Minutes of October meeting

The general monthly meeting was held on October 9 at Velocity Music Academy.

 Fall Theory Test
The theory test will be from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. The test will be offered
again at 4:00-6:00 pm on the same day.

Master Composers/Hymn Festival
Students may perform a piece by a master composer or a hymn, and a piece of
their choice. Pieces by master composers must be original versions. Hymns
may be arrangements.
Martha M showed the printed festival certificates. The certificates have a
critique sheet printed on the back. Martha M stated that teachers may turn in
a separate critique sheet if they prefer.
There will be no voice entries in the festival.
There will be no printed program for the winners' recital.

Christmas program
Teachers are encouraged to turn in at the next meeting an estimate of the
number of their students that will participate in the Christmas program at the
Assisted Living Facility in Wesleyan Retirement Center.
The deadline for registration for the Christmas program is November 20. Turn
in a list of student names and titles of pieces and composers to chairman
Martha Marks. There will be no printed program; the performers will just be
announced.
If there is a large number of performers, we could also perform at the
adjacent Independent Living facility.
Students should be dressed up for this event. This is our association's
Christmas party.
Sarah will be in charge of the refreshments.

Presentation - The Conscious Ear
Sarah gave a presentation about The Conscious Ear. She recommended the book
The Conscious Ear by Alfred A. Tomatis. The book is about the benefits of
music. Music can be used to make autistic children communicate. Sarah
explained that talking into one's closed hand into the web between the thumb
and second finger, we are able to hear more.
Sarah announced the Rachmaninoff concert by the Austin Civic Chorus:
http://chorusaustin.org/events/

Ensemble
A list of ensemble pieces was handed out by Martha M.

January Meeting
The January meeting was moved to Lillian's studio in Round Rock.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am.


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

BMTA News

BLUEBONNET MTA NEWS

BLUEBONNET MTA


GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Join us at the next general meeting.
Date: Tuesday, October 9, at 8:30 am
Program: The Conscious Ear. Presenter: Sarah Stokes
Where: Velocity Music Academy, 2301 S. Lakeline Blvd., Suite 200, Cedar
Park, Texas 512-782-8721.

SA LATE REGISTRATION
The deadline for Fall SA late registration is October 19.  Email or mail registration forms to SA Chairman Lillian
Simmons.
Mail payment to Treasurer Martha Vallee. Late registration fee is $17 per
student.

MASTER COMPOSERS FESTIVAL
The deadline for Master Composers Festival registration is October 19. Mail
or
email entries to Chairman Lillian Simmons. Mail payments to treasurer Martha
Vallee.


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

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!