Original Composition
When can you teach composition?
Group lessons
Summer/Christmas camps
Computer labs
Forgotten books
Facetime lessons (illness)
Another great time to teach composition is when there is an upcoming holiday like Valentine's Day, St.Patrick's Day, Easter or Spring. Good luck!
Claire Westlake, Chair
Cavalcade
Cavalcade rehearsals are here!! Everybody's ready for a great "Music at the Movies" show this year. We'll have two shows on February 26th at Mesquite High School, at 5:15pm and 7:00pm. Tickets will be $7 in advance and $8 at the door. We'll be selling tickets at the second and third weeks of rehearsals at The Music Store AND at the Saturday morning dress rehearsal at Mesquite on the 26th. THANK YOU so much to all the teachers who have helped make this event possible! We can't wait! Any questions please let me know
Sara Pratt, Chair saraplayspiano@gmail.com
Awards in Excellence
Registration for Awards in Excellence auditions is THIS month, due February 25. All forms and information is on our website; please read all the qualifications for student AND teacher carefully. All teacher attendance and service hours will be double-checked, as will the selected repertoire. Please make sure your repertoire selections are at the same level and on the current 2021-2022 approved list found on our website. If you need any service hours, there may still be time to help with Cavalcade.
Applications for the Janeen Noble Outstanding Music Student Award are due at the same time. This award is given to a student who adequately demonstrates the same excellent musicianship and community service that Janeen Noble represented. Qualifications and applications are on our website
You’ll notice that this year’s forms do not publish a specific cash award for the winners at each level. As a DVMTA board, we must be careful with our Student Awards fund. For those who may not understand the background, Marathon and Cavalcade have been our money-makers over the years. With Cavalcade expenses rising, we are now basically dependent on Marathon for funding our Student Awards. The Awards Plus recipients and the Awards in Excellence winners will have to share what comes in. But even if the cash prizes turn out to be a little smaller, students participating in Awards in Excellence still reap great benefits:
· The written evaluation from a professional judge, providing valuable feedback
· The opportunity to study every aspect of high-quality repertoire
· The motivation to practice effectively and well
· The experience of performing before a judge, building self-assurance
Can it be a stressful experience to compete? Absolutely. Not every piano student wants to take on the challenge. But for those who do, win or lose, they gain incomparable knowledge and experience.
The auditions will be held on Saturday, April 9 at Hammer and Strings Conservatory in Gilbert, with the winner’s recitals there on Saturday, April 23. I highly recommend attending one of the winner’s recitals, whether you participate in Awards in Excellence or not. You will be amazed at the high caliber of playing, from our youngest to our most accomplished students. Seeing the possibilities will challenge you as a teacher to be your very best, and that’s a benefit for all.
Lorri McHardy, Chair
Achievement Day
Ear-training is an option you can choose for your student for Achievement Day (either that, or sight-reading). Here are some tips for different levels:
1. For levels Primer-Level 4 or so, give the student an ear training "test" about once a month. It only takes a few minutes. Play different intervals, notes, skips, steps, or other requirements from the A Day requirements pages. I usually do 5-7 "questions" and applaud them on their success. If they get it wrong, I simply say something like "No, not quite, but listen to this one...." and they usually get it the second time around.
2. For older students, focus on scales, more detailed intervals (such as Perfect 4th or Augmented or Diminished 4th), and rhythm patterns. Be sure to check the requirements for each level.
3. For older students, I've found the app "Tenuto" very helpful! It has many different options for ear-training, building scales, key signatures, etc. Just all around, a SUPERB resource for my Level 4 and up students. I use it about twice per month with those students.
Best wishes as you continue to prepare. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Because of many different factors, we aren't sure if A Day will be in-person or virtual this year. Be sure to prepare your students for either scenario and we'll let you know just as soon as we can!
Toni Tetreau, chair tonitetreau@gmail.com
