Tag: conferences

Conferences

Ohio Music Teachers Association 2011 Conference

Joy Morin

Any fellow Ohioans out there?  The Ohio Music Teachers Association (affiliated with MTNA) 2011 State Conference will be taking place October 9-11.  It’s occurring in my hometown, which will be very convenient for me.  I’m very excited about meeting some of the other teachers in my area and hearing some great speakers and music.  Among the presenters and performers this year are Marvin Blickenstaff and the Anderson & Roe piano duo.  It’s going to be a great conference!

Speaking of Marvin Blickenstaff, Marvin is going to be hosting the NCKP’s facebook page today, answering questions from teachers.  It should be interesting to follow throughout the day!  Click here to visit their facebook page and see what’s going on.

Conferences, improving as a teacher, Motivation

NCKP 2011 | (13) Student-Centered Teaching, by Randall Faber

Joy Morin

I don’t normally post on Saturdays, but I’m so close to having all my conference notes posted that I decided to finish up today with the last one rather than wait until Monday!  Whew, thanks for bearing with me through the long haul!  Lucky for us, the last one is a good one.  🙂

I’ve always wanted to hear Dr. Faber speak since I am a huge fan of the Faber Piano Adventures method, and I’ve heard such good things about their sessions.  At the NCKP, I had the privilege of attending their publisher showcase and this session on student-centered teaching, which provided a lot of insight into the Fabers’ research on human learning and their teaching philosophy in general.  It was fascinating!

Student Centered Teaching: The Process, by Randall Faber.  F @ 11:15am.

Dr. Faber began by talking about the teacher perspective.  He shared a wonderful photo of a child sitting on the piano bench, eager and excited to learn, looking up into the camera (or into the teacher’s eyes).  The next photo was of a stern looking teacher, looking over his reading glasses from his chair alongside the piano.  Everybody laughed when they saw this photo!  This is the student perspective!

Joking aside, though, sometimes we aren’t always doing the job we think.  Sometimes we simply tend to teach the way we were taught because that’s what we know.  Dr. Faber made an argument that in order to be the most effective as teachers, we need to be as student-centered as possible.  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (13) Student-Centered Teaching, by Randall Faber” →

Conferences, Technology

NCKP 2011 | (12) PEDxi sessions

Joy Morin

If you’ve never heard of the TED talks, please take a moment to check out this link!  According to the “About” page on their website…

“TED is a non-profit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.  Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual TED conferences, in Long Beach/Palm Springs and Edinburgh, bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less).”

Many of the TED talks are available for free viewing on their website and on YouTube.  The one I linked to above was sent to me by one of my adult students — and it is quite an interesting one that talks about the value of classical music.

The NCKP’s “PEDxi” sessions are inspired by the TED talks.  They are short 25-minute talks that are focused on keyboard pedagogy and technology.

  1. Who Would’ve Thought It Was Possible?  | Lori Frazer gave an inspiring session on how technology has allowed her to bring music and music making to serve the medical and wellness community, including seniors and individuals with special needs.   Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (12) PEDxi sessions” →
Conferences, Early Childhood Music, Group Classes, Music Camps, Resources

MiniMusic Kit for Early Childhood Music Classes

Joy Morin

In my last post, I mentioned the MiniMusic kit by Paula Manwaring (Kjos Publishing) that I purchased while I was at the NCKP conference. You might remember that I also briefly spoke about the first musical opera concert I attended, and how much that concert has helped me. The photos and description of this curriculum on the Kjos Publishing website do not do it justice!  So I decided to show you some photos I took myself.  I think many of the materials included in the kit are great resources for group lessons and games with students of ANY age.

Here’s a list of what is included:  Continue reading “MiniMusic Kit for Early Childhood Music Classes” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (11) Publisher Showcases

Joy Morin

Each morning and afternoon at the NCKP, there are publisher showcases to choose from where you can learn about method books or supplementary materials.  Often, you will receive free books at these showcases, as you’ve already seen in my first NCKP post showing off my “loot!”

Below is more about four of the showcases I attended:

1. FJH Music Publishing Company: Succeeding at the Piano — a Method for Everyone!, by Helen Marlais.

Dr. Marlais is a professor at Grand Valley State University, a college near my hometown.  In fact, I auditioned to be a music major at GVSU after I completed my first two years at Grand Rapids Community College (but decided to go to Hope College instead)!  🙂  The two colleagues who accompanied me to the NCKP have had Dr. Marlais as their teachers at GVSU.  Small world.

Dr. Marlais has such a vibrant personality.  In this session, she led us through levels 2A and 2B of her new method called “Succeeding at the Piano.”  I just love the illustrations used in this method.  I also really like the “composer friends” characters who learn with the student throughout the books.  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (11) Publisher Showcases” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (10) The Unknown Horowitz, by Sherrill Martin

Joy Morin

More conference notes!  This was a fascinating session about Horowitz.  During this session, we also had the privilege of hearing the World Premiere of a Ballade that Horowitz wrote, performed by Louis Nagel!

The Unknown Horowitz: New Insights into the Man & his Music, by Sherrill Martin.  Th @ 3:30pm.

Horowitz studied piano with his mother and then later at the Kiev Conservatory.  In 1914, he played for Scriabin (just a year before Scriabin died), and Scriabin’s advice to Horowitz’ father was to be sure he gets exposed to lots of music, and knows literature and art.  Horowitz was very introverted and terrified of performing at this point.  He wanted to be a composer and had no idea that he was a better-than-average pianist.  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (10) The Unknown Horowitz, by Sherrill Martin” →

Conferences, Performances, Technology

NCKP 2011 | (9) Your Student Recitals, Live on the Internet!

Joy Morin

Your Student Recitals, Live on the Internet!  by Mario Ajero, Shana Kirk, George Litterst, and Stella Sick.  Th @ 2:15pm.

During this session, the presenters told us all about the benefits, feasibility, and equipment needed to broadcast your student recitals live on the internet.

Streaming your student recitals online can allow you to reach distant friends and relatives, publicize your studio, and help find an audience for your niche.

Streaming means you are broadcasting a live video feed online for people to view.  Streaming = one way (but you can reach unlimited amounts of people), while video conferencing = two way conversation (can reach a limited amount of people).  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (9) Your Student Recitals, Live on the Internet!” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (8) Why Didn’t I Think of That? by Dennis Alexander

Joy Morin

Why Didn’t I Think of That? by Dennis Alexander.  Th @ 11:15am.

This session covered a variety of commonly asked questions from teachers that Mr. Alexander has received over the years.  There is a lot of good information here for teachers!

Q: Is it dangerous to play new pieces for beginners?  Won’t they learn the piece by ear instead of learning how to read?

A:  No.  It’s good to learn to play by ear!  We just need to expect reading to occur too.  Modeling (whether from a CD or from the teacher) helps students not come back each week with mistakes learned.  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (8) Why Didn’t I Think of That? by Dennis Alexander” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (7) Liszt & the Keyboard, by Alan Walker

Joy Morin

Liszt and the Keyboard: The Wizard Casts his Spells, by Alan Walker. Th @ 9:30am.

On Thursday morning, we heard a wonderful session by Alan Walker, an author of many books and is a specialist on Romantic Era composers and music.  Mr. Walker is a highly intelligent man and a gifted speaker — it was wonderful to hear him speak about Liszt.  He spoke almost as if he knew Liszt personally!

Here is a brief list of fast facts I jotted down during the speech:

Liszt was very interested in hearing/communicating human expression — and not just music.

Liszt’s philosophy on practicing was to practice less and get a life!  Without a social life, you cannot know what kind of human emotions to communicate through your music.  Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (7) Liszt & the Keyboard, by Alan Walker” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (6) The Entrepreneurial Musician: YOU, Inc., by Angela Beeching

Joy Morin

The pre-conference seminar track “Students & Young Professionals” finished with this session:

The Entrepreneurial Musician: YOU, Inc., by Angela Beeching. W @ 8:00pm.

Angela Beeching is the author of a book called Beyond Talent. She provides counseling to musicians to help them succeed in their careers.  She gave us a wonderful session about being an entrepreneurial musician.

Angela proferred that we as musicians often tend to keep the art and business aspects of what we do separate.  She suggested, however, that it really should all be together.

Then she asked, what’s the purpose of any business?  It is not just to make money.  It is to make a profit. Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (6) The Entrepreneurial Musician: YOU, Inc., by Angela Beeching” →

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (5) Got Money? by Kathleen Theisen and Kristin K. Yost

Joy Morin

Next up during the pre-conference seminar called “Students and Young Professionals,” we heard a dynamic session about writing a business plan for your studio business!

Got Money? How to Write a Business Plan that Gets You Thousands! by Kathleen Theisen & Kristin K. Yost.  W @ 5:15pm.

Kathleen and Kristin stressed the importance of running your studio like a business — because it is a business!  You are the CEO of your business and need to act like one.

To think like a business, start by writing down what is important to you.  People who are successful have passion, focus, and goals — these are all traits which musicians usually have, so we are fortunate!

Then think about finding a niche.  What are you known for?  What do you want to be remembered for?

To determine your salary, you need to think long-term by the year.  Know what to charge, and never charge by the month or lesson.

Then Kathleen and Kristin talked at length about writing a business plan.  Even if you never have to use the business plan to get a loan from the bank, it’s important and beneficial to have written down your plan and have thought things through in such terms and in such detail.

Running a successful business is very much about having an entrepreneurial spirit: be fabulous in what you do, give, and be a great colleague.

Conferences

NCKP 2011 | (4) Community Music Schools, by Melissa Falb

Joy Morin

In continuation of my notes from the pre-conference track “Students & Young Professionals:”

Community Music Schools: Finding Your Niche in a Vibrant Arts Community, by Melissa Falb. W @ 4:30pm.

Melissa Falb is a piano instructor and Director of Group Instruction at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis.  After graduation, students with an interest in private teaching have two options: opening a private studio, or working at a community music school (CMS).  Melissa today discussed the many benefits of working at a CMS.

Sometimes people think CMS’s are just for elite, child prodigies or only for classical music study.  The reality is that most CMS’s teach many genres and offer a variety of programs for many ages and levels (including rock, jazz, early childhood music classes, music therapy classes, etc.).

There are two common models for CMS’s:

  1. A prep department – a CMS affiliated with a college or university.
  2. A non-profit (501c3).

Melissa then talked about her experience with the MacPhail Center for Music.  McPhail was begun in 1907 and currently has 170 teaching artists and over 8400 students.  They have a large, beautiful building.   Continue reading “NCKP 2011 | (4) Community Music Schools, by Melissa Falb” →