Pikes Peak Music Teachers Association
NEWSLETTER
August, September, October 2015
PPMTA is a non-profit organization affiliated with Colorado Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association
Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The newsletter is delivered as a service to members of PPMTA.
President’s Corner – Susan Marten
I’d like to welcome you all back to another fabulous year of Pikes Peak Music Teachers Association meetings,
programs, student events, conferences, and fellowship! A heartfelt THANK YOU to our board members for
their work this summer to prepare for the coming year.
PPMTA includes a wonderful group of members with qualifications and experience ranging from those teachers
who studied music themselves and felt drawn to teach, but may not have a degree in music, and those who
received their doctorate and teach both privately and in area colleges and universities.
My goal for this year is to celebrate and enjoy the members who regularly come to our monthly meetings, as
well as to encourage and inspire those of you who belong to PPMTA, but don’t attend regularly. Please believe
me when I tell you: There is something for everyone at each and every meeting!
♪Feel intimidated by a perceived lack of qualifications? This is the meeting for you! PPMTA exists to
support all teachers. Come to receive additional training and collect ideas from more established teachers –
teaching is all about sharing what works.
♪Feel as if you have already “been there, done that” and think meetings are a waste of time? This is the
meeting for you! There has never been a meeting where I didn’t bring home something I could use, even if I
thought the subject matter was something I had already covered. And consider the possibility that you could
offer mentorship to a less-experienced teacher. Please share your expertise!
♪Feel like you already have friends and don’t need them in your work? This is the meeting for you!
The connections you make at PPMTA will serve to enhance your network of colleagues from which you can
create opportunities and possibilities for your students.
Finally, the more robust and committed our association, the more we can work together to create a vibrant,
musical, and artistic Pikes Peak community. Come join us the second Tuesday of each month, both for the
benefits to your own studio and students, as well as for the enrichment of our larger community.
Blessings,
Susan Marten, President
PPMTA Programs 2015-2016
Regular Meeting Schedule: 2nd Tuesday of each month
9:00 a.m. Coffee & Conversation
9:30 a.m. General Meeting
10:00 a.m. Program Presentation
Graner Music
4460 Barnes
Colorado Springs
Check out these exciting, practical, and informative programs coming up this year. What great opportunities for
professional networking, continuing education, and spending time with friends and colleagues. You really can’t afford to
miss even one!
Sept 8 – The “Season Opener, September Brunch” is a great way to kick off your teaching year. We will enjoy a
business meeting that celebrates our 2015-16 year, food, and fellowship. We will also share insights about teaching, goals
and draw to win for a free entry to each of our 2015-16 festivals. The Brunch will be hosted by the PPMTA Board
Members at Graner Music. We ask that you bring a yummy brunch item to share. Coffee will be provided.
Oct 13 – Dr. Carol Ann Barry “Emotional Rhythm: Teaching Students to Perform with physical freedom and
unique expressiveness.” Dr. Barry is a member of the Denver Area MTA and has a private piano studio in the Denver
Area. We welcome her to share a portion of her Emotional Rhythm Series, which is being presented in Denver during
September and October in conjunction with DAMTA. Contact Jean Lee-Baker, DAMTA Treasurer to find out more.
Nov 10 - Lynn Maloy, NCTM "Dyslexia and the Keyboard: When Students Can’t Read" In 2011 Lynn presented
this program at the Colorado State Music Teachers Conference in Denver. It was so well received that she has since
presented it to several music teacher organizations around the state. In March of 2013, Lynn presented this same program
during Pedagogy Saturday. And during the 2013 MTNA National Conference in Anaheim, California, Lynn presented
“Dyslexia in the Music World: Recognizing the Invisible and How Teachers Can Help”. She was a featured writer in the
September 2014 issue of Clavier Companion.
Dec 8 - December Brunch will be hosted by Joyce Polifka.
Please RSVP to Sarah Groh Correa at
sarahgrohcorrea@gmail.com or by calling 719-235-1646. Joyce’s address is 2045 Butternut Trail, 80919. Please bring a
dish to share.
Jan 12 – Beth Secrist, Chief Operating Officer at Maestro Music Institute. Beth will share her journey of becoming
the teacher, business owner, entrepreneur and author she is today. After much research, Beth decided to write her own
Method series as she saw the need in her own studio. Her site is: http://www.maestromusicinstitute.com. She has studios
in both South Denver and Arvada, Co.
Feb 9 – Dr. Hunter Ewen, CU Boulder, “Teaching Music Visually: Visualization from the Performer’s
Perspective” Dr. Ewen presented this program at the 2015 CSMTA Conference to the joy and amazement of those
present. His imagination of sound and courage to push the bounds of how musicians see his ideas cuts a new mold for the
future of composition. PROGRAM SCHEDULE NOTE: THIS PROGRAM WILL BE PRESENTED AT 9:30 AM
WITH THE PPMTA BUSINESS MEETING TO FOLLOW DUE TO DR. EWEN’S SCHEDULE.
March 8 – Spring Town Hall Meeting - Please bring ideas, hopes and schedules to begin building an exciting path for
next year. Conversation and attendance from this meeting helps to inspire the planning for our 2016-17 season.
April 12 – Dr. Fernanda Nieto-Pulido, "I Now Have My Music Degree, What's Next" This presentation will provide
information for the conversation music teachers have with their promising students about making a career in music. Dr.
Nieto-Pulido presented these ideas in a conversational format at the 2015 CSMTA Conference.
May10 - May Brunch will be hosted by Christi Barry.
Please RSVP to Sarah Groh Correa at
sarahgrohcorrea@gmail.com or by calling 719-235-1646. Christi’s address is 3980 Canopy Ct, Colorado Springs. Please
bring a dish to share.
ABOUT STUDENT ACTIVITIES
"Sumer Is Icumen In” is one one my favorite pieces of medieval polyphony but we’ll soon be singing "Back to School
Again.” I hope all of you have enjoyed some rest from school year routines and are eager for “Another Op’nin’, Another
Show.” “Applause” for the hard work of our music festival chairs, who have given their time and talent for our students’
opportunities to “Say It With Music!” We have a very exciting year of Student Activities ahead of us. The Pop Festival,
chaired by Dee Boatman and Donna Caulfield, on November 14 (entries are due October 1!) is shaping up to be very fun
and entertaining for both performers and audience members. “In No Time At All,” February and March 2016 will be upon
us. Sylvia Holt is organizing the Non-Competitive Historical Era Festival while Joan Sawyer and Linda Skaret are cochairs of the Competitive Historical Era Festival in March. We are fortunate that Susie Marten and Bob Johnson are again
spearheading Achievement Day in April 2016. “Try to Remember” to put these dates in your calendars. We look forward
to the wonderful “Sound of Music!” that our talented students will be performing! Here’s wishing you “Sunshine in your
Coffee” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” days in your teaching.
Linda Densmore, VP Student Activities
POP MUSIC FESTIVAL
November 14, 2015
Graner Music Recital Hall
Entry Deadline: October 1, 2015 NOTE: This deadline is earlier than usual due to the nature of the event
and preparations by the band in advance of the Festival
Festival Chairs: Dee Boatman, arnieboatman@comcast.net 488-9476
Donna Caulfield, decaulfield@comcast.net 596-3958
THE BAND IS BACK!! Remember the Jazz, Rags, & Blues Festival last year when students were given the opportunity
to perform with a live 3-piece band? Well, we’re happy to announce the band has agreed to participate again this year for
our Pop Music Festival. What Fun Is That?! Be sure to share this fun opportunity with your students as they prepare for
the festival!! Please see the full Festival Description with detailed requirements and expectations in the PPMTA
Handbook.
1. The Pop Music Festival is a non-competitive event for students at all levels. Students perform one song/piece in a
recital setting for adjudicators, and will receive an evaluation and an award for each discipline entered.
2. This festival is open to piano, voice, instruments and ensembles. There is no required list of literature (please refer to
the complete festival description in the Handbook).
3. Entry fee for students/ensembles performing with the band will be a point of discussion at the September meeting. A
motion will be made to reduce the fees set at the May meeting from $30 per entry to $20.00 per entry.
4. Entry fee for students NOT performing with the band is $15.00 per entry. Ensembles pay $15 per student.
5. Teachers with students performing with the band are required to include NOTATED COPIES of student’s music
along with a signed PPMTA Festival Music Release Form with their check for entry fees. Your students will NOT be
entered in the Festival without NOTATED COPIES of their music and a signed PPMTA Festival Music Release
Form included with your entry fees. Please see the example of NOTATED MUSIC on page 4 of this newsletter.
6. It is greatly appreciated if teachers will forward copies of student’s NOTATED MUSIC to Donna Caulfield once the
decision is made that the student will be performing with the band. This will allow the band ample time to do the
necessary preparations for their performance with your student instead of receiving all of our student’s music after
October 1. So if you can send it earlier, that would be greatly appreciated!
7. If your students will be performing with the band they are required to attend one rehearsal with the band. Rehearsals
are scheduled for Saturday, October 31st and Saturday, November 7th from 9-1 at Graner Music. If another rehearsal day
is needed, Festival Chairs will notify you and make the necessary arrangements.
2016 NON-COMPETITIVE HISTORICAL ERA FESTIVAL
Piano, Voice, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds and Ensembles
February 13, 2016
Graner Music Recital Hall
Entry Deadline: January 13, 2016
Co-Chairs:
Sylvia Holt sylvia.holt6@gmail.com 228-1585
Bonnie Litten blittenpiano@hotmail.com 495-6650
The Non-Competitive Historical Era Festival will be held at Graner Music on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Students will play
a memorized piece from any era in a recital setting. They will receive comments from a judge. This festival is for those
students not wanting to be in a competition but interested in performing. It is also an opportunity for those students who
are planning to perform in the Competitive Festival in March and wish to have a performance run-through before the
Competitive Festival. We hope many teachers will take advantage of this festival by encouraging their students to
participate!!
2016 COMPETITIVE HISTORICAL ERA FESTIVAL
Piano, Voice, Brass, Strings, Woodwinds and Ensembles
March 5 & 6, 2016
Entry Deadline: February 4, 2016, NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED
Location: Nazarene Bible College & Graner Music Recital Hall
Co-Chairs:
Joan Sawyer joanksawyer@yahoo.com, 719-471-4145
Linda Skaret studio88@earthlink.net 233-2288
The purpose of the Competitive Historical Era Festival is to foster the understanding, study, and performance of music
from the different eras of music history. Students will perform two memorized pieces from two different historical eras:
Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary. Auditions will be held on Saturday. Winners will
perform in recitals on Sunday afternoon. Please refer to the Festival description and guidelines in the PPMTA Handbook
online.
Students will be grouped in the following age levels for the competition based on their age as of the entry deadline.
Ensemble Classes will be determined based on the age of the oldest student member of the group. Please note
performance time limits:
Primer Class
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
through age 8
Ages 9 – 11
Ages 12 – 13
Ages 14 – 15
Ages 16 – 19
6 minutes
8 minutes
10 minutes
13 minutes
15 minutes
ACHIEVEMENT DAY
Saturday, April 16, 2016
First Christian Church
Entry Deadline: March 16, 2016
Chairs: Susie Marten skmarten@hotmail.com (719) 231-9272
Bob Johnson akeyboardman@msn.com (719) 232-0810
Achievement Day will be a FUN and POSITIVE day for your students! Achievement Day is a non-competitive activity
that provides positive reinforcement for students at all levels of musical achievement. Students can challenge themselves
in performance, theory, and related music activities. It is open to all instruments. Again this year, in addition to the
art/written/musical composition displays, we will offer face painting and maybe even a craft table! If you are new to the
event, contact Susie or Bob and they will walk you through it or even set you up with an A-Day Mentor to be your guide.
This can be a great end-of-the-year progress indicator for parents as well as a final day of productive fun for students.
Check out the PPMTA Handbook for details!
PPMTA WEBSITE MAKE-OVER
The PPMTA Website has undergone a make-over this summer! We've switched website services and are re-designing the
site to be more user-friendly, easily-editable, informative, and attractive. We will finally be able to have more pages,
which allows us to sort the information so that it is easier to find, and we can present more information that might be
useful to teachers and students. There will even be a password-protected member area. The new website should be going
up during the week of the 27th of July. If you want to be included in the listings of teachers accepting new students,
please contact me with: your name, the contact info you want students to see, your zip code, the subjects and/or
instruments that you teach, and whether you travel to students' homes. Keep a look out for the updated site, and give me
feedback when it comes up so that we can correct any problems or make final improvements before our busy fall seasons
begins!
Megan Pfeiffer-Miller, PPMTA Webmaster
PPMTA 2015 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
PPMTA awarded three scholarships at the May 2015 meeting. Winners of the scholarships are highlighted below.
*Allison Bullock, student of Barbara Taylor, was awarded a $1000.00 scholarship for college. Allison has been singing
and performing since she was 6. She has been in 6 different high school productions at DCC, including roles of Nancy
in Oliver!, Laurey in Oklahoma! and Kim Macafee in Bye Bye Birdie. Allison has been taking private voice lessons for 7
years, and has competed in various vocal competitions across the state and country. Her recognitions include NATS
regional 1st place winner- Musical Theatre division, MTNA State Competition -1st place, PPMTA competition winner,
CSMTA Competition - 2nd place and NATS state honorable mention- Musical Theatre Division. She has auditioned for
and made it into Colorado All-state Choir twice, and ACDA National Honor Choir. Allison has been an elementary helper
in the music room, and assistant director for Charleston, a musical at Discovery Canyon Elementary. Allison will be
attending Brigham Young University in the fall where she plans to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre or Music
Education.
*Lydia Henderson, age 18, was awarded a $250.00 scholarship to attend the University of Denver Lamont School of
Music Summer Academy where she had the opportunity to perform the 1st movement of the Schumann Piano Quartet and
perform the Brahms Ballade in G Minor, Op. 118 n.3, in a piano master class with Dr. William David. (She also
performed the Brahms in May for the PPMTA brunch.) Lydia is a student of Mary Beth Schaffer. Lydia has participated
in the CSMTA Rising Stars Festival the past two years, and previously in SPA Honors. She and her family perform
regularly in retirement centers throughout Colorado Springs. She is taking a gap year to prepare for college auditions and
will be giving a senior recital this coming school year. Lydia wrote the following note of appreciation for her scholarship:
“Thank you so much for the life changing opportunity that you have given me. Every experience has inspired and
challenged me to greater heights in music. I have been encouraged. I will not soon forget these last two weeks!”
*Emma Rubinstein, age 17, was also awarded a $250.00 scholarship to attend the University of Denver Lamont School of
Music Summer Academy. She was able to go last summer with a scholarship from PPMTA, and again this summer,
which has actually changed the direction of her life. Emma began studying piano with June Ewell at age 10 after she
moved here from New York, and is now a rising senior at Palmer Ridge High School. She has been considering
engineering as a career, but the return to Lamont this year helped clarify her career goals and she announced that she has
decided she belongs in music and that she plans to major in piano pedagogy! So she is now doing double-time to prepare
her for college auditions. She played the Haydn Sonata No.4 in E minor for the PPMTA May brunch, as well as in the
Competitive Sonatina Festival, where she won first in her class. Per June, Emma is an example of how our investment
will help develop the next generation of well-prepared piano teachers. It has made a huge difference for Emma, as it
helped her to see her gifts and her heart.
Scholarship Committee
A Note From Publicity
Do you know anyone who might be interested in placing an ad on our web site? We offer ads on our home page for $75 or
on our reference page for $50. If you think of anyone, please let me know at akeyboardman@msn.com and I will send
them information on our ads.
The 2015 – 2016 Handbook is in the works and should be ready for viewing and download around Aug 15th. I’m looking
for a few people to proof read it before it goes on line. Let me know if you would like to help.
PPMTA brochures are available and will be placed in music stores around town. If you would like one please see Angelia
Frame at a meeting.
See you all in September!
Bob Johnson, VP Publicity
COMPETITIVE RISING STAR LOCAL WINNERS
PPMTA students participated in the CSMTA Rising Star Festival in April 2015. Following are those students who placed
in the competition. Congratulations to all!
Piano Lower Senior, 2nd Place
Natalie Merrill,student of Sara McDaniel,NCTM
Piano Upper Senior, 1st Place
Samuel Holt,student of Sara McDaniel, NCTM
Voice Lower Senior, 1st Place
2nd Place
Leanne Rubinstein, student of Barbara Taylor, NCTM
Anna Connell, student of Joan Bradow
Ensemble Lower Senior,
Honorable Mention
Sofia Kirienko & Amy Keisling, students of Dee Boatman
Joan Sawyer, CSMTA President
PPMTA Executive Board
President
Programs, 1st Vice President
Student Activities, 2nd Vice President
Membership, 3rd Vice President
Publicity, 4th Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Susan Marten
Sarah Groh Correa
Linda Densmore
Angelia Frame
Bob Johnson
Christine Barry
Joyce Polifka
231-9272
235-1646
535-8978
338-9692
380-8273
495-1283
465-4993
skmarten@hotmail.com
sarahgrohcorrea@gmail.com
linda@densmore.org
aframepiano@gmail.com
akeyboardman@msn.com
christinebarry@marykay.com
joycepolifka@gmail.com
PPMTA COMMITTEES
Festivals
Pop Music Festival
Non-Competitive HE Festival
Competitive HE Festival
Achievement Day
Publications
Newsletter
Handbook
Website
Hospitality
December Brunch Host
May Brunch Host
Dee Boatman, Donna Caulfield
Sylvia Holt, Bonnie Litten
Joan Sawyer, Linda Skaret
Susan Marten, Bob Johnson
Donna Caulfield, decaulfield@comcast.net
Bob Johnson, akeyboardman@msn.com
Megan Pfeiffer Miller, megan@meganpfeiffermiller.com
Joyce Polifka
Christi Barry
NEWS FROM BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Angelia Frame, VP Membership
If you have any changes in name, address, phone, etc. you must contact PPMTA, CSMTA, & MTNA to update the
changes.
PPMTA: Angelia Frame, aframepiano@gmail.com
CSMTA: CSMTA@comusicteachers.net
MTNA: mtnanet@mtna.org
Donna Caulfield – Editor: Newsletter
Newsletter Deadlines
August/September/October
July 15
November/December/January October 15
February, March
April/May
January 15
March 15
Megan Pfeiffer Miller – Editor: PPMTA Website
Please check the PPMTA website at www.ppmta.org for more information about the organization and
complete festival information and forms.
Bob Johnson - Editor: Handbook
The handbook, including all forms for student activities, is available at the PPMTA website.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
DENNIS ALEXANDER RECEPTION, RECITALS, AND WORKSHOP
Sponsored by Graner Music
Reception and Recitals: Monday, August 10, 2015, 6:30 pm
Workshop: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 9:00 – 12:30
Graner Music will host an evening with Dennis Alexander on Monday, August 10 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Please join us
for an evening of student performances of Dennis’ compositions and an opportunity to hear Dennis perform as well. Ten
students are scheduled to perform including a student/Dennis Alexander duet and an adult student. The event is informal
and Dennis will be available for a Q&A session and signing of music. PLEASE encourage your students to attend if they
would like the opportunity to meet a Living Composer!
On Tuesday, August 11 from 9-12:30, Dennis will present an Alfred Piano Teacher Workshop.
techniques and materials to invigorate your teaching in 2015-2016!!
Come discover
First Christian Church Music Series
First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Avenue
Contact: Carol Wilson, 633-8888, organist@firstchristiancos.org
*August 8, 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m., First Christian Church is presenting the next program in their “Hot Summer Nights:
Music on the Labyrinth” series, featuring Joe Uveges, vocals and acoustic guitar, and John Fischer, keyboard, performing
everything from driving rock to country ballads, percussive funk and adult contemporary with a spiritual twist. The
program will be held outdoors on the south side of the church (but will move indoors for inclement weather), so bring a
blanket or chair. A free will offering will be taken.
*August 15, 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m., First Christian Church is presenting the final program in their “Hot Summer Nights:
Music on the Labyrinth” series, featuring Dean Phelps, championship guitar picker and vocals, performing heart-friendly
songs played to a toe-tapping beat. The program will be held outdoors on the south side of the church (but will move
indoors for inclement weather), so bring a blanket or chair. A free will offering will be taken.