NORTH SHORE MUSIC TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION 1 The SCORE, September 2017 President’s Message \ It’s the beginning of a new school year, a time to start fresh, hopefully with renewed energy and perspective. I hope all of you were able to take some time off this summer to rest and recharge your batteries. Since what we do involves not only music, but dealing with people and their individual needs, we need to be mindful of taking care of ourselves in order to remain effective. This summer, MTNA offered a three- part series of webinars designed to help teachers focus on their “mind and body, health and well-being.” I hope you were able to watch one or all of these—if not, you may visit the MTNA webinar archives at https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Learn/ Webinars/Webinar_Topics.aspx, and view them at your convenience. (At this writing, only the first webinar had been posted). The topics included: “The Self Compassionate Musician. . .” on June 21, “Simply Stretch,” on July 26 and “. . . A Mindful Alternative to Toxic Busyness,” on August 30. These helpful webinars focussed on taking care of both mind and body in a generous and accepting way. I often think about that directive from the airlines’ safety protocol to “secure your own (oxygen) mask before assisting others.” It’s OK to put yourself first sometimes! I hope that you will join us on Monday, September 25th for the first meeting of the year, when Claire and Ralph Neiweem will present a number of piano duos, and John Ford will discuss his educational compositions. After the program we’ll enjoy a potluck lunch—please bring a salad or dish to share, as sandwiches and beverages will be provided. The luncheon always gives us an opportunity to renew old friendships, make new ones and enjoy conversation. See you soon! Jennifer Merry, THE S C ORE
Transcript
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
!1 The SCORE, September 2017
President’s Message\ It’s the beginning of a new school year, a time to start fresh, hopefully with renewed energy and perspective. I hope all of you were able to take some time off this summer to rest and recharge your batteries. Since what we do involves not only music, but dealing with people and their individual needs, we need to be mindful of taking care of ourselves in order to remain effective.
This summer, MTNA offered a three-part series of webinars designed to help teachers focus on their “mind and body, health and well-being.” I hope you were able to watch one or all of these—if not, you may visit the MTNA webinar archives at
https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Learn/Webinars/Webinar_Topics.aspx, and view them at your convenience. (At this writing, only the first webinar had been posted). The topics included: “The Self Compassionate Musician. . .” on June 21, “Simply Stretch,” on July 26 and
“. . . A Mindful Alternative to Toxic Busyness,” on August 30. These helpful webinars focussed on taking care of both mind and body in a generous and accepting way. I often think about that directive from the airlines’ safety protocol to “secure your own (oxygen) mask before assisting others.” It’s OK to put yourself first sometimes!
I hope that you will join us on Monday, September 25th for the first meeting of the year, when Claire and Ralph Neiweem will present a number of piano duos, and John Ford will discuss his educational compositions. After the program we’ll enjoy a potluck lunch—please bring a salad or dish to share, as sandwiches and beverages will be provided. The luncheon always gives us an opportunity to renew old friendships, make new ones and enjoy conversation. See you soon!
Claire Aebersold/Ralph Neiweem Piano Duo AMONG FRIENDS:
The Amiable Art of Piano Duo
SEPTEMBER 25 PRESENTATION
Friendships are forged through piano duet playing!
This program features discussion and performance of piano duo works written by composers to be performed with close friends and family. In addition, we
will discuss some basic rehearsal techniques and repertoire appropriate to explore with students of different ages and levels. We will leave some time for
questions and discussion.
Pieces to be performed (among others) will include Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6, Ravel: Feria from Rapsodie Espgnole, Schubert: Divertissement à la
hongroise (allegretto), Faure: Le Jardin de Dolly (Dolly Suite.)
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Described as “consummate practitioners of pianism” (The Washington Post) Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem enjoy an international career as exponents of music for both piano duet and two keyboards. Their innovative programming reflects the full gamut of this delightful repertoire, from four-hand works of Mozart, Schubert, and Brahms, to favorite lighter masterpieces by Poulenc and Milhaud, and contemporary works championed or commissioned by Aebersold and Neiweem.Aebersold and Neiweem are currently celebrating 35 years before the public. They have been heard on RAI-TV Italy, PBS television, and on WFMT Radio in Chicago, where they performed an unprecedented series thirty live broadcast concerts covering virtually the complete four-hand repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries. The duo has appeared with orchestras internationally, including the Chicago Philharmonic and the Vienna Tonkünstler. They have been heard in recital in many cities throughout the USA and Europe, including Chicago, New York, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Santa Fe, Vienna, Rome and Florence and Odessa, Ukraine. In Italy alone they have given over 200 recitals throughout Tuscany and Umbria. They have taken their two pianos to many community concert organizations throughout Midwestern USA and Canada. Performances in New York include a pair of all-Schubert recitals at the Goethe Institute, and a 25th anniversary celebration concert at Merkin Hall. In 2005 they judged the 1st International Two-piano Competition “Twentyfingers” in Rome, Italy. Other highlights of the duo’s recent seasons include performances at the prestigious University of Vermont Lane Series, the Detroit Institute of Art, and the Gina Bachauer series in Salt Lake City, Utah, and their 10th recital at the International Music Festival “Pitten Classics” in Austria. The duo has performed the four hand versions Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Rite of Spring on WFMT and many venues throughout the country.Aebersold and Neiweem are founders and directors of the NEA award-winning Chicago Duo-Piano Festival, held annually at the Music Institute of Chicago, where their festival recently sponsored the Chicago International Competition for Piano Duos. They have given masterclasses and workshops at schools including Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin, Northern Illinois University, Lawrence University, and have guested at MTNA State conventions. The duo has commissioned significant new works for the piano duo, including Joseph Turrin’s “Symmetries” for Two Pianos, “Great Movements” Sonata for piano, four hands and “Novel Dances” for two pianos by Patrick Byers. Aebersold and Neiweem’s CDs on the Summit label include the recently released “Four-Hand Reflections”, the world premiere recording of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in the composer’s own arrangement for piano, four-hands, and volumes 1 and 2 of a complete traversal of Schubert’s four-hand music, praised by Gramophone Magazine as “utterly charming…warmly recommended.” Their editions of four-hand arrangements by Brahms and Mendelssohn have been published by Dover, International, and they have written award-winning articles for Clavier Magazine.Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem met in Italy in 1970 as young solo performers at a music festival in Umbria. They were married in 1973 and have devoted themselves to the exclusive study of the duo repertoire since 1981. Claire Aebersold is a native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and is a graduate of the New England Conservatory. Ralph Neiweem hails from Evanston, Illinois and is a graduate of the Juilliard School. Both completed graduate studies at Northwestern University and received artist diplomas from Villa Schifanoia in Florence, Italy. Their common teachers include Irwin Freundlich, Theodore Lettvin, John Browning and Orazio Frugoni, at whose urging they became a duo. They are currently Artists-in-Residence at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Aebersold and Neiweem Biographies
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September 25th Pre-meeting: John Ford
Fuel your teaching with
Teaching music has been John's passion for over forty years. He has successfully taught piano to countless students of all ages and abilities. On the one hand, several of them have earned degrees in music from major universities, and currently work in the field. On the other hand, there are students for whom music making was a life-enriching experience in their struggles with autism, cerebral palsy, or ADHD. Most of his students, probably like yours, are those that lie somewhere in between these extremes. Over these many years as an instructor, John has been delighted to find that long after their last piano lesson with him, many of his former students have grown to become an extended family.
Several years ago Kevin Olson presented to our group, and stated his conviction that the piano is the "vehicle" (car) we use to teach music, and that our sheet music provides the necessary "fuel" (gasoline). His point was that without good fuel a car won't run very well. Perhaps it's appropriate, then, that someone by the name of "Ford" tries to provide some wondrous fuel for the new teaching season. His compositions comprise a wide variety of genres, styles, and levels, bringing a unique and fresh perspective to teaching materials. Besides being quite tuneful, many present one or more rhythmic challenges as well. Moreover, each piece has been both enthusiastically student approved and recital tested. He's certain you'll find something among them to inspire your teaching as well as pique your student's interest.
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AIM NEWSDates for AIM Theory Exams ( for all levels 1A, 1B, 1C, - 12; both locations)Sunday, January 21, 2018 and Sunday, January 28, 2018AIM Theory Online enrollments open — Monday, November 6, 2017AIM Theory Judges Meeting — Monday, November 13, 2017AIM Theory Online enrollment deadline — Friday, December 8, 2018
Dates for AIM Performance ExamsSunday, April 15, 2018 for levels 1A, 1B, 1C, and 2 at MIC, WinnetkaSunday, April 22, 2018 for levels 3-12 at both locationsSunday, April 29, 2018 for levels 3-12 at both locationsAIM Performance Online enrollments open — Monday, February 26, 2018AIM Performance Judges Meeting — Monday, March 5, 2018AIM Performance Online enrollment deadline - Monday, March 12, 2018
AIM Fees:Levels 1-2 are $15Levels 3-11 are $25Level 12 increase to $30
Make plans now to attend the ISMTA conference on November 3-5, 2017, held this year at Olivet Nazarene University in
Bourbonnais, IL. NSMTA members George Radosavljevic, Svetlana Belsky and Karen Kan-Walsh will be presenting sessions, and Dawn
Johnson will be honored at the banquet as NSMTA member of the year. In addition, Jenny Cohen has been selected as the ISMTA Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to all of our members! The conference artist is Panayis Lyras, a professor of piano and artist in residence at the Michigan State University. The
conference hotel is the Comfort Inn, 1500 Highway 50 in Bourbonnais. The group rate of $75 is available until October 10. More information can be found by visiting
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2018 Competition Repertoire
Unless otherwise indicated, no repeats are to be taken.
Primary1. Bach Short Prelude #12 in A minor- E- Alfred Masterworks Edition
2. Kabalevsky- Theme and 4 Variations in F major Op. 51
Elementary1. Beethoven- Sonatina in F major, AN5, Allegro assai
2. Debussy- Little Shepherd from Children’s Corner Suite
Junior1. Clementi- Sonata in Bb Sonata Op. 24- Allegro con brio
2. Schumann Romance in Ab Major, Op. 111 No.2- take both repeats
Senior1. Beethoven- Sonata in A major, Op.2 No.2- Allegro vivace
2. Mompou- Cancion y Danza #6
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Symphony Center Concerts
NSMTA members can now order $15 tickets directly for Sunday Afternoon Piano Concerts listed below at Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Symphony Center (except Kissin).
Call 312-394-3000 or visit the Box Office and mention “NSMTA” to qualify, or order online with the same code at cso.org. Please note there is a $5 per ticket processing fee. Main floor seating.
After August 11th These nine Sunday afternoon piano concerts qualify for $15 Main Floor tickets:
October 8 Lortie March 25 Berezovsky October 22 Anderszewski April 8 Ax November 19 Debargue April 22 Pollini
NSTMA Fall Board Meeting Monday, September 18th, 2017
There will be Fall Board meeting for all NSMTA officers and committee chairs. Please come ready to discuss your goals and strategies for the upcoming year. Here are the details:
What: NSMTA Board MeetingDate: Monday, September 18th, 2017Time: 9:30 - 11:30 AMWhere: Glenview Public Library, Community Room
1930 Glenview Road (NE corner of Harlem and Glenview roads)Glenview, IL 60025
Parking: Enter the parking lot from Washington Street, just east of the library.If you have an item of concern to add to the agenda, please contact Jennifer Merry, [email protected], (847) 404-8635.
Zina Katsman, a longtime member of NSMTA, passed away on Monday, July 10, 2017 after a long battle with breast cancer, with her sister by her side. She was 44 years old.
Zina was an active member of NSMTA, attending monthly meetings regularly and often performing on the June Teacher's recital. Just this past March, she presented the NSTMA pre-meeting program, playing a group of pieces that she entitled, My Favorite Classical Piano Repertoire. Zina maintained an active studio, Piano for Everyone, in the Ravinia area of Highland Park where she taught as many as 50 students a week. She had also played piano for
the dance departments of Northwestern University and Columbia College, as well as the Hubbard Street Dance Company. Most recently, Zina performed monthly recitals with commentary at Madam Zhu Zhu's Tea House in Highland Park. Originally from Minsk, Belarus, Zina studied at Belarus State Music School, and later at DePaul University in Chicago under Mary Sauer.
Zina will be remembered as a kind and generous person as well as a passionate musician and teacher. A private person, she did not share her health struggles with those around her, nor did she complain about her challenges. She was a bright and shining presence in our group, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
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- - - Announcements - - -
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, before the NSMTA business meeting at 10 AM. If you've got a proposal and some possible dates, please e-mail them to Jennifer Merry, [email protected], or Eric Sutz, [email protected].
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