). Those health problems eventually were resolved and he re-entered the pilot program last year. He graduated from the intermediate stage pilot training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station Air Force training facility last week - 1st in his class!! He was promoted to Captain and received his bars this year on 9/11. He hopes to be assigned to the F-15 fighter. Ashlei is a 2nd grade teacher. Brian still plays the trumpet. Justin Davis (he was a flute player - he also went multiple times to MTNA National Woodwind competition and won several times in State Performance Contest - he was also a Whitlock Scholarship 2nd place winner and also a CCMTA ensemble/theory test veteran. He was a student of Natalie Syring and me) Justin graduated from TAMU in 2002 with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering (both degrees). He attended University of Texas Southwestern Medical School on a full scholarship and graduated with honors in June, 2006. He and his wife Kasey, a Baylor grad and also a UT Southwestern Med School honor grad, are now in their residencies at University of Alabama Medical School Hospital in Birmingham - he is a surgeon and she is an in-patient pediatrician. Justin still plays the flute and the piano. Another CCMTA Alumnus was Wesley Robertson. (Colin, my older son, Brian and Justin consider Wesley another brother!! He was a student of Randy Adams and won several times in TMTA performance contest - he also was in CCMTA ensembles and theory tests) Wes graduated from UofH with a degree in Music Education and Trumpet Performance, with honors. He spent three years as a band director at a high school near Dallas and then returned to the Houston area to pursue his Masters in conducting from Sam Houston. He received his MM last year and he is currently a band director at The Woodlands College Park High School. Daniel Syring is the son of Natalie, a former active CCMTA teacher (Daniel was very active in CCMTA piano contest, theory tests and ensembles). They now live in Oklahoma City, where he and younger brother Matthew both study piano with Peggy Spence at Oklahoma City University. Daniel's now in the 11th grade and continues to participate in piano competitions there. He also still plays the trombone, although he has a greater interest in the piano. He excels in science/math courses and is an Eagle Scout. During summers he works on Natalie's parents' farm. Editor’s Note: It’s wonderful to hear about their successes in life and that they’re still involved with music. Cherish your students! |