Minutes of meeting

Minutes
Minutes of meeting of Executive Board of Bluebonnet Music Teachers Association
held at International Studio of Music in Round Rock on July 7, 2012.

Meetings
It was decided we will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. It was decided we want to continue to meet at Austin School of Music North
because the location is most convenient.

Theory
Lillian will be the SA chair for school year 2012-2013.
We have enough funds to do events at Concordia and TSU.
The fall theory test will be held at Concordia U.
The Spring theory will be held at TSU. Lillian will make arrangements.
November 10 or 3 are best dates for theory. November 17 is too close to
Thanksgiving.
The spring theory test should be Saturday February 9. at 9:00. We will need
three rooms.
Concordia events have to be on Sundays
The fee for the theory test will remain the same.
The fee for Student Affiliate will remain the same.

Festivals

We can combine Master Composers and Hymn festival in the fall. The chairman will be
Lillian. Students must play a piece by a Master Composer or an American composer
or a hymn.
The spring festival co-chairman will be Sarah.
Mary A likes last year's lady judge. Ask Lauren. She was probably from Waco.
Martha M said we only need one judge.
The spring festival will be a sonatina festival. We will require one sonatina
and one piece of student's choice.
We need a voice judge. It will be held at Steinway, and it will be an open
audition.
It will be held two weeks after spring break or first Saturday in April.

Ensembles
Ensembles may practice at Steinway, or maybe at Strait, or at Lillian's.
No minimum number of students are required for ensemble participation.
Lillian said that second level gets the most registrations.
Martha M loves Texas composers.
Martha M and Mary A will choose piece.
Rehearsals will be held in May
The convention is in Houston.
Two teachers are required for ensemble. This is our local rule.

Recital
Recitals are a good PR. They should be held on a Saturday night.
Martha M said a recital is a good way to end a school year.
There will be no charge for the recital. Martha M will be the chairman.

Announcement
There will be an Alfred piano workshop at Strait Music South on Friday August 17
from 9:00 to 12:30.
We will try to organize a carpool. Make reservations for the workshop at rpelayo@straitmusic.com
476-6927

Music & Arts store

Hello!

My name is Henry Hart and I'm the retail district manager for the Music & Arts stores in Houston and soon-to-be in Round Rock and Sunset Valley.  Music & Arts (www.musicarts.com) is the nations largest provider of private music lessons and one of the largest sellers of sheet and print music. We will be opening a store in Round Rock later this spring on the corner of I-35 and Hwy 45 in the northeast corner of the intersection. We are excited to come to the area near the Bluebonnet Music Teacher's Association and would like an opportunity to talk with your group at some point this summer or fall.  We offer significant discounts to our customers who teach private music lessons and I'd love to share this information with you all and to give a little more info about us and who we are.  Perhaps an open house event in the summer might be a good opportunity to do this?  Have a look at our website to get some more info about us and please email or call me at your earliest convenience to talk more about how we can help grow music education in your area.  I look forward to meeting some of you in the near future and I appreciate your time.

Thanks!

Minutes May 2012

The Executive Board met at Friar Tuck's Pantry in Round Rock on May 8, 2012.


DANCE FESTIVAL REPORT

Lauren gave a report of the spring festival at Steinway. It was agreed that
Steinway is a good venue for festivals because it is a beautiful setting,
we're welcome there, and it is free.
She reported
that most festival participants preferred Saturday afternoons starting at
1:00.


PLANS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

Martha M announced that Crown Trophy off 620 has cheap trophies.
She suggested we give points for superior ratings at festivals which would be
redeemable for trophies.
She suggested awarding five points to 7 points for superior ratings and
requiring 15 points to redeem for one trophy.
It was decided that this matter be presented at the first general meeting
next school year for a vote.

Martha agreed to be president next school year.
Lillian agreed to be in charge of the newsletter next school year.

Mary A agreed to be theory chair next school year.
Mary L agreed to be spring theory cochair next school year.

Lillian will call TSU in Round Rock to make arrangements for theory tests.
Martha Marks said we need five more working members in order to get enough
help.
Martha M agreed to be in charge of membership.

Martha will contact Austin School of Music north about holding monthly
meetings there.
A teacher's recital was considered as a fundraiser.

Martha would like to have open auditions without recital.

Fall Events
Martha M suggested that we hold a hymn festival in the fall in a church the
first weekend in December. We need to look for a church.
Arrangements will be allowed at the Hymn Festival. Martha M will be the
chair.
Theory exam and fall festival will be the first weekend in November.

Spring Events
We're planning to have a spring festival of master composers and American
pieces. It will be a mixed festival of both. Students will be playing one
piece of each type. We need a list of American composers.
Lillian will be the spring festival chairman. Sarah will be the cochair.
Original sheet music must be used. Sarah suggested we have a page turner
available.
Lillian suggested that only a tentative date be published in the yearbook.
And
the final date may be published in the website.

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
http://bluebonnetmta.org/

luncheon

Dear Members,
The May End-of-the-Year Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 8, at 11AM at
Friar Tuck's Pantry on Main Street in Round Rock.  The luncheon will be dutch
treat--most entrees are under $10.  More information about this English-style
tea house can be found
here: http://www.discoverroundrock.com/friar-tucks-pantry/
Please RSVP by Monday, May 7 so that I can adjust the reservation accordingly.
The Executive Board will meet at 10:00AM, also at Friar Tuck's Pantry, to
discuss plans for the 2012-2013 year.
Below you'll find minutes from the April meeting.
All best,
Lauren

minutes April

The monthly meeting of Bluebonnet MTA was held on April 10 at Austin School of Music North.


PRESENTATION

Natalie Gibson Grimes gave a presentation through Skype on the Frances Clark
method.

She said students should feel the rhythms before playing the music.

The teacher should provide a model of excellence.

She recommended the book "Questions and Answers" by Frances Clark, and "A
Piano Teacher's Legacy" By Richard Chronister. They are available on line at
http://francesclarkcenter.org .

There were technical difficulties and the presentation was cut short. Lauren
said she will forward the powerpoint presentation to the teachers.


BUSINESS MEETING

The business meeting followed the presentation.

Martha M suggested that we have a sonatina festival next school year. Martha M
proposed that we have an American music festival and a hymn festival next
school year.

Martha M requested help with proofreading the yearbook and incorporating new
items into the yearbook. Please have corrections ready for next meeting.

Mary L said she would like to help with events, but would not like to chair
events.

Lauren proposed that next month we have the monthly meeting at a restaurant so we can have lunch and then follow the lunch with the business meeting at the
restaurant.

Martha M requested that each teacher bring a friend to the next meeting.

Theory medals were passed out.

Music Sale: Bring music you would like to donate or exchange for other pieces.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Martha M announced that Steinway Piano Gallery will have a workshop on piano improvisation.

Martha M reported that Steinway Piano Gallery requested that teachers hold
their recitals there.



Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
http://bluebonnetmta.org/

Steinway pianos

Dear Mrs. Simmons

As the first quarter of the year is coming to its end, I would like to share with you once again our commitment and support to the performing arts in our community.

As you might know, the Steinway signature not only evokes the image of one of the finest musical instruments, but also a sign of excellence. 

In order to keep this musical tradition, we understand the great importance of music education and the irreplaceable roll of you as a music teacher; therefore, we continue encouraging the piano teacher community to consider our facilities as their recital place of choice. Our Recital Room not only embraces a very professional atmosphere, but also facilitates a Brand New Steinway & Sons model B (7") in order to make the student's music performance a memorable and positive experience. 

In our intention to enhance this foregoing tradition, we like to provide the best pianos to you and your students in order to fulfill the musical necessities that you might encounter in this process. May our services and facility be helpful to your musical endeavors, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely

Esteban Alvarez, M.M.

Artist Performance

Steinway Piano Gallery

Austin, TX

512-258-6100

March minutes

MINUTES

The monthly general meeting of Bluebonnet MTA was held on March 13 at Austin School of Music North.

Speaker arrangements with Yamaha representative fell through the cracks and
there was no speaker.


FESTIVAL

Judges
Lauren announced that the piano judges for the Dance Festival will be Scott
Donald and Courtney Crappell.

Monitors
Monitoring plans were discussed, and Lauren encouraged teacher monitors to
register for monitoring shifts at http://www.doodle.com/


RESOLUTIONS

Treasurer
Martha V moved that she be appointed Treasurer. The motion was seconded by
Lillian. The motion was approved unanimously.


BMTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Photographs
We're planning to take photographs of Officers at the Dance Festival and at
the next meeting.

Conventions
Lauren announced that the TMTA convention for next school year will be held
in Houston.
Martha announced that she plans to attend the TMTA convention this summer.

Magazine
Lauren announced that Clavier magazine can be ordered through an on line code for a group rate of $20 per person.

Event
Lauren announced that National Center For Keyboard Pedagogy will have an on
line Facebook event about piano teaching business on March 30.


OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Summer Programs
Lauren announced that there is good piano camp for advanced students at
Belmont University in Nashville.
Baylor also has a summer program. SMY has a program for teachers and
students.

Piano Sale
Nancy Strait announced that if there is enough interest, she can order a
shipment of ten acoustic Yamaha 48 inch pianos. Financing is available
through GE Capital with six months of zero interest. She sometimes offers
specials of 12 months with zero interest. She sells these Yamaha pianos for
$6,500. This price includes delivery and tuning.


Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
http://bluebonnetmta.org/