The next generation - Local Association News - music teaching - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, April-May, 2002 by Carolyn Malnes

After our state executive board meeting and state convention, I realized that about 3% of our state members enter the MTNA competitions, and about 5% of our members had students playing in various and assorted honors recitals at the state convention. Therefore, this leaves more than 90% of us doing a fantastic job teaching and challenging "regular" kids.

Would you be shocked to hear there are a few students who mix up their left and right hands, who confuse finger numbers and who are totally befuddled with the whole process of "counting"? Believe it or not, there also are some students who practice a half hour a week!

Our Greatest Challenge

We should strive to provide the best possible musical experiences for all students. If students have a pleasant and positive musical experience, then they, as parents, will make sure their children also have lessons. They might be tomorrow's school board members who will determine whether or not the school music programs will be cut or eliminated. They will be CEOs who might help fund music and arts programs and projects.

I would like to know about you--you in the neighborhoods, stores and schools who have these typical students and about some of the interesting, educational things you do for and with them. Please write to me and share what you do.

Here are a few ideas from local members:

* A Seattle, Washington, teacher took his students to the Seattle Drum School for group lessons.

* Another Seattle teacher took her students on a field trip to the Woodland Park Zoo to see Hansa, the new baby elephant, taking her bath. Then, students came prepared the next week with an improvisation on the antics of a baby elephant, and the teacher played a recording of Saint Saens's "Elephants" from Carnival of the Animals.

* A teacher invited the state music teachers' organ chair to give a workshop for students. Students were allowed to play a piece on the organ, and then the organist performed for them.

* A teacher bought four tickets to a symphony series and took three students to each concert.

* A teacher assigned a piece by Bartok and then had a Bartok "specialist" come to the studio to give a short lesson for each student.

* A teacher gave her students "Simple Gifts" as a lead sheet. They came back with it harmonized, and the following week played it by memory or by ear. Then, during class, the teacher played a recording of Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring."

* Virginia State Music Teachers Association offers the David Carr Glover Scholarship for the average student who needs financial aid and/or motivated assistance.

* Utah gives a Student Teacher of the Year Award, and current and previous winners participate in a panel discussion at the state convention.

* Each season, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Guild in Iowa presents free Lollipop Concerts, presented on Saturday mornings for children ages 3 to 9. Children receive an introduction to concert etiquette and an explanation of the concert experience from Bubbles the Clown. The Symphony and the Northeast Area Music Teachers Association hosted "The Lost Elephant," another family-oriented event. A zookeeper interrupts a concert of animal-inspired music looking for Elmer, a runaway elephant. Then, the orchestra, zookeeper and a narrator set a "musical trap" to lure the elephant home.

Will the people from Wichita, Kansas, tell us about the project they had at the zoo? Will the teacher who made arrangements with the art museum for her students and their parents tell us about that experience?

I'd like to have you share the fascinating things you do to "plant" ideas for others to follow.

--Carolyn Malnes, NCTM National Local Associations Chair Lynnwood, Washington She is an independent music teacher.

You may reach Carolyn Malnes by phone at (425) 743-1660 or e-mail malnes@gte.net.

New Local Association

MTNA welcomes the West Sound Chapter in Washington, with Irene Bowling from Bremerton as president.