N O R T H S H O R E M U S I C T E A C H E R S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N

! 1The SCORE, October 2015

President’s MessageWhat a great kick-off meeting we had in September! I was furiously taking notes on all the ideas flying around at the pre-meeting and in Camille Witos’ program. It was great to see so many new teachers and guests at our first program of the year.

We are blessed to live in a community with so many amazing colleagues who are gracious in sharing their expertise. The flip side is that we live in a fairly competitive market that keeps us on our toes. Have you also noticed that more and more families are shopping around? I’m happy to

share that it seems we are finally rebounding from the recession of a few years ago. While some are still

hurting, many of the teachers I talked to have finally filled their studios. If you are full, please refer inquires to our website which lists teachers by name and city.

Speaking of sharing–I’m wondering if you would like to lead a future Pre-Meeting program or co-lead one of the upcoming 9:30 programs with a friend? Programs in the past have varied with the interests of the presenter and the group and have included teaching special needs children, teaching groups, favorite on-line resources, pupil savers, and advanced literature performances. If you would like to present or have an idea for a topic you’d enjoy hearing someone else present, please write to me at m-molenaar@northwestern.edu.

THE SCORE The Monthly e-Newsletter of the NSMTA Jennifer Merry, Editor October 2015

Mary Beth Molenaar NSMTA President

October 26 Program Matt Hagle on left–hand repertoire; George Radosavljevic on LisztPages 2-3

AIM news Theory online registration to begin soon Page 4

Sonatina Festival Please Read: Important AnnouncementPage 5

Announcements Upcoming Concerts, MTNA National Conference Pages 7-8

Reference Meeting minutes Pages 9-10

Announcements ISMTA Member of the Year Heidi Mayer, ISMTA Conference information Page 6

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9:30-10:00 AM Pre-meeting: George Radosavljevic 10:00-11:00 Business meeting & refreshments 11:00-noon Program: Matt Hagle

At the next meeting, October 26 . . .

Minutes from the previous meeting will no longer be read aloud at each meeting. Please read them beforehand in the Reference Section of each SCORE.

Meetings are at The Music Institute of Chicago, 300 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, IL, 60093

Matt Hagle presenting on October 26More Than Just Half a Pianist: Exploring the Left Hand Repertoire

From Matt Hagle

What can a pianist do with only one hand? Quite a bit, it turns out. We will be exploring the history of the left hand repertoire, considering its unique technical and musical challenges, and hearing live performances of some highlights of the genre. We will also find how some of the solutions to the challenges of left handed music can benefit the two handed pianist. Please join me in my exploration of this challenging and fascinating body of work, which has its own special demands and rewards. I hope to see you there!

Biography of Matt Hagle

Pianist Matthew Hagle's performances are often noted for their musical understanding, imaginative programming, and beauty of sound. The New York Times has described him as “a sensitive pianist,” Clavier magazine has praised the “rare clarity and sweetness” of his playing, and the Springfield Republican (MA) remarked that he “played with unaffected brilliance and profound understanding.” The adventurousness of his programming received favorable commentary on Australian national radio, covering his performances in the Sydney International Piano Competition. His recital appearances often explore the 20th and 21st century repertoire as well as lesser-known older works, finding ways to integrate these hidden treasures into the standard repertoire through thoughtful programming and committed performance. Right now, he is working on learning and performing the 32 Beethoven Sonatas over several years.

A resident of the Chicago area, Hagle has performed at local venues including the Ravinia Festival, Symphony Center, and the Chicago Cultural Center; he has also been heard in concert halls throughout the United States, including the National Gallery of Art, Symphony Space in New York, and at the United States Supreme Court,

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Would YOU like to present a pre-meeting program?This year, we’ll continue to offer NSMTA members the opportunity to present pre-meeting programs. Have you had some teaching ideas you'd like to organize and share with your colleagues? Or maybe you'd like to put together a brief lecture-recital on your favorite composer? Do you have some helpful ideas for running your independent studio? These are of course just a few of the possibilities. Pre-meeting programs are just thirty minutes long, and take place from 9:30-10:00 AM, right before the NSMTA business meeting at 10 AM. If you've got a proposal and some possible dates, please e-mail them to Mary Beth Molenaar, m-molenaar@northwestern.edu.

as well as in concert halls in England, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Japan. Mr. Hagle performs frequently on radio station WFMT in Chicago, and has also been heard on NPR’s “Performance Today” and Minnesota Public Radio’s “St. Paul Sunday Morning.” He is valued as a collaborator by many artists: for many years, he has been the principal recital partner of violinist Rachel Barton Pine. He also frequently performs as a piano duo with his wife Mio Isoda-Hagle. Other chamber music performances have been with the Parker Quartet, the Avalon Quartet, Quintet Attacca, and with members of the Chicago Symphony.

Mr. Hagle is a dedicated teacher of piano, music theory, and composition, and his students have won high honors

in local and national competitions. He is currently on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, where he is director of the Musicianship program in addition to his teaching duties. He has also taught at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, at Elmhurst College, and at the International Institute for Young Musicians at the Universities of Kansas and California at Santa Barbara. Mr. Hagle is also a sometime composer whose pieces have been performed in Germany and Japan. A comfortable speaker on diverse musical subjects, he likes to use this ability to draw connections between very new and older music, or between music and other art forms. In his spare time he likes to read on a variety of subjects, and to spend time with his two children.

(Matt Hagle bio, continued from previous page . . .)

October 26th Pre-Meeting Program:

Sposalizio by Franz Liszt – a brief exploration of the music and the painting that inspired it

By George Radosavljevic

Pianist George Radosavljevic has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series, and in many solo and ensemble concerts broadcast live on WFMT Radio. His playing has been called "polished and

elegantly shaped" by the Chicago Tribune and "consistently enchanting" by the Pioneer Press. Mr.

Radosavljevic appears as orchestral pianist with the Lake Forest Symphony and is currently on the faculty of the DePaul University School of Music, Community Music Division. He is the director of the RMU Chamber Ensemble (Ensemble in Residence at Robert Morris University) which provides educational concerts in a variety of venues, and a founding member of the piano trio Trio Capriccio. Mr. Radosavljevic holds the degree Master of Music in piano performance from DePaul University as a scholarship student of Dmitry Paperno.

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AIM NewsFrom Jennifer Cohen, AIM Chair

Congratulations to the following students on successfully completing AIM level 12 this year!

Emma Ortiz, student of Ellen Biss

Sarah Ortiz, student of Ellen Biss

Amanda Im, student of Jennifer Cohen

Rebecca Lin, student of Jennifer Cohen

Kaylie Rosenkranz, student of Jennifer Cohen

Zachary Li, student of Annie Hsiao

Charlie Romano, student of Annie Hsiao

Henry Stack, student of Annie Hsiao

Sarah Wong, student of Annie Hsiao

Justin Chang, student of Brenda Huang

Yerin Yang, student of Brenda Huang

Izumi Matsuda , student of Grace Juang

Linda Chiu, student of Galina Kostukovsky

Elaine Jiang, student of Layla Li

Michael Cheng, student of Susan Osborn

Megan Crane, student of Soyeon Park

AIM Theory online registration will begin November 9, 2015 on our website, www.nsmta.org

AIM Theory Judges meeting is Monday, November 16, 2015

Time: 9:30 am

Place: Marlene Chatain’s home 2545 Greeley Ave Evanston, IL 30201

AIM Theory online registration deadline is December 4, 2015

AIM Theory Exam Dates: January 24, 2016 January 31, 2016

Students in levels 1A, 1B, 1C or 2 can take the exam on either of the theory exam dates at both locations, OR April 17, 2016, at the Music Institute of Chicago, Winnetka campus only. Please make note of this when preparing your early level students.

Here is some additional information regarding the online registration:

• All student enrollments are through the online registration. No hard copies will be accepted.

• All teachers will need to create a new account again, even if you have an account from last year. Once you create your account, go back to the login page to start your enrollments.

• Please fill in your Volunteer Availability form for judging or monitor assignments. Please be as flexible as possible.

• Enroll each student separately. You will be able to add, delete or change any student or student information until the registration deadline.

• Enrollment fees are payable online through PayPal, or by sending one check will all student enrollment fees to your site coordinator. Make checks payable to NSMTA.

• Please double check for correct spelling and accuracy of all information entered!

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Important Sonata-Sonatina Festival News:NEW Change to SSF 2016: Teacher Help RequirementFrom Yeeseon Kwon

The Sonata-Sonatina Festival has continued to attract over two hundred participants each year, and feedback from members and judges indicates that the event continues to be a successful and enriching experience for students.

But the infrastructure of running the Festival has suffered from a problem that surfaced some years ago and has gotten progressively worse: there has been a shortage of volunteer workers due to an increasing number of participating teachers paying a fee rather than working for the Festival.

The largest problem arising from this past February was that we did not have enough Room Monitors—therefore, in more than one case, one monitor had to cover two rooms simultaneously. This created logistical problems for all affected rooms, and was distracting to both students and judges. There were other worker shortages in most other areas of the Festival, too numerous to list here.

It was obvious that the current system could not continue and after much discussion at both the Board and general meetings last spring, it was decided that we make a change to the SSF.

New Requirement for SSF 2016: all participating teachers will be required to help in some capacity, in the same way as in the operation of the AIM program. There will no longer be a non-helper fee option. Also, no substitute helpers will be allowed, requiring the teacher on record to be present.

Participating teachers will be asked to select their times of availability when they register their students for the Festival. Teachers will be assigned jobs for no more than 1.5 hours, mostly on Festival Day, although there will be limited numbers of jobs for the Gold Medal Recital and related responsibilities. Not only will this change solve the worker-shortage problem in the SSF, it matches how the AIM program runs, and will involve more teachers professionally in our NSMTA events.

Please save the following dates for SSF and Gold Medal Recital so that you can plan in advance for your availability and participation on these dates. We look forward to another successful Festival this year!

Sonata - Sonatina Festival: Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016

Gold Medal Recital: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016

Quotation of the Month “Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.”

attributed to Pablo Casals

Please e-mail your suggestions for a future “Quotation of the Month”to Jennifer Merry

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NSMTA Member Heidi Mayer is the ISMTA Teacher of the Year

from Justin Hedrick, ISMTA Executive Assistant

Dear ISMTA Members,

We wanted are pleased to announce the 2015 Teacher of the Year: Heidi Mayer!

Heidi Mayer, NCTM, holds Bachelor Degrees from the University of Michigan in Piano Performance and Choral Music Education, and a Master of Musical Arts Degree from Eastern Michigan University in Piano Performance. She also earned a Diploma in Vocal Accompanying from the Vienna Academy of Music, which she acquired while under the auspices of a Fulbright scholarship. Originally hailing from Michigan, she has been a Chicago area resident since 1989, after having taught, performed, and studied for six years in New York City.

Heidi taught in De Paul University's Community Music Program from 1990-1993. She currently maintains a thriving independent piano studio in Park Ridge, and she recently became a part-time faculty member of Northwestern University's Music Academy in Evanston, Illinois. Heidi was privileged to judge the Emilio del Rosario Piano Competition finals in 2015, and the Steinway Competitions in 2008 and 2009, among other prestigious competitions such as the SAM, Berkley-Pendell, and North Shore Awards Competition.

She performs regularly as a solo and collaborative recitalist in the Chicago area. She has been an active CAMTA and ISMTA member for over twenty years,

coordinating local events and serving on both boards. Heidi has served as Musical Director and Pianist for Elgin O.P.E.R.A., Lincoln Opera, and Candlelight Dinner Theater. As Guest Artist for an Illinois State Council for the Arts project, she directed two children's

musicals at Ebbinger Middle School, Chicago. She was the owner of, and teacher in, a successful Kindermusik program for ten years. Heidi has performed in the master classes of Dorothy Taubman, Dmitry Paperno, John Browning, and Joseph Banowetz. Past teachers include Charles Fischer, Joseph Gurt, Edna Golandsky, Flavio Varani, Hans Graf, and Robert Schollum, and Annie Sherter. She also studied harpsichord with Edward Parmentier at the University of Michigan summer harpsichord

workshops for ten years.

Heidi has recorded a CD of works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Franck, and Poulenc. Her multiple harpsichord ensemble, La musique nomade, has traversed the solo and multiple harpsichord works by J.S. Bach, performing with chamber orchestra at Bemidji State University and with the Kansas City Baroque Consortium in Kansas City and Topeka. The group commissioned a four-harpsichord concerto by Minnesota composer, Asako Hirabayashi, which they performed at the Midwest Historical Keyboard Society Conference in Cincinnati. Heidi received a Teacher of the Year Award from the National Piano Technicians Guild in 2004 and was the recipient of an MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grant in 2000. She is most grateful, honored, and humbled to be the first recipient of the newly instituted ISMTA "Teacher of the Year Award," 2015.

Please join us in congratulating Heidi!

2015 ISMTA Conference First Time Attendee Fee Waived

from Justin Hedrick, ISMTA Executive Assistant

Attention all ISMTA members: Did you know that your first conference registration fees are covered by ISMTA? So if you have never gone to a conference, please come to the conference this year at

Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago on November 6 - 8. Your teaching will be revitalized with all the pedagogy sessions and you will also enjoy numerous concerts and camaraderie!

Be sure to sign up for the Friday night banquet–this will be a great time to socialize with other ISMTA members and celebrate. Look forward to seeing you all in Chicago!

The early registration deadline for all members is October 30, 2015.

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Be sure to submit news and announcements for the next SCORE by November 5th!

5th Annual Franz Liszt Birthday Gala ConcertSaturday, October 24, 7:30 PM Nichols Concert Hall Evanston, IL

Come celebrate Franz Liszt's 204th birthday with a grand evening of music performed by some of the Midwest's finest pianists! This year's theme is “Years of Pilgrimage,” and will feature selections from Liszt's Années de pèlerinage.

Performers include: Duo pianists Claire Aebersold & Ralph Neiweem, Alexander

Djordjevic, Young Rising Star Andrew Guo, Daniel Paul Horn, Brian Lee, George Radosavljevic, Nicholas Roth and Aaron Stampfl. Please join us to experience this event at the acoustically and architecturally magnificent Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston! Tickets: $15 General Admission $10 for American Liszt Society Members $5 for Kids 17 and under FREE for Music Institute of Chicago Students/Staff

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Ron and Ann Surace to Perform at the Illinois State Music Teachers Association ConferenceWhat: Duo–Piano performance by Ron and Ann Surace: "Bringing Pinocchio to Life–From Story to Song to Keyboard" (Using program music to inspire student creativity)

Where: The Illinois State Music Teachers Association 2015 State Conference at Moody Bible Institute's Torrey-Grey Auditorium in Doane Music Building.

When: Friday, November 6, 2:00 PM

Who may attend: Conference attendees only. On-line registration at the IMTA website indicates that first-time conference goers may register at no cost. The deadline is October 30.

Plan Ahead for the 2016 MTNA National Conference!

It’s not too early to start planning to attend the 2016 MTNA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Our very own NSMTA member, Bruce Berr, will be presenting an intermediate master class! Barbara Fast and Seymour Bernstein will also be leading master classes, and Emanuel Ax will be the conference artist.

What: MTNA National Conference When: April 2-6, 2016 Where: Grand Hyatt, San Antonio, Texas Registration: Early deadline is December 6, 2015

Please visit the conference website for more information: http://members.mtna.org/conference2016/index.html

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Free Piano Available

The piano pictured here is available for free; you would only need to pay for the cost of moving the instrument.

It is a Cable spinet. Please contact Amy in Glenview if you are interested:

951-553-0086

American Music World in Niles is Moving to a New LocationAmerican Music World, currently at 7727 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Niles will be moving November 1st, 2015. Their new location will be three blocks away at 7136 Touhy Avenue in Niles.

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NSMTA Business Meeting SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Minutes of the NSMTA Meeting on September 29, 2015

Called to order at: 10:06 a.m.Attendance: 26 members OFFICER REPORTS: Treasurer's Report - George RadosavljevicBalance as of September 29, 2015 is $15,373.75.Income since June 20: $1,386.24 Expenses since June 20: $3,413.83

Secretary's Report - Nancy DeHaven The April minutes were approved as distributed in the May edition of The SCORE.

First Vice-President and Programs Chair - Betty Benton & Mary Beth MolenaarToday’s presenter: Camille Witos; next month Matt Hagle. Pre-meeting next month will be George Radosavljevic. November pre-meeting is still open. Eric Sutz agreed to research finding a projector for presenters to use.

Second Vice-President and Membership Chair -  Dawn JohnsonDawn reminded us that the MTNA card is good for discounts at all sorts of stores, including bookstores and clothing stores, in addition to our Office Depot/Office Max discount.  She will put together a list.

Corresponding Secretary - Jennifer MerryDeadline for The SCORE will be moved up to the 5th of the month, so that it can be distributed by the 10th of each month.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Hospitality - Susan Corkum Susan needs help with cleanup. She will need someone to take care of the hospitality duties at the November meeting.

Sonata/Sonatina Festival - Yeeseon KwonThis year there are new responsibilities for teachers who enter students. They are printed in the score and on the website. If you enter students, you will be required to help with the work. Questions should be directed to Yeeseon.

AIM - Jennifer CohenRemember that there is a revised syllabus -- students must be preparing their requirements from this.  If there is a work that was on the old syllabus but you cannot locate it on the new one, be sure to look at the next level higher, or even two levels higher. The only works that were removed from the syllabus are works no longer being published. Also, there is a slight increase in fees: Levels 1-2 are $15, levels 3-12 $25.  Levels 1 & 2 will have a separate date again.   All dates are in the Directory and on the website.

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COMPETITION - Grace Juang The Gold Medal Recital will be held in the same location as last year.

OLD BUSINESS:Americana FestivalHas been postponed until November 2016.

Teacher of the YearThe nomination for Jennifer Cohen was not submitted in time, therefore we will nominate her this year.

NEW BUSINESS:None

Meeting was adjourned at 10:27 a.m.Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy DeHavenRecording Secretary