News

News and Announcements of Bluebonnet Music Teachers Association, Williamson County Texas, USA

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
Website: http://bluebonnetmta.org/home.html
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1990327091212286/
email BluebonnetMTA@live.com


Dear Colleagues:


MEETING

Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet meeting
Time: Dec 14, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every month on the Second Tue, until Mar 8, 2022, 4 occurrence(s)
        Dec 14, 2021 10:30 AM
 The agenda is attached.


ENSEMBLES FOR CONVENTION

Would you like to perform in ensembles? You could join an additional association ADMTA

ADMTA | Dec 2021 | Page 5 TMTA Ensemble Repertoire
Here is the repertoire list for the State Ensembles Austin District to be performed at the TMTA convention June 16-19, 2022 at the Dallas Hyatt Regency.
Registration Deadline is March 1st, 2022, so please have submissions to Catherine Davis (cmccatherinedavis@gmail.com) by Feb. 28th, 2022
Rehearsals will be at the locations below for the ensemble indicated.
They will be Saturday Rehearsals time TBA throughout May 2022.
North Side Capital Music Rehearsals (6101 Burnet Rd, 78757)•

Let's Go West! (Catherine Davis Director) Late Elem• https://www.penders.com/p-238891-lets-go-west.aspx
Gypsy Dance (Ana & Catherine) Late Elem.• https://www.penders.com/p-234026-gypsy-dance.aspx
Colorado River Rapids (Ana Ortega) Early Intermediate (75% of this group must be Middle School) https://www.penders.com/p-230491-southwest-landscapes.aspx


OTHER EVENTS

A Miracle on 34th Street
Go to:

Choir Concert
Go to:

International Competition
Go to:

Friday, November 26, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons

Secretary

Bluebonnet MTA

Website: http://bluebonnetmta.org/home.html

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1990327091212286/

email BluebonnetMTA@live.com


Dear Teachers




PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Thank you to all the teachers that helped to design the competitions. It has been great to discuss the details of the competitions with interested colleagues even after the meeting.
Lillian


ADDENDUM TO MINUTES OF MEETING

Pending matters were discussed through emails,
and through motions made and seconded and passed, it was resolved that:
1. BMTA will charge $5 per student for recital participation,
and the recital chairman will receive the proceeds;
2. The winter recital of BMTA will be canceled this school year.


FALL RECITAL

The Fall Recital is now on line
Go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OM75roXefw&list=PLPWhBYNzS2JKKRAEVojrrRjxY-OGoKCbJ&index=1



MAIL RECEIVED

Graham Yates 

To:Austin District Music Teachers Association
Sun, Nov 14 at 12:13 PM
Hi all, I'm in search of fellow teachers who perhaps, like me, are teaching from their living room and would rather teach from a dedicated commercial office space.
I have done some of the legwork of finding a space and am looking for one or a few teaching musicians to work together with to share costs. I have a full piano studio in Round Rock, stable cash flow and some savings to contribute toward deposits and furnishing an office suite. If this is also your situation and you’re interested, please "reply to author" for to get in touch with me for more information, or feel free to pass the message along to suitable colleagues.
Thank you!
Graham

Friday, November 12, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:


MINUTES OF MEETING

The general monthly meeting was held on  November 9 on line. 

Present were Angela, Martha V, and Lillian. 

UPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED,
it was resolved that:
Bluebonnet MTA will set up competitions.
Bluebonnet MTA will award points for theory exams.

The instructions pages have been prepared, and are in the yearbook on line.


FESTIVAL REPORT

There were seven students in the Baroque Festival.  Everything proceeded without a glitch.


RECITAL

The winter recital will be by video. Students may upload their performances to our Bluebonnet Channel on youtube. Students will need to be approved by Recital Chair Lillian  to upload to our channel. They may also upload them to Google Drive and share them to Lillian at lillian1961@att.net


NEXT MEETING

Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet meeting
Time: Dec 14, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every month on the Second Tue, until Mar 8, 2022, 4 occurrence(s)
        Dec 14, 2021 10:30 AM
   



Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:

l
MINUTES OF MEETING

The monthly meeting was held on line  on October 12. Present were Martha V, Angela, and Lillian. 
It was resolved that:
The Baroque Festival will be held by video on line.
Lillian will find a judge, in order to relieve Martha V, who is having personal problems.
The Recital will be held on line by video.


NEXT MEETING

Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet meeting
Time: Nov 9, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

OTHER EVENTS

Concert at Adams Music House.
Go to:

Stillwell on line concert
Go to:



Bluebonnet News

 


FESTIVAL

Registration for the Baroque Festival is due ASAP.


MAIL RECEIVED

Steinway Deals
Go to:

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA

Dear Teachers,

MEETINGS
Guys, How would you all like to meet  next month? We could meet in person or on line. zoom. How about at the Starbucks on Parmer at McNeil? They have a open air patio. And at what time? 10:30? 11:00? 1:00? Let me know what you prefer.

UPDATE
Please remind your members to renew their MTNA dues if they haven't already, and to update all notes and school grades in every student record in their dashboard.  For this year's enrollment, they should add a note indicating it is for the 2021-2022 school year. Enrollments will be enabled August 15.
--
Abby Hehenberger
Records Administrator
Texas Music Teachers Association
512-927-7355


Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:


THEORY

Deadline to register for the fall theory exam: Tuesday October 5, 2021


OTHER EVENTS

The NCKP virtual conference

ABRSM Theory and performance exams
Go to:

Bluebonnet News

 Dear Teachers:


MINUTES OF MEETING

The general meeting was held on September 14 on line. Present were Lillian and Al Scott, special visitor  from Michigan.  After welcoming greetings, former theory chairman Al explained how to set up and use a video transmission broadcasting station with two cameras. 

Member Angela called in in the evening. She confirmed that we want the Baroque Festival and the December recital on line.

Lillian was happy to be able to see old colleagues.


NEXT MEETING

The October meeting will be on October 12 at 10:30 on line.
Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet meeting
Time: Oct 12, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every month on the Second Tue, until Mar 8, 2022, 6 occurrence(s)
        Oct 12, 2021 10:30 AM

Bluebonnet News

 Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
Website: http://bluebonnetmta.org/home.html
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1990327091212286/
email BluebonnetMTA@live.com


Dear Teachers:


WEBINARS

https://claviercompanion.com/content/webinars




MEMBERSHIP LIST

The updated membership list is attached for your information.  Please save it in your computer. Because we don't publish it in the BMTA website.


MEETING

Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet meeting
Time: Sep 14, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every month on the Second Tue, until Mar 8, 2022, 7 occurrence(s)
        Sep 14, 2021 10:30 AM


DELETE STUDENTS

Abby Hehenberger <abby.tmta@gmail.com>
To:Abby Hehenberger
Thu, Sep 2 at 11:34 AM
Good morning SA Chairs.  It has come to my attention that there seems to be a misunderstanding regarding deleting students from teacher dashboards.

The TMTA policy is to leave students for one year, to see if they return or transfer to another teacher.  So, if a student left in February 2020, you could delete them in the spring of 2021.  If they just left in the spring of 2021, please do not delete them this month; give them at least 6 months. 

On the other hand, I have heard that some associations require students to stay on dashboards until they graduate, even if they left in elementary school, and that some students graduated years ago, and SA Chairs still have not deleted them. Please do not do this. It does cause some confusion with teachers who are trying to sort through their existing students, and some students have not been enrolled on time because the teacher honestly just missed them in the clutter of students no longer in their studios.

If students are deleted by mistake, or they return after more than a year, I can restore them.  Please do not create a new record for deleted students!  I verify every new record created, to see if the students have history, but this is a long and tedious process, so if you know students have participated in the past, please ask me to restore them.

So, to summarize, please do not delete students immediately when they leave a studio, but also, please don't leave them for years.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Also, on an unrelated note, please be sure you shared your Chairperson login information with your Treasurer, Theory Chair, and World of Music Chair, and no one else.  Your President does not need this, but the other three do, and I've heard from quite a few Treasurers who did not receive the new password.  Thank you for all you do.  I hope you all have a wonderful year!
--
Abby Hehenberger
Records Administrator
Texas Music Teachers Association
512-927-7355
THEORY CHANGES

Dear Local Theory Chairs and Presidents,

I wanted to update you on changes for this year's tests which will hopefully prove helpful to students and teachers. Please make sure you relay these to your membership.

Thanks!
Jennifer Clay
TMTA Theory Coordinator

    Bonus Question for Levels 8-12

        This will once again be a 4 measure “write the counts under the notes and rests” style rhythm question like last year which will aid in time and safety even for those opting for in-person testing.

    Melodic Dictation for Levels 9-12

        All 16th notes from the student answer portion of melodic dictation have been removed.

    Level 10

        No inversions will be included on the Classical Style figured bass analysis example. (Level 10 #6)

    Level 11

        Points distribution change for #6 (figured bass realization): Part A will now be worth 5 points, Parts B-E worth 1.25 points, and Part F worth 1 point. This gives students more credit for the creation of the chord and less weight on the deductions.

        The cadence identification questions, which had previously been paired with #6, will now be paired with what had been #10 (which has moved to be on the 2nd page instead). This is the same as how it is presented on Level 10 #7 with the cadence questions following as #8 and 9.

Christiana Clark
Administrative Director
Texas Music Teachers Association

PO Box 831730
Richardson, Texas 75083-1730
512-927-7356

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA
Website: http://bluebonnetmta.org/home.html
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1990327091212286/
email BluebonnetMTA@live.com


Dear Teachers:
 
 
MINUTES OF MEETING

The general meeting was held on September 14 on line. Present were Lillian and Al, special visitor  from Michigan.  After welcoming greetings, former theory chairman Al explained how to set up and use a video transmission broadcasting station with two cameras. 
Member Angela called in in the evening. She confirmed that we want the Baroque Festival and the December recital on line.
Lillian was happy to be able to see old colleagues.


NEXT MEETING

The October meeting will be on October 12 at 10:30 on line.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons

Secretary

Bluebonnet MTA

Website: http://bluebonnetmta.org/home.html

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1990327091212286/

email BluebonnetMTA@live.com


Dear Teachers:


ROMANTIC FESTIVAL

Students entering the Bluebonnet Romantic Festival may make their performance video, upload it to google drive, and share it to  judge Buffy Currens

For your information,the judge's resumé is at: https://pianobuffy.musicteachershelper.com/my-resume


The musicianship scale requirement is attached.
Message from judge:
Buffy Currens To: Lillian Simmons
Fri, Mar 5 at 5:09 PM
I prefer a recorded video over live auditions.  

Buffy



MINUTES OF MEETING

The March business meeting was held on March 9 on line.  Present were Angela, Martha V and Lillian.
There was a lively discussion about the pandemic and some personal situations.
Nominations for the Board of Directors were made as follows.
President Lillian Simmons
Treasurer: Martha Vallee
Secretary Lillian Simmons
All standing committees will remain the same as this school year's.

There was discussion about intent to start a competition for next school year.


NEXT MEETING

The last meeting for this school year will be as follows.
Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bluebonnet
Time: Apr 13, 2021 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
              Apr 13, 2021 10:30 AM
     

OTHER EVENTS

Finland International Competition
Go to:
http://www.wpta.info/finland/ipc/?fbclid=IwAR235NIN_tx6RZh1UtDeEetj_Di9ul2JwLCF0P8xTkjx9GljJefy1HGxrP0

Friday, March 5, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 


Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:


MEETING

Lillian Simmons is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Tuesday March 9
The agenda is attached.


FESTIVAL INSTRUCTIONS

Mail copy of festival registration, critique sheets and copies of sheet music to Judge
Buffy Currens

Include self-addressed stamped envelope addressed to teacher.


Lillian Simmons, Piano Teacher

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons

Secretary

Bluebonnet MTA





Dear Teachers:


MINUTES OF MEETING

The general meeting was held on February 9 on line. 
Present were Angela, Lillian and Martha V.
There was discussion about pandemic, health and wellness. We are well. We are Blessed.
The Treasurer presented a treasurer's report.
Lillian reported on the events planned and already held.
All events are proceeding normally.


VIDEO

I finally found and published my studio party.
Go to:


MOZART CLASS
Go to:
If you sign up, tell them that Lillian sent you.


NEXT MEETING

The next general meeting will be held on Tuesday March 9 on line.



Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA

Dear Teachers,

RECITAL

The Winter Recital will be Saturday February 27 on line.. If you're going to perform, please plan to dress well.  Girls should wear a dress or blouse/sweater and pants/skirt, and boys should wear dress pants and dress shirts.  T-shirts/sweatshirts and blue jeans are not acceptable. No dangling jewelry!

MEETING

The next general meeting will be on Tuesday Feb 9 on zoom. Looking forward to seeing you.

The agenda is attached.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:

MINUTES

The general meeting of Bluebonnet MTA was held on January 12, 2021 on line.  Present were Angela and Lillian.
Upon Motion duly made and seconded, it was
Resolved that:
The Spring Recital will be held on line on May 8, 2021.


MEETING

The next general meeting will be on Tuesday Feb 9 on zoom. Looking forward to seeing you.


EVENTS

The Winter Recital of Bluebonnet MTA will be on Saturday February 27 on youtube.  There is no charge. Please record and upload your pieces ahead of time. Let me know your email, and I'll send you an invitation to our youtube channel so that you can upload it.

The Romantic Festival will be Saturday April 3.  Registration is $25 and is due March 3.  Send your registration form to the Festival Chairman Lillian, and the fee to the treasurer Martha, and the recording and critique sheets to the judge.

Bluebonnet News

 

Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:


MEETING

The next general meeting will be on Tuesday January 12 on zoom. Looking forward to seeing you.


WEBINARS

The piano teaching webinars of The Frances Clark Center are now on line and are free.  These are excellent. Go to: https://claviercompanion.com/content/webinar-archives


Bluebonnet News

 


Lillian Simmons
Secretary
Bluebonnet MTA


Dear Teachers:


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Best and heartfelt wishes to you all for Christmas.  I hope you enjoy the holiday in company of your family. 

RECITAL

The recital is now on line.


MEETING

The next general meeting will be on Tuesday January 12 on zoom. Looking forward to seeing you.