September minutes

Minutes of meeting

The monthly meeting was held at Velocity Music Academy on September 11, 2012.

EVENTS
The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 9 at Velocity Music Academy at 8:30 am.
The theory registration deadline is October 9.
Lillian will confirm the judge for the Master Composers Festival.
The fall theory test will be in the morning. The fall festival will be in the afternoon, Nov. 11 at Concordia University in Cedar Park.
The SA registration deadline is Sept 14.  Return completed forms to Lillian lillian.martinez@usa.net . Mail payment to Martha Vallee, Treasurer , 111 Terjo Lane, Austin, Texas 78732

YEARBOOK
Electronic copies of the yearbook are available from Martha Marks marthamarks@yahoo.com

THE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
Kathy Rabago explained the Achievemnet Program of Carnegie Hall. It is associated with The Royal School of Canada.
The exams will be held at Velocity Music Academy in late November or early December.  Date TBA.
Examination fees are around $70 for beginners, around $115 for intermediate.
These examinations are very motivational.
This is a very serious program requiring strict musicianship. They provide a well rounded, honest assessment.
Etudes are included in the performance requirements.
Students must use their program's repertoire, and must perform 3 or 4 pieces by memory., Examinations include musicianship, sight reading.
The Syllabus is on line.
All information is in their website http://theachievementprogram.org


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

INVOLVE, INFORM, INSPIRE

As an MTNA leader, we need your help with the 2012–2013 Membership Campaign “INVOLVE, INFORM, IN SPIRE.” The goal of this campaign is to strengthen MTNA’s membership in the coming year; the most successful states will be recognized at the 2013 conference in Anaheim, California.

Fall is a great time for recruiting. Events such as state conferences and fall local association meetings provide the perfect opportunities to introduce MTNA to new members. Research studies show that a majority of people join associations because a colleague invited them. MTNA encourages you to think of at least one person you know who would benefit from MTNA membership and reach out to that person. Then, spread the word about the campaign in your local and state associations so each one in our membership will reach one prospective member.

Looking for tips to help with membership recruitment and retention in your local or state association. Click here http://www.mtna.org/member-resources/leadership-resources/membership-handbook/ to view the online membership handbook for ideas of things you can do to grow membership.

Membership brochures to support your recruitment and retention activities are available from the national office, by e-mailing Melissa Curtice, member development associate, at mcurtice@mtna.org.

In addition PDF applications are available online. Click here http://www.mtna.org/membership-information/join-mtna/ to download.

Your efforts to reach out to your colleagues who are not a part of MTNA will help strengthen the music teaching profession and further the mission of MTNA.

September meeting

The general membership meeting for September 2012 will be held at Velocity Music Academy in Cedar Park from 8:30 to 10:30 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Velocity Music Academy, 2301 S. Lakeline Blvd., Cedar Park, Texas. Visitors are welcome.

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