notes magazine – spring 2013

Spring 2013www.ormta.org

CHANGES AT CFMTA

CANADAMUSIC WEEK

FINANCIAL REPORTS

NEW ORMTA WEBSITE

1The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers NOTES Winter

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

ARTICLESAll submissions must be received by the NOTES editor by the following deadlines: June 1 (summer issue), October 1 (fall issue), February 1 (spring issue). The editor prefers that all text be sent by e-mail using Microsoft Word. Reports from the Branches and Special Teacher biographies are limited to 400 words. Written permission must accompany all text where applicable.

PHOTOSHigh resolution colour photos in .jpg format are preferred. Email photos directly to: [email protected]

REPRINT PERMISSION All material in this publication is copyrighted and may not be duplicated or reprinted without advance written permission.

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in NOTES are not necessarily those of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, neither are the products or services appearing in advertisements and inserts endorsed by that Association.

ADVERTISING Ad sizes and rates are available from: Nancy Dale 58 Shakespeare Avenue P.O. Box 1639 Niagara-on-the-Lake; L0S 1J0 Tel: 905-468-5639 E Mail: [email protected] Advertising must be submitted to Nancy by article “due dates” listed above. All final ad artwork must be saved in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. When preparing ads, use high resolution images and fonts, and set the Acrobat Preferences to embed the fonts and images at their original high resolution quality.

NOTES FOR NON-MEMBERSNon-ORMTA members may receive NOTES by submitting an annual fee to Ron Spadafore, Provincial Secretary/Registrar, Box 635, Timmins, ON P4N 7G2. The charge for Canadian residents is $20 per year, $30 for non-residents. Please make the cheque out to ORMTA.

NOTES EDITOR Please send material for review to: Patrick McCormick - Notes Editor 158 McRoberts Avenue, Toronto M6E 4P5Tel: (416) 554 3998email: [email protected]

Contents

Calendar of Events 2

Privacy Policy 2

From the Editor 3

From the President 4

From the Branches 5

New ORMTA website 10

Financial Reports 12

Remembering Genevieve Baulcomb 16

Music Inspires 17

ORMTA – Canada Music Week Reports 21

Changes at CFMTA 26

Membership has its Privileges 28

Christian Music Education 30

Annual General Meeting 31

Awards Luncheon 32

From the Registrar’s Desk 34

Sense 35

Provincial Executive and Zone Representatives 36

2

Calendar of Events

NOTES Spring 2013 The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers

April 1 Deadline for submissions for the ORMTA CONTRIBUTION TO TEACHING AWARD

April 20 Provincial Council Executive meeting

April 21 Provincial Council meeting

April 30 Deadline for 2013-2014 WORKSHOP REQUESTS

May 15 NOMINATIONS FOR ZONE REPRESENTATIVES to Provincial Secretary

May 15 BRANCH DELEGATE NAMES FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to Provincial Secretary

May 31 Deadline for ZONE ENTRIES in the PROVINCIAL STUDENT AND YOUNG ARTIST

COMPETITIONS to Provincial Chairperson

June 1 “NOTES” DEADLINE FOR SUMMER ISSUE

June 15 Requests for ONTARIO YOUNG ARTIST RECITALS to Chairperson

June 30 Membership fees are due

July 1 Deadline for 2013-2014 BRANCH EXECUTIVE LISTS

July 1 Branch concerns to Zone Representative for presentation at Council meeting

July 19 Provincial Council Executive meeting

July 19 Provincial Council meeting

July 20 2013 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

July 20 2013 AWARDS LUNCHEON

July 20 YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION, PROVINCIAL INSTRUMENTAL & VOCAL COMPETITIONS

All events on July 19 and 20, 2013 will take place at the Ramada Plaza (formerly The Stage West Hotel), 5400 Dixie Road, Mississauga, ON.

Notes • Fall 2012

October 1, 2012...........“NOTES” DEADLINE FOR FALL ISSUE

October 1 .....................Branch concerns to Zone Representative for presentation at Council meeting

October 27 ...................Provincial Council Executive meeting

October 28 ...................Provincial Council meeting

November 18-24 .........CANADA MUSIC WEEK

December 31 ...............Deadline for ORMTA PEDAGOGY AWARD APPLICATIONS

December 31 ...............Deadline for AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

December 31 ...............Branch concerns to Zone Representative for presentation at Council meeting

February 1, 2013 .........“NOTES” DEADLINE FOR SPRING ISSUE

February 2 ...................Provincial Council electronic meeting

March 1 ........................Deadline for CHANGES OF ADDRESS AND/OR MEMBERSHIP STATUS to Provincial Registrar

March 15 ......................Deadline for MUSIC WRITING COMPETITION SUBMISSIONS TO CMW Chairperson

March 15 ......................Branch concerns to Zone Representative for presentation at Council meeting

April 1...........................Deadline for SPECIAL TEACHER AWARD SUBMISSIONS

April 20 ........................Provincial Council Executive meeting

April 21 ........................Provincial Council meeting

April 30 ........................Deadline for 2013-2014 WORKSHOP REQUESTS

May 15..........................NOMINATIONS FOR ZONE REPRESENTATIVES to Provincial Secretary

May 15..........................BRANCH DELEGATE NAMES FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to Provincial Secretary

May 31..........................Deadline for ZONE ENTRIES in the PROVINCIAL STUDENT AND YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITIONS to Provincial Chairperson

June 1 ...........................“NOTES” DEADLINE FOR SUMMER ISSUE

June 15.........................Requests for ONTARIO YOUNG ARTIST RECITALS to Chairperson

June 30.........................Membership fees are due

July 1 ............................Deadline for 2013-2014 BRANCH EXECUTIVE LISTS

July 1 ............................Branch concerns to Zone Representative for presentation at Council meeting

July 19 ..........................Provincial Council Executive meeting

July 19 ..........................Provincial Council meeting

July 20 ..........................2013 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

July 20 ..........................2013 AWARDS LUNCHEON

July 20 ..........................YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION, PROVINCIAL INSTRUMENTAL & VOCAL COMPETITIONS

All events on July 19 and 20, 2013 will take place at the Ramada Plaza (formerly The Stage West Hotel), 5400 Dixie Road, Mississauga, ON.

Calendar of Events 2012-2013

3The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers NOTES Spring 2013

Spring always brings with it the potential for new things – and with a good foundation left from the year before, the new season is a time to grow, learn and experience something new.

I am delighted to be taking over the reigns from Audrey Wells who has done such a great job as Editor of ‘NOTES’. I would also like to say how excited I am to become involved in the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association.

Having spent more than 18 years teaching at the City of Belfast School of Music in Northern Ireland, it feels a bit like ‘coming home’. While the cultures may be different, the love of music and teaching new students how to make and appreciate it – is universal.

I have also discovered that to be one of the great things about living in such a diverse place as Ontario – with so many different venues and music styles available to see and hear all within driving distance, we have many rich experiences to help us celebrate, learn and grow through music.

In this issue you will find details on accessing and using the new ORMTA website in an article prepared by Frank Horvat (see page 10).

ORMTA Braches have been busy with Canada Music Week activities and you can read all about them on page 22.

Important information relating to new Letters Patent and Bylaws is contained in the CFMTA article on page 26.

Happy Teaching Everyone, and I look forward to hearing from you all throughout the year!

4

From the President

Second, a Bylaws committee was formed in order to review the proposed changes to the CFMTA bylaws. Thank you to Nancy Dale, Frank Horvat, Ron Spadafore and Past Presidents Judy Home, Nancy Hughes and Doranne Minotti who, with me, spent a lot of time reviewing the bylaws changes being proposed by the CFMTA. Please read the article we have prepared on page 26 explaining our position.

Audrey Wells, who has been our Notes editor for two and a half years, is having to step down from her position. Pressures of a full-time job, in addition to teaching and caring for an aging parent, have meant she just doesn’t have enough hours in the day. Thank you, Audrey, for a job well done! We will still continue to see her on Provincial Council though as North Eastern Zone Representative.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Patrick McCormick, who has taken over for Audrey as our new Notes editor starting with this issue. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Patrick now lives in Toronto with his family and works as Art Director for Family Communications that produces Parents Canada and Today’s Bride magazines.

On a personal note, 2013 marks the twenty-fifth year that I have been teaching. This has caused me to do a bit of reflecting on my journey first as

a student and then as a teacher. My beginnings as a student were quite unremarkable. When I was young, a friend taught me a simple little piece on her piano (it involved using my fist to play the black notes, as I recall).

After begging my parents incessantly for lessons, I was enrolled in group classes at my public school. I had no piano on which to practise, just a cardboard keyboard that I folded out onto my dining room table. Weekly lessons involved spending a lot of time drawing notes and treble clefs while sitting around a table with the other students and a few minutes actually playing the piano. But, I thought the five or so minutes I got to be at the real piano with my teacher were wonderful!

My parents did eventually purchase a piano once I had proven that I really did want to learn to play. I managed to get to Gr. 10 as a teenager and then out of the blue, foolishily decided I had had enough and didn’t do the exam. I didn’t go back to lessons again until I was in my 30s with three small children.

My entry into the teaching world was equally ordinary. Returning to studying as an adult, my goal was to finally do my Gr. 10 practical exam (and required theory). A friend who knew I was studying asked me if I would teach her how to read music.

That simple request changed my life. After much persuading on my friend’s part, I agreed to teach her and before long I had a small studio of friends and a few neighbourhood children. I found I truly enjoyed teaching, that I was relatively good at it and my teaching schedule meshed well with that of my childrens’ school and extra-curricular activities. I continued on to complete not only my Gr. 10 but my Teacher’s ARCT as well.

I certainly never had a master plan to teach, yet here I am with twenty-five years of teaching behind me and I can’t imagine my life without it. It gives me much joy and personal satisfaction to share my love of music with others. And to think it all started with two friends, many years apart, a long time ago. Sometimes the simplest things can have a most profound effect on our lives.

Music gives a soul to the universe,wings to the mind,flight to the imagination,and life to everything ~ Plato

I wish you all happy and joyful teaching!

Sue JonesPresident, ORMTA

Dear fellow ORMTA members:

I hope you are all well and enjoying your teaching year!

Your Provincial Executive has been hard at work on two major projects. First, Frank Horvat, Ron Spadafore and Nancy Dale have spent countless hours on our new website. It is up and running and I hope you have checked out your own personal profile, which you can update yourself. The website has a new, fresh look and we are most grateful for their hard work.


The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers NOTES Spring 2013 5

ETOBICOKE – MISSISSAUGA

We had a busy and fruitful Fall Season here in Etobicoke Mississauga. We now look forward to the Winter and Spring Seasons. We begin with our “Fun Afternoon” which will take place Sun. afternoon Jan. 27th, 2013 at Christ Church in Mississauga. This is an exciting way for our students to perform “Fun Music” in a Cabaret setting, with “fun food”, (chips, popcorn, pretzels, etc.) being enjoyed by participants and their families. We are also having a raffle. Our Scholarship fund will be the recipient of the proceeds from this wonderful venture.

Sunday Feb. 3rd is the Annual Pot Luck at the President’s home. This is a super time to socialize with our colleagues in our Branch, while enjoying scrumptious food prepared by our members. What a super way to fight the Winter Blahs!

Sat. Feb. 23rd, 2013 is our Music Theatre Master Class with clinician Donna Garner. What a great opportunity for our budding singers; with Festivals fast approaching!Sat. March 2nd, and Sunday, March 3rd, is our Spring Assessments. Our students are busily preparing for this great event. Sat. March 23rd is our Piano Master Class with clinician Andrew Markow. We value his expertise and insight.

April is such a busy month for our teachers and students alike; with all of the Festivals in our area going on at this time.

In May, the Zone Competitions will be held; and we also have our Annual Branch Scholarship Recital, May 26th, and 27th. Our Annual General Meeting is to be held Sun. May 27th, 2013.

Please look for our Branch’s Ad in this issue of “Notes”, as we are again hosting our Harmony Refresher Course with the fantastic Joe Ringhofer. It will take place Aug. 26th to the 30th, 2013; and will cover a review of Basic Harmony, and the RCM Analysis Course. This is such a rejuvenating week; the participants come away with such enthusiasm and verve; ready to begin the Fall teaching year! Even if you do not teach these courses, it is such a wonderful experience to review and absorb the requirements of Harmony and Analysis. What a wonderful way to connect with other ORMTA teachers. Do join us and be a part of the excitement and learning experience!

We at Etobicoke Mississauga, are so pleased to welcome two new additions to our Executive Committee; Thuy Bach and Abigail Freeman. They will be wonderful assets to an already amazing Executive Committee. Happy 2013 everyone! – Virginia M. Taylor

From the Branches

6

From the Branches


KINGSTON

Kingston Branch had a busy fall schedule. A small, but appreciative audience had the pleasure of hearing Young Artist Nam Hee Kim in October. Paul Coates gave a lively “Taming the Practice Monster” workshop in November that was enjoyed by all the people in attendance. We celebrated Canada Music Week in conjunction with Queen’s University with a three day festival. Michel Szczesniak, a Queen’s University Faculty of Music instructor adjudicated a variety of verytalented students.

December saw the annual Candy Cane recital for students nine years and under and the branch is looking forward to another annual event, the pre-Kiwanis Music Festival recital. The Festival itself takes place at the end of February.

– Meg Freer

LONDON

On October 27th our branch hosted the annual Hallowe’en dress-up student recital. This is always popular and the parents bring great treats for the reception following the recital. It was held at Aeolian Hall and hosted by Marilyn Loosemore and Joan Celestin.

Also at that recital, the ORMTA Grade 8 Scholarship was given to Matt Krzywdzinski (student of Marion Miller) for the highest grade 8 piano exam mark. Congratulations, Matt!

London Branch has put together a brochure on our website (www.ormtalondon.com) called “Why Take Music Lessons” which members can access and download. This is a great tool for communicating with the public.

Sandra Weaver is again organizing the annual non-competitive Mini-Festival for students on March 2nd. This year’s theme is the Classical Period of music.

We welcomed the following new members in the last year: Diana Dumlavwalla, Malcolm Hines, Na Li, Mary Lou Tremills, Allison Wiebe, Sandra Young Tangjerd and Barbara Zuchowicz.

– Janis Danowski

NORTH BAY

This fall was again quite a busy time as we organized and ran four branch recitals. Our “Hallowe’en Recital” took place at the Opera Café

auditorium (formerly known as Brava Music Studios) on October 27, which this year, was not quite as well attended as in the past. In the future, we have decided to open it up to all ages and rename it the” Harvest Recital” in hopes of increasing participation.

Our “Honour Recital” was held on Saturday November 17 at Christ Church Anglican and featured performances from students who achieved an honours standing in their practical examinations for the

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From the Branches

The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers NOTES Spring 2013

past year. We also presented awards to those students who received the highest mark in their respective grades of both practical and theoretical examinations.

Our “Adult Student Recital”, which is quite an informal affair, took place at the home of Beth Chartrand on November 31. This event is becoming more popular every year. Our “Candy Cane Recital”, which features a Christmas sing-along as well as performances from some of our younger students, took place on Saturday, December 8 at the Opera Café Auditorium.

Royal Conservatory theory exams and practical examinations took place in December and January. We are working hard to increase the number of participants, but have noticed that students do not seem to have the time they need to achieve the levels of previous years.

Frances Balodis, one of our most esteemed members, adjudicated the Parry Sound Contemporary Showcase where her vocal composition “Muskoka Spring” was given its premiere performance by Frank Berg. Our meetings continue to be well supported by branch members.

Our pre-Christmas luncheon meeting held this year at The Clarion was particularly well attended, and a great opportunity for members to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

– Brian McDowell

OSHAWA & DISTRICT

The Oshawa & District ORMTA Branch have had a busy 1st semester, and are gearing up for our Winter semester.

In February we will be holding our “Stars of Tomorrow” auditioned concert highlighting our pupils from Prep B to Grade 8. Our special thanks to members Louise Downey and Elizabeth Lambert for their valuable contribution to this concert. The pupils with the highest mark of their grade will receive a medal in recognition of their achievement. All participating pupils receive a lovely certificate!

Scholarship winners of our Awards Recital in October. They received the highest mark in their grade for the 2012 year!

In March/ April we will be holding our “Young Artists” auditioned concert highlighting our pupils from Grade 8 through Associate. This is our special formal evening recital, with sandwiches and goodies to follow, supplied by the teachers. Our thanks to member Elaine Broughton for opening her home ( and piano!) for the audition day - much appreciated!

On Monday, April 29th we will be holding our ORMTA Workshop. Location changed to Ritson Road Alliance Church. Our guest clinician is Janet Fothergill who will be discussing “Developing Musicianship in our Students”. We welcome any members from other Branches to join us. More info will be on the ORMTA website.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful year so far, from your colleagues at Oshawa & District Branch.

– Paula Copithorn

OTTAWA

This year has been speeding by and we have had an abundance of exciting events for our members including: Information Sharing Sessions, a Masterclass with Professor Andrew Tunis at the University of Ottawa, Canada Music Week Recital, our Variety Show which celebrates students who are not strickly in the classical stream, as well as our First Class Honours Recitals in which our scholarship winners were announced and prizes given.

Coming up this spring will be our Adult Student events, our Competitions and its Gala as well as another Information Sharing Session, and a masterclass with Professor David Jalbert.

I must admit though … that this years’ highlight for our branch was the Angela Hewitt Masterclass with Q & A that we hosted jointly with the University of Ottawa. This was held on February 21 in Taberet Hall and was extremely well attended. Thank you to Amy Boyes who worked so hard to make this event such a huge success!

As always, if you would like to attend any or all of our events … you are most welcome.

Wishing you all good luck in preparing your students for the various festivals and exams, – Ann Empey

From the Branches

PETERBOROUGH

On February 15th our branch will host a field trip to Koerner Hall, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning to hear the Royal Conservatory Orchestra perform Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 conducted by Canadian Opera Company Music Director Johannes Debus. As an added bonus, we will take in the Prelude Concert featuring students of the Glenn Gould School. We have invited members of other community musical groups, like the New Horizons Band to join us. It is exciting to bring musicians of all ages together for this event. There are many excellent local concerts which ORMTA members support. This trip is intended to broaden our students’ musical horizons and to give everyone a more direct experience of the RCM’s renovated facility and the spectacular Koerner Hall.

Teachers are busy preparing students for the Kiwanis Music Festival which is held annually in April and for Spring exams with the various Conservatories. In news from member studios, Marcus Elia and Isaac Maynes, students of Peter MacKinnon, have each won $500 RCCO scholarships, for 2012 and 2013. Congratulations to both!

– Karen Lander

THUNDER BAY

Thunder Bay branch of ORMTA is happy to report what has been going on. We are very excited to have Gillian Sadler, Jenniah Armstrong and Sean Kim join our membership! This fall we enjoyed a very profitable workshop with Mr. Paul Coates, “Taming the Practice Monster” and a second workshop with Vanessa Cornett-Murtada of Minnesota, “Performance Preparation- Anxiety Management- Music and the Brain”. Some of our members participated in a guided relaxation process and a few students engaged in hypnotherapy.

We had a very successful Halloween Recital which received coverage in our local newspaper. There were so many eager performers that we had two full one-hour recitals followed by Halloween cupcakes. The church performance site was transformed into an imaginary castle with lots of elaborately costumed guests!!

Recently we sponsored a second recital for students who are preparing for practical examinations. Each student, piano and violin, performed two of their pieces. Some students had their RCM exam the very next day, so it was great to be able to play on the examination piano and to get comfortable in the space. Approximately 40% of the repertoire performed was Canadian!!

8 NOTES Spring 2013 The definitive information source for Ontario Registered Music Teachers

Thunder Bay is an exciting place to live and teach in. Many of our students are studying for the long term since our city does not experience the transient nature that many of your branches do. We continue to promote a high standard of teaching and performance! Many of our teachers are now preparing their students for the Lakehead Festival of Music and the Arts. This year we have 300 entries in piano, 150 entries in strings and 476 entries in vocal. It is going to be a busy spring for many of us!!

– Kathy Schmit

TIMMINS

Greetings from the Timmins Branch! We look forward to warm spring weather since our -47°C winter, and with that warm weather comes our spring concert on May 7, 2013. After that, it’s on to conservatory examinations and our Annual General Meeting in June.

Also in June, we look forward to seeing our dear friends from the North Bay Branch when we attend their Branch Workshop on June 1st.

After that, some of us will be taking a break while others do some teaching over the summer months. We look forward to the Provincial AGM, competitions and the ORMTA Contribution to Teaching Awards in July in Mississauga.

Happy teaching!

– Audrey Jean Wells


COUNCIL WEEKEND OCTOBER 2012

From the Branches

Logging into the new ormta.orgA primer for ORMTA members

To access this new system, visit ormta.org online. In the top right corner of the web site, type in the email address and password that was mailed to you last November.

Misplaced your letter? Contact Provincial Vice President, Frank Horvat, and he’ll supply you with your email and temporary password.

After agreeing to the terms of use, click on the orange “Change password” link in the top right corner of the web site. Proceed to change your password to something more memorable.

Still in the top right corner of the site, click on the orange “View profile” link.

By scrolling down, you can review all your information that is presently in ORMTA’s database. If you notice anything missing or incorrect, click the “Edit profile” button, enter your accurate info, and click the “Save” button at the bottom left corner of the page.

This is what you will see next…

Last November ORMTA launched a new self-serve and interactive website. The new ormta.org will make it easier and quicker for you to update your membership profile, pay your fees, promote your studio, and gain information on ORMTA’s various initiatives. If you have yet to log in, this article will provide you with step-by-step instructions.


Unless you’re an Auxiliary or Retired member, you can have your information accessed in the web site’s public “Find A Teacher” Directory.

To control what information the public sees, click “Privacy” (beside “Profile”). Then click the “Edit profile” button. In order for potential students to find you in the Directory, you must at least set the following fields to “Anybody”: First name, Last name as well as e-Mail or Phone, Postal code (not “Mailing Postal Code”), City (not “Mailing City”), and Subject(s) Taught. Click the “Save” button at the bottom.

Control how ORMTA keeps in touch with you. Click the “Email subscriptions” link. Then click the “Edit profile” button, check/uncheck your preferences, and click the “Save” button at the bottom.

Starting mid April, you will be receiving your statements for membership dues via email. You will have the option of paying your dues online or mailing a cheque. If you do not have an email address registered with ORMTA, your annual invoice will continue to be mailed.

At payment time, you will be provided with instructions on applying unique requests to your invoice.

This includes:• Waivinginsurance(ifyoupresentlyhaveyourownliabilityinsurancecoverage)• ChanginghowyoureceiveNotesMagazine (free online or paying a $12 surcharge to have a paper copy mailed to you)• WaivingtheCFMTAfee(semi-retiredorretiredmembersonly)

There are many more features that you can take advantage of at the new ormta.org – these will be featured in the upcoming issues of Notes Magazine. In the meantime, if you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact any of the members of ORMTA’s Technology Committee: Frank Horvat, Nancy Dale, or Ron Spadafore.


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On December 6, 2012, Genevieve Baulcomb passed away in Brantford, Ontario after a long battle with lung cancer.

Genevieve was proud to be a member of the Brantford branch of the ORMTA.

She started her career as a ballet dancer and participated in many dance recitals, and then went on to study music

Genevieve received her Performers diploma from Western Ontario Conservatory of Music in 1953, winning the gold medal for highest marks.

She went on to get her ARCT from the Royal Conservatory in 1954, and then studied pedagogy with Markwell Perry.

Known as a very compassionate teacher, she taught many piano and theory students over the years, and particularly enjoyed acting as MC for our local ORMTA recitals. She was organist at St. John’s Church for 40 years – an unpaid position!!

Genevieve then volunteered as organist for many years, playing at nursing homes, local hospitals and our hospice. Her small choir of 6 people – “The Companions” sang for residents at the John Noble Home once a month. She also filled in for

many local church organists when needed due to sickness, vacation leave etc

She received many Certificates of Appreciation for her dedicated services.

Sick as she was with chemo and radiation treatments, she never failed to fulfill her commitments almost to her last days on this earth, always supported by her husband Norman, a retired fireman.

Genevieve will be greatly missed by a great number of people and organizations.

– May Hillier & Rosalyn Dargie

Genevieve Baulcomb

ORMTA – Canada Music Week Reports


Hamilton-Halton Branch

BELLEVILLE On Sunday, November 25th, 2012, the Belleville Branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association, hosted a music recital for its junior musicians. Since the concert took place during Canada Music Week, the repertoire was largely Canadian and served as an introduction to our wonderful Canadian composers and their compositions.

Forty young students at the grade 4 level and under, presented piano solos, duets, and vocal selections to a packed audience of family and friends. The performances were enthusiastic and comical at times- especially from the five year-olds- and were overwhelmingly well-received by the audience.

For many, this recital offered the first chance to perform in front of a crowd. At the conclusion, everyone enjoyed a well-deserved treat of sweets and beverages supplied by the teachers.

– Pat Ross

BRANTFORD BRANCH

On Sunday November 18th, students and families gathered in Brantford to listen to our annual ORMTA Canada Music Week Recital. The recital included piano, voice and instrumental compositions, and began with O Canada, played by returning student Rebecca Orsini. Rebecca was present to receive the George White Memorial Scholarship for outstanding

musical achievement, as selected by May Hillier and her committee. Rebecca is currently studying at the University of Toronto. Rebecca also played Morel’s Etude #2.

Guests for the recital, Trois Femmes, performed David L McIntyre’s Piano Trio #1.

All present enjoyed the wonderful diversity indicative of Canadian compositions.

– Naomi Morrison

HAMILTON – HALTON On Sunday 18th November 2012 the Hamilton-Halton Branch of ORMTA held a special recital at St. Christopher’s Church in Burlington, called FOCUS ON COMPOSERS, featuring works of 22 diverse Canadian Composers, performed by piano and vocal students. To increase awareness of Canadian Composers and their music and to celebrate composition as a living art here and now, a souvenir program was produced for the event. For each composer being performed, there was a 100-word biography and a picture in the program, along with the listed programmed pieces and the performers names. The composers were arranged more or less chronologically, from Calixa Lavall e (born in 1842), Jean Coulthard, Oskar Morawetz, Oscar Peterson, Mary Gardiner, Pierre Gallant and Patrick Cardy, to name just a few, through to two of our own

student composers who performed original works, Pavel Chenarev and Mira Meikle. Also, the well-known Oakville composer and member teacher of our branch, Linda Fletcher, accompanied six student singers performing her own compositions.

We celebrated afterwards with maple-leaf cookies, coffee and juice. It was gratifying to hear samples of the wide range of distinguished Canadian creative musical writing that is our heritage as well as an ongoing tradition. – Janice Beninger

KITCHENER – WATERLOO

It was a great celebration in Kitchener-Waterloo on Sat., Nov. 24, as 90 students of KW ORMTA teachers performed pieces by 35 Canadian composers in a day of master classes and a grand recital. Amber Morphy, Cambridge teacher, adjudicator and RCM examiner, worked enthusiastically with over 50 master class students of all levels from introductory to Gr. 10, inspiring them and helping them to grow in their skills and interpretation.

Teachers and students gained insights into the performance of a variety of Canadian repertoire. A special feature of the day was the connection which students made with the composers of their pieces. Each made an effort to email or Google-search their composer to find out more about their lives and their motivation to compose.




Many students were thrilled to receive personal email messages from their composers. To reinforce the learning experience both geographically and musically, teacher Ilva Gierman prepared a map of Canada for each student showing the location of each composer represented.

A festive all-Canadian student recital brought the day to an exciting close with almost 40 students participating. The recital began with a stirring rendition of O Canada performed by Annie Hu, a new Canadian originally from Taiwan. Other notable performances included pieces by student composers Claris Lam, and Mick Redding, a CFMTA national winner. Kye Marshall’s rhythmically driving piece, Tumbleweed Dance, winner of the 2012 CFMTA Call for

Compositions, was performed by student Michael Wong. Recital convener Carol Ditner-Wilson organized special touches such as Canadian memorabilia for each student, and cupcakes decorated with Canadian flags.

Three lucky students were winners in a draw for which the prizes were collections of Canadian piano music by Joanne Bender. As a way of helping those around us during our CMW celebration, KW ORMTA teachers donated new and used music books for students who are learning to play piano through a specially-funded program called The Community Music School of Waterloo Region.

KW ORMTA teachers felt very grateful to receive the CFMTA William

Andrews award for their Canada Music Week celebration. A story was featured in the Waterloo Chronicle, highlighting the importance of Canadian music in our society.

Congratulations to all the teachers, students and parents who participated to make the day a huge success!

– Joanne Bender

NORTH BAY The North Bay branch hosted our annual Honour Recital on Saturday, November 17, 2012. To open this event, an official proclamation from Mayor Al McDonald was read announcing Canada Music Week as November 18-24th. At this event, students of ORMTA teachers were celebrated for their success in Conservatory exams in 2012. Anyone who achieved 70 per cent or more was invited to play or sing at this recital. The student with the highest mark (of at least 80 per cent) in each grade was presented with a certificate and a Canada Music Week pencil. For grades six and higher and for the student with the top advanced theory mark, a small scholarship accompanied the certificate. Half of the pieces played or sung at this event this year were written by Canadian Composers, and students have been working all this fall to prepare for our Canadian Contemporary Showcase which is held in February.


CMW Master Class showing from L to R: Joanne Bender, president, Amber Morphy, clinician, Ilva Gierman, CMW coordinator.


With Frances Balodis in our membership, we have the privilege of personal involvement with a Canadian composer who also helps us contact others when we want to connect our students with the composers whose music they are playing.

We encourage students to write to these Canadian composers. What a thrill for a student to receive a personal letter from a living, breathing, published composer, especially if sample music is enclosed! In February, 2012, Frances taught a series of three composition workshops for interested students, parents and teachers. Several students went on to enter their composition in the Kiwanis Festival composition class. So you see, the North Bay branch celebrates Canadian music all year round! – Susan Nicholson

OWEN SOUND

The Owen Sound Branch of the ORMTA celebrated Canada Music Week 2012 by holding a student recital on Friday, November 23rd at the Owen Sound Alliance Church. There sixteen students on the programme ranging in age from 4 to adult. Some of the composers included in the programme were Debra Wanless, David Duke, Jean Coulthard, Boris Berlin, Anne Crosby, Stephen Chatman and Larysa Kuzmenko. We even had one student play his own composition.

We concluded this special recital with a Canada Music Week cake, and each student took home special mementos: a calendar of Canadian composers, CMW pencils/stickers and a maple leaf cookie. Congratulation again to everyone for all your hard work!

– Jennifer Lanthier

OTTAWA On Sunday November 18th 55 parents and teachers gathered together at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Orleans to listen to 25 students of ORMTA teachers play music by Canadian composers in celebration of Canada Music Week. Although the concert consisted of mostly piano music there was also a young vocalist who graced the audience with a holiday song called “D’ou viens tu bergere?”.

The students ranged in age from 6 to 17 and the styles of music consisted of everything from classical to jazz. All the teachers of the performers were in the audience which is such a lovely thing to see. One student even performed his own piece which wowed the audience.

The concert concluded with a piano/double bass jazz duet which was the perfect way to end a lovely concert. ORMTA Ottawa President Sandy Menard handed out certificates to the students and Canada Music Week Convener Tania Granata also treated all the students with Ottawa’s famous “Obama”cookies from downtown bakery Moulin de Provence in the shape of a maple leaf. The performers

and audience then enjoyed a reception following the concert. All in all a perfect way to spend an afternoon!!”

– Tania Granata

PICKERING BRANCH

On November 18,Pickering Branch held a Canada Music Week Concert which included 64 participants. As we wanted to included as many participants, therefore, we did not include only Canadian Music. There was certainly a variety which included singers and pianists.

Along with the music program we encouraged the participants to draw a picture of their music and what it meant to them. (Our statement around the art was MUSIC IS ART - Allows a human being to take all these boring but difficult techniques and use them to create emotion . That is the one thing science cannot duplicate humanism, feeling and emotion, I am including some of the drawings. One of the children had the privilege to be chosen to have his Christmas card printed and is now sold this year as a fund raiser for the Sick Children’s Hospital. We also presented participation certificates for each child. We also sold CD’s for our scholarship fund which we featured Boris Zarankin and Giles Tomkins. Pickering raised $7,000.00 to achieve this. As we are a small branch of only a few active teachers this was a lot of money to raise and this was over a period of approx. 3 years. We raised $400.00 at our current concert.

– Marion Roberts

A committee of ORMTA members consisting of Sue

Jones, President, Frank Horvat, Vice President, Nancy

Dale, Treasurer, Ron Spadafore, Secretary/Registrar,

Nancy Hughes, Past President, Doranne Minotti, Past

President, and Judy Home, Past President has been

studying the proposals and we would like our members

across Ontario to be aware of how these changes could

affect you. Past President Charline Farrell was not able to

be on this Committee due to her position as CFMTA Vice-

President. However, the committee has kept her apprised

of all decisions made.

The Articles of Continuance (formerly the Letters Patent)

govern how the Bylaws are written. This hierarchy has

always been in place, but the difference under the new

Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act removes the

requirement of government approval to amend the

Articles and Bylaws. Formerly, amending the Letters

Patent was next to impossible and ministerial approval

had to be given for any amendments to the Bylaws.

Now they must only be filed and there is a fee of $200 to

amend the Articles of Continuance.

It is for the above reasons that the committee feels it is so

important to get the Articles of Continuance right and it is

necessary to get them right the first time, rather than have

to set up another committee to go over the same ground

sometime in the future. In the discussions with the

other Associations within CFMTA and the current bylaw

committee, the general consensus is to simply file them

now so that it’s “business as usual” and make necessary

changes later.

The ORMTA Committee emphatically believes that

“business as usual” is not satisfactory for our members.

We are strongly requesting CFMTA to make revisions to

the proposed Articles to rectify the major issue, that of

the voting rights of the various associations.

One of the issues that the committee has with the

workings of CFMTA is that each Association has an equal

number of votes. (The Associations had a weighted

voting system that took into account, somewhat, their

differing membership sizes, but that was changed with

the bylaws revision in 2008, such that each Association

had equal votes, notwithstanding the huge difference

in membership numbers and fees paid to CFMTA and

this has been contentious ever since.) The fee that each

Association pays to CFMTA is calculated on a formula

based on the membership size.

From May 2012, the following shows the number of

members in each Association and the amount they

contribute to the CFMTA:

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL ORMTA MEMBERS

CHANGES AT CFMTAUnder the new Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, all federal organizations are required to re-write their Letters Patent and Bylaws. In order to comply with this legislation, our national federation, the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (CFMTA) has been discussing proposals for new Articles of Continuance (which replace the Letters Patent) and new Bylaws.


Ontario 1,163 $30,238

British Columbia 955 $24,830

Alberta 399 $10,374

Manitoba 235 $6,110

Saskatchewan 205 $5,330

Quebec 145 $3,770

Nova Scotia 97 $2,522

New Brunswick 78 $2,028

Newfoundland 45 $1,170

Prince Edward Island 33 $858

Yukon Territories 17 $442

The ORMTA committee is proposing a fairer and more

balanced voting system that would give more votes to

those Associations with a higher number of members.

(We do this in ORMTA, giving more votes to those

branches in Ontario who have a higher representation

of members.) It should also be noted that many

organizations follow this pattern, beginning with the

number of elected representatives in the Senate and

House of Commons. This proposal must be stated in the

Articles of Continuance, since under the NFP Act, “unless

the articles otherwise provide, each member is entitled to

one vote at a meeting of members. (154.5.)”

The other issue that the committee believes should be

dealt with, before the revised Bylaws are voted on this

July, is that CFMTA has been allowing people other than

delegates to chair committees. It is the opinion of the

ORMTA committee that only delegates representing

their provinces should chair the CFMTA committees and

this should be stated in the Bylaws. Budgeting for non-

delegates to attend CFMTA meetings is an unnecessary

expense and gives unwarranted influence to non-

delegates.

If the proposals for the new Articles of Continuance

and Bylaws are approved at the July CFMTA meetings,

without the concerns of your ORMTA committee being

addressed, then we as an organization, will have to review

carefully the status of our association within CFMTA. Our

hope, though, is that it never gets to this point. ORMTA’s

committee will work diligently in the lead-up to July trying

to convince our colleagues in other provinces that our

amendments are fair and logical and that they should

support them.

Your Provincial Council is asking for your feedback on

these issues and the CFMTA in general. Please e-mail

your comments/questions/suggestions to Provincial

President Sue Jones at [email protected]

Sue Jones

Chair, Bylaws Committee


MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGESDon’t let unpaid fees impede opportunities for your students!Every year, ORMTA gives out many prizes to the winners of our Music Writing competition and the Provincial Student/Young Artist competitions.

We also give the ORMTA Pedagogy Award to the student who has obtained the highest mark in the written portion of the Associate Pedagogy exam.

Only students of ORMTA teachers who are members in good standing (all dues paid in full) will be considered for any awards that are given by ORMTA. It is sad to say, but in the past students have missed out on opportunities to win prizes because their teachers’ dues have been in arrears. Please take this into consideration when it is time to pay your membership dues this coming spring.



Many private Christian music teachers and Christian music schools do, in fact, teach Christian music but with no progressive curriculum to follow and no convenient list of suitable repertoire. After several years of extensive planning, the Christian Conservatory of Music, Canada (a federally incorporated, not for profit organization founded in 2011) has developed the first examination system and curriculum dedicated entirely to Christian music, both traditional and contemporary.

The mission statement of the CCMC is to enable students to develop performance skills, musical understanding and Biblical knowledge, which will equip students to contribute to musical life in the Christian church locally, nationally and internationally. Currently, the CCMC has examinations in voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums. They have plans in the works for other instruments including strings, woodwind, brass, speech arts and drama. Historically, the music of the Christian church (often referred to as “Sacred Music”) has had a profound impact not only within the church but also extending to society as a whole in the Arts, Culture and Education. Christian music has served to educate communities in musical appreciation and skill development while upholding a high standard of excellence in performance quality. Through Christian music, the church

has provided a venue for music performance, employing music teachers, music directors, choristers, soloists, instrumentalists, etc., and providing opportunities for music composers and songwriters. The CCMC examination system addresses areas which are relevant to the training and development of Christian musicians of all ages and abilities. Presently, the nature of music in the church includes both traditional and contemporary styles spanning a variety of genres. Musicians are required to read from both staff notation and chord charts/lead sheets. They often play in ensemble settings and are expected to develop improvisational skills. These components are integrated into the CCMC Syllabus from the earliest grade levels. The CCMC hosts workshops to provide strategies for teachers to implement these requirements. All members of the CCMC Board of Examiners are required to attend regular examiner workshops and their marks are closely monitored to ensure a consistent standard of assessment. The CCMC Syllabus can be used as a stand-alone examination system for private students, teachers, community and church music schools, college programs, etc. as the grade levels progress from Primary to Fellowship (post-graduate). It can also serve as a complement to existing music programs and examination systems.

Its comprehensive nature includes study in areas of Applied Music (performance and repertoire), Materials of Music (theory), Survey of Christian Music (history), and, Bible Basics. The CCMC offers three Diploma levels suitable for post-secondary and graduate level education. The Associate (A.Mus.Min) and Fellowship (F.Mus.Min) Diplomas require a public Music Ministry Performance which takes place in a congregational setting. The Licentiate Diploma in Christian Music Education (L.Ch.Mus.Ed) is a pedagogical diploma designed for the Christian Music teacher. The CCMC offer publications to assist with teaching that are available on their website at www.ccmcexaminations.org and in Toronto at Faith Family Bookstore (45 Milner Ave.). These include the CCMC Syllabus and Elementary Workbook. Workbooks for later grade levels are currently in production. Copies of the syllabus are available free for download on their website. With a comprehensive musical curriculum and examination system, the Christian Conservatory of Music, Canada aims to set the highest standard in Christian Music Education.

– Dr. Gordon A. McKinnon, ORMTA Scarborough Branch

Setting the Standard inChristian Music Education

For more than a century, conservatories of music from Britain and Canada have offered music examinations based on carefully graded syllabus requirements. These examination systems, along with thousands of dedicated music teachers, have helped to raise the standard of classical music to the extremely high level which Canadians now enjoy. More recently, examinations in jazz, popular, rock, Celtic and South Asian music have been established. However, Christian music, both traditional and contemporary, has never been addressed in such a manner until now.


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY JULY 20, 2013Ramada Plaza (formerly The Stage West Hotel),

5400 Dixie Road, Mississauga, ON

(905) 238-0159; Toll Free Reservations Direct 1-800-668-9887

Agenda

1) Call to Order 6) President’s Report

2) Introduction of Council Members 7) Open Forum

3) Minutes of July 2012 AGM 8) Results of Voting as Presented by Scrutineers

4) Matters for Voting 9) Announcements

5) Election of Zone Representatives 10) Adjournment

Annual General Meeting, Awards Luncheon and Competitions Schedule

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Annual General meeting

12:00 noon Awards Luncheon

2:00 p.m. – Afternoon Session Provincial Student Instrumental & Vocal Competitions

7:00 p.m. – Evening Session Young Artist Competition

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS ACCEPTED FROMOCTOBER 2012 - JANUARY 2013

Daniel Abreu: SCARBOROUGH BRANCH Joel Daze: OTTAWA REGION BRANCH Sharon Dewey: KINGSTON BRANCH Diana Dumlavwalla: BRANTFORD BRANCH; LONDON BRANCH - Associate Member Jacqueline Leung: CENTRAL TORONTO BRANCH Mr. Malcolm Hines: LONDON BRANCH Dr. Rea Beaumont: CENTRAL TORONTO BRANCH Dr. Julia Brook: KINGSTON BRANCH Janet Stachow: HAMILTON - HALTON BRANCH Barbara Fris: CENTRAL TORONTO BRANCH

From the Registrar’s Desk



The 2013-14 membership fees have been prepared.

Many changes and options are available for our approaching fiscal year:The invoices will be generated on the ORMTA website (www.ormta.org) as of April 15th. Traditional paper invoices will be mailed for those who do not have an email address or access to a computer.

There are three available methods of payment: email transfer, PayPal (debit or credit card) through the new ORMTA website and cheques/money orders sent by mail.

NOTES magazine is presented online in a wonderful new format.

Members who choose to receive the hard copy will see an annual fee of $12.00 added to the invoice to cover the rising costs of printing and delivery.

The Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year 2012 has been officially confirmed at 0.8 %.

This small percentage has been applied to the Provincial and Branch fees. (The 2011 CPI was 2 %.)

The CFMTA 2013-14 fees will remain the same at $26.00 per member

(optional for RETIRED and SEMI-RETIRED members).

The two year process of aligning Atkinson & Terry Insurance Brokers’ fiscal year with ORMTA’s (July 1-June 30) has been completed.

We all knew this was coming:Insurance rates will increase significantly for 2013-14 (an additional $5.40 has been applied).July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014 Insurance premium will be $32.40 (tax included) per member.

ORMTA MEMBERSHIP FEES 2013-14/ Increased by Ontario 2012 CPI 0.8%(Provincial & Branch increase in brackets)

***Notes Magazine hard copy subscription/not included in total

Status Provincial Insurance Branch CFMTA Special ***NOTES TOTAL Fee Projects Magazine Hard Copy subscription *includes insurance

ACTIVE/ 51.73 32.40 20.45 26.00 2.00 12.00 $132.58* Provisional (.41) (Optional) (.16) (Mandatory) (Optional) (.57)ACTIVE AFFILIATE 1 61.34 32.40 20.45 26.00 2.00 12.00 $142.19* (.49) (Optional) (.16) (Mandatory) (Optional) (.65)

AFFILIATE 2 61.34 32.40 20.45 26.00 2.00 12.00 $142.19* (.49) (Optional) (.16) (Mandatory) (Optional) (.65)

Semi-Retired 46.91 32.40 17.91 26.00 2.00 12.00 $125.22** (.37) (Optional) (.14) (Optional) (Optional) (.51)

RETIRED 26.46 26.00 2.00 12.00 $54.46* (.21) (Optional) (Optional) (.21)

AUXILIARY 31.29 2.00 12.00 $33.29 (.25) (Optional) (.25)

HONORARY 32.40 $32.40* (Optional) (0.00)

Nancy Dale, Provincial Treasurer PO Box 1639 Niagara-on-the-Lake ON L0S 1J0 [email protected]



ORMTA Provincial Council 2012-2013Executive

PRESIDENT Sue Jones - 259 Crocus Ave., Ottawa, K1H 6E7; Phone: 613-523-5317 E Mail: [email protected] Grant Applications; Fundraising; CFMTA Delegate

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Frank Horvat - 24 Louisa St., Toronto, M8V 2K6; Phone: 416-354-2633 E Mail: [email protected] Special Projects; Finance; CFMTA Delegate

PAST PRESIDENT Charline Farrell - 26 Cardinal Crescent, Chatham, ON , N7L 3V3; Phone: 519-354-4380 E Mail: [email protected] Bylaws; Workshops

TREASURER Nancy Dale - Box 1639, (58 Shakespeare Ave.), Niagara-on-the-Lake, L0S 1J0; Phone: 905-468-5639 E Mail: [email protected] NOTES Advertising

SECRETARY-REGISTRAR Ron Spadafore - Box 635, Timmins, P4N 7G2; Phone: 705-267-1224; Fax: 705-264-0978 E Mail: [email protected]; Office Hours - Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Zone Representatives

CENTRAL (year 2) Naomi Morrison - 276 German School Road, Paris, N3L 3E1; Phone: 226-388-3640 E Mail: [email protected] Canada Music Week & Music Writing Competitions

EASTERN No Representative

NORTH CENTRAL (year 1) Tracy Lai - 2754 Dempster Ave., Innisfil, L9S 1C1; Phone: 705-436-2236; E Mail: [email protected] Membership

NORTH EAST (year 2) Audrey Jean Wells - 661 Eyre Blvd., Timmins, P4N 4Z3; Phone: 705-264-0066 E Mail: [email protected]

NORTH WEST No Representative

OTTAWA REGION (year 2) Ann Empey - 66 Hawley Cres., Kanata, K2M 1T6; Phone: 613-592-1252 E Mail: [email protected] Competitions

(year 1) Sandra Menard - 6023 Meadowglen Drive, Ottawa, K1C 5V4; Phone: 613-834-3052 E Mail: [email protected] ORMTA Pedagogy Award

SOUTHERN (year 2) Doranne Minotti - 3529 Yale Crescent, Niagara Falls, L2J 3C4; Phone: 905-354-1842 E Mail: [email protected] Special Teacher Award

GREATER TORONTO (year 5) Frank Horvat - 24 Louisa St., Toronto, M8V 2K6; Phone: 416-354-2633AREA E Mail: [email protected] Special Projects; Vice President; CFMTA Delegate

(year 3) Mimi Spencer - 32 Maidstone Cres., Brampton, L6S 2Z5; Phone: 905-792-7215 E Mail: [email protected] Young Artist Tour

(year 2) Sonya Kalverda - 30 Thorsby Court, Brampton, L6V 3T9; Phone: 905-453-2153 E Mail: [email protected] Prizes

WESTERN (year 3) Maureen Harris - 13145 Riverside Drive East, Tecumseh, N8N 2M7; Phone: 519-735-1280 E Mail: [email protected] Collegiate Membership Research

(year 2) Elizabeth Tithecott - 34 Gladstone Ave., Chatham, N7L 2C1; Phone: 519-351-6387 E Mail: [email protected] Affiliate Teacher Liaison

BOARD OF EXAMINERS Nancy Hughes, Derek Oger, Frances Balodis

notes magazine – spring 2013

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