An interesting MTA meeting

We've had discussions in the past about how to keep music club meetings interesting. And I have an idea to share with you.

Our local MTA had a "Fun Friday Forum" and invited teachers to bring favorite teaching materials, teaching aids, pedagogy books, new music etc for a sort of Show and Tell. And we also threw in a White Elephant gift exchange. Each person brought something from their studio or home that they wanted to give away.

We had 9 teachers attending which made for a nice group, and a couple have taught college pedagogy classes. This really was a nice bonding experience and led to interesting and useful conversations.

After today's meeting I went ahead and ordered Magrath's The Pianists Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature. Minniemay and others have mentioned it on PW. But seeing the book at the meeting (and 2 people I know recommending it) was the little bit more incentive I needed to go ahead and get it.

Anyway, I hope someone finds this post useful.

Good for you. It's about the best overall repertoire guide for teachers.

Thanks John. I look forward to reading through it. There is commentary that I think will be useful in addition to the guidance about levels.

The program really was enjoyable, and I'm relieved. Attendance was decent and we all had a nice time.

When the idea of a forum like this was planned, I thought we'd immediately lose attendance of all the professors. And sure enough right away 4 people let me know they couldn't be there. So I came up with the White Elephant idea to add some additional energy to the program.

I guessed a composer statuette would be re-gifted and I was right. Yet several people got re-gifts they really wanted. I gave away a scented candle (I'm allergic) and "Lady Gaga Fugue" sheet music. The person who got them was happy about it.

Thanks for letting us know. I also just ordered this book, off the back of threads here. Hoping it will help me prepare for a teaching diploma.

What the heck, I'm going to brag. I edited the copy of every last word in that fine guidebook by Jane Magrath. Alfred Publishers hired me as an outsider to do this for them, given my background in music journalism, and paid me handsomely.

Jane M was pleased, and my name is listed somewhere in the acknowledgements (though unfortunately not in boldface capitals on its own page, like my mom was hoping).

It's a handsomely produced book. Alfred did a lovely job on its design and production. Come to think of it, I should take a look at it again, for some teaching repertoire ideas.

Ann, your "Show-and-Tell" idea for a piano teacher group is terrific!

I'll be sure an highlight your name with my pen when it arrives. I have pink and yellow. Which do you prefer?

That's impressive! I'll look for your name when I receive the book.

Thanks Peter. Someone else came up with the Show and Tell idea. She wanted teachers to share their "favorite methods". I thought the program needed broader appeal, and I expanded the topic to include sharing pedagogy books, biography, new materials and even welcomed teachers to bring "an idea" to share. If they chose to bring an idea, I asked them to bring a symbol of the idea also (i.e. idea about tone color could be represented by a box of colored pencils). I wondered if people would think this was a bit odd. But mainly I wanted presentations to be intentional.

A few teachers suggested that we do this each year. So our club may have started a new tradition.

I'm impressed by your journalism background. I continually read books about writing, yet have not written any journal entries, poems or books. No motivation for these, but still reading about writing. My solution is to view posting on PW and keeping a daily journal as creative writing.

Wow, Peter, excellent work! Page IX, 5th paragraph of the acknowledgements. Considering the work involved, your mom was correct. You should have been listed on the verso of the title page along with the cover designer, etc.

Ann, this is really wonderful! So imaginative, educational, and open-ended. I love it. You could do something like this regularly, or now and again if you're stuck for a program!

Thanks Peter. Your post has made my day!