USA/Canada—collaboration and partnership

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2004 by Phyllis I. Pieffer

Do you remember the advertisement for AT&T in which the phrase, "Reach out and touch someone," was used to promote long-distance calling? That is what we teachers do constantly in our work. We reach out to students, trying to touch them with the beauty and joy of music and music making, helping them make music a part of their lives. We reach out to our colleagues to provide mentoring, support, sharing and learning. We give our music to our communities and churches through teaching, performing, conducting and participating.

At the local association level, we initiate contacts with potential members to help them see the benefits of belonging to an association that encompasses local, state and national levels and brings a higher level of professionalism to their studios. At the state level, we support the local efforts by providing incentives, timely information and programs that benefit the members within the state. At the national level, we support the efforts of local and state associations, providing helpful programs, such as "Music for Everyone"; tools, such as the Teacher Assessment Tools; a Code of Ethics that supports our professionalism; information about zoning, taxes and insurance; an annual conference that provides educational opportunities; and an exceptional journal, American Music Teacher, just to mention a few benefits. At the national level, our outreach also expands globally. Over the past decade, MTNA has initiated international relationships through invitations to attend our national conference. As the world continues to grow smaller with the technological advances in communication and ease in travel, the next step as an association is to develop partnerships with other music associations around the world.

A landmark partnership was announced at the Opening Session of the 2004 MTNA National Conference. After nearly 200 years of combined service to the music teaching profession, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Associations (CFMTA) and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada will hold a joint conference in Toronto, March 23-27, 2007. This marks the first time in the history of MTNA that the annual conference will be held outside the United States.

As music teachers on the North American continent, it is logical to develop a strong relationship with our Canadian colleagues. We not only share a common boundary geographically, but we share the desire to make music a part of everyone's life. Combining our efforts to bring music to all human beings, young and old, can only enrich our lives and that of our students.

Victoria Warwick, CFMTA president, states, "The CFMTA is honored to partner with the MTNA for this exciting and historic event! Since we share the same goals in music education, we are able to develop a relationship between our associations that spans not only our common border, but also our common futures. I can only dream of the possibilities for subsequent collaborations--how many doors will be opened? How many generations will benefit? This collaboration is so much more than merely a joint conference."

MTNA's mission to advance the value of music study and music making to society and to support the professionalism of music teachers complements the purpose of CFMTA, to promote and maintain high standards of teaching among members and to foster music excellence in students.

Each of our associations believes in the importance of music, as a reflection of the culture(s) in which we live, for the ability of music to improve the quality of life, and as a tool to enhance all domains of knowledge.

The theme of this exciting 2007 conference is "Teaching without Borders: A Collaborative Conference Exploring Pedagogical Diversity." The program will include daily plenary sessions devoted to pedagogical diversity plus a stellar list of presenters, MTNA and CFMTA competitions, concerto performances by American and Canadian student winners with the Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra and a guest soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The conference will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, networking and the continuation of professional development for independent and collegiate music teachers in both countries. More information about the developments in this partnership will be forthcoming in future AMT issues.

"As discussions between the MTNA, CFMTA, and RCM have progressed--evaluating the viability of and reasons for a collaborative event--enthusiasm for the possibilities has grown contagiously," Clarke Macintosh, executive director of the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations, says. "The conference steering committee can hardly contain its excitement about the influence this cross-cultural event might have."

This joint conference is an exceptional opportunity to collaborate with our Canadian colleagues and enrich our teaching and performing through this collaboration. In the words of Saul Bellow, we must "Seize the Day." Don't miss this conference--Toronto, Canada, March 23 27, 2007!