Original Composition
Another way to teach composition is to improvise on a blues scale, hymns, modes, Christmas carols, Happy Birthday, Chopsticks, Heart and Soul, and Theme and Variations.
Claire Westlake, Chair
Cavalcade
Well folks, Cavalcade 2022 "Music at the Movies" is a wrap! THANK YOU THANK YOU, wonderful teachers, for all your help in making it a SUCCESS!! One of my favorite things about being a member of DVMTA is getting to know so many wonderful fellow piano teachers, and working together on big projects like this is a great way to get to know each other and make new friends. Plus we got to put on a super fun concert and give our kids an incredibly unique performance opportunity! Cavalcade can't happen without the support of all of us and I'm so grateful to everybody who helped make it happen this year. THANK YOU!!
Sara Pratt, Chair saraplayspiano@gmail.com
Awards in Excellence
Thanks to all the teachers and students who registered for Awards in Excellence this year. We have 65 students from 10 different teachers participating. I’ve been double-checking all the data and should have a schedule put together very soon.
All students will need to wear masks during the event. To be safe, the check-in tables will be outdoors in the breezeway and we will have chairs scattered around for students to wait in. Parents may need to wait in their cars if seating becomes an issue. We are doing all we can to keep everything distanced and as safe as possible.
The auditions will take place on Saturday, April 9 at Hammer and Strings Conservatory beginning at 9:00 am. The winners’ recitals will be two weeks later, on Saturday, April 23 at 1:30 and 2:45 in the recital hall at Hammer and Strings. I strongly recommend attending one of the recitals whether you have students registered in the event or not. These winners amaze me every year with their preparation and artistry, whether playing at level 1 or level 14. My eyes are always opened to the great potential within these talented students and it motivates me to do my best for them.
If you have any questions, please contact me. I’m happy to help.
Lorri McHardy, Chair
Achievement Day
Achievement Day registration is coming up soon (March 25). We are still in need of a few more evaluators, so if this is something you've done in the past, and you're available, please let me know as soon as you can! We MUST have enough evaluators, or we simply cannot do it in person! We also need many other volunteers!
Here are some thoughts to keep in mind when choosing your repertoire pieces:
1. Choose "easy" songs the student has already completed out of their Lesson book. The Lesson book should be labeled already with the Level, which makes it easy for the judge. For example: Testing for Level 4 should include pieces at Level 4 OR above!
2. Use their Spring recital piece! Hopefully they are working hard on it and may have already committed some of it to memory.
3. Use their Awards in Excellence pieces. These can serve double-duty! Or, if they did not enter this event, the A in E repertoire list is a great guide of which pieces qualify for each level.
4. Double-check the MEASURE requirements for each level, to make sure the piece qualifies.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Toni Tetreau, chair tonitetreau@gmail.com
