A Newsletter of the Rockland County
Music Teachers Guild
P.O. Box 283, New City, NY 10956
Summer 2007, Op. 46 No. 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
The summer has quickly flown but has left me with
wonderful memories of lovely days spent with family and friends. Visits
to the city to see a much loved ballet, and a delightful summer
afternoon spent at Caramoor hearing the enthralling sounds of Bach’s
Goldberg Variations played on a Steinway Concert Grand with two
keyboards will be long remembered. Of course there were the customary
pool gatherings, BBQ’s, movies, and a chance to spend quiet time with a
good book and listening to music in peaceful solitude.
As September is fast approaching, my thoughts turn
to the piano students who will soon be returning from their vacations
with eager faces, and smiles. They will tell me about their summer
holiday, and then will either apologize for not spending more time
practicing, or they will gleefully want to play for me the pieces they
have studied and possibly memorized. Hopefully, we as teachers are
ready to take them on another exciting journey into the inspiring world
of music. Opening their eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to explore new
music, a variety of sounds, theory, varied techniques and composers is
an awesome responsibility, but one we accept willingly.
My best to all of you as you and your students begin
this unique journey. To quote Jane Swan, "How is it that music can,
without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspiration?"
As teachers our aim should be to bring this powerful message of music
to all those we teach. - Marie
KICKOFF CASUAL DINNER
for all members of the RCMTG, spouses, significant
others, etc.
Sunday September 16th at 7:00 pm.
At the home of Lana Tonkoschkur, 43 Bauer Street,
Tappan, NY
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Route 303 South to Kings
Highway (shortly after PIP entrances). Make a LEFT on King’s Highway
and right onto Bauer St.
The Guild will provide food, salads, fruit, dessert
and coffee/tea.
If you wish wine, BYOB.
RSVP to Helen Wolff at 352-5105 or e-mail at: hwolff@worldnet.att.net by
Sept. 9th.
FIRST MEETING of the season:
SECOND WEDNESDAY in October (the 10th) at 10:15 a.m.
at the Valley Cottage Library
RCMTG Member KIKUE (Kay) SWENSEN
"Developing Ease at the Piano"
COMING Wednesday Nov. 7th, 10:15 am Valley Cottage
Library:
BARRY WEINBERG in a "double feature" workshop:
"WHAT PIANO AND VOICE TEACHERS CAN LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER", and "NATURAL LAWS AND COMMON SENSE IN PIANO TEACHING."
DATE TO REMEMBER: Sunday October 28th:
YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT, 3:00 pm at the Rockland
Community College Cultural Arts Theater, jointly sponsored by RCMTG and
the Rockland Symphony, Ed Simons, conductor. Sarah Hamann in the 1st
movement of the Boccherini Cello Concerto in Bb; Avi Nagen, violinist;
Special Guest Artist Ran Dank in the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto.
BOOK CLUB: Next selection is The Soloist by Mark
Salzman. Watch for details.
The RCMTG QUALIFICATION PROGRAM - A Well-Kept Secret?
We recently received a letter from one of our RCMTG
members stating that she never knew a "Qualification Program" existed,
questioned the means by which to become "Qualified", and wondered if we
even need a Qualification Program. Perhaps this could be a topic of
ongoing discussion this season at RCMTG? To get the discussion going,
here are some thoughts from Barry Weinberg who introduced the idea of
Teacher Qualification to the RCMTG in the early 1970's.
RCMTG QUALIFICATION PROGRAM
A Point of View by Barry Weinberg
The Rockland County Music Teachers Guild was formed in 1962, and I
am proud to be a founding member. Over the years, we have worked
diligently to provide the very best for our students and teachers. Our
Young People’s Audition Program has been a model for other
organizations, and while we have made subtle improvements over the
years, we have kept at its core what is in the best interest of our
students and teachers.
I was happy to propose to RCMTG that we consider a yearly Music
Marathon, fashioned after the successful one run here in Florida. I’m
glad that RCMTG is always open to new and fresh ideas, while still
keeping what has been tried and true.
In the early 1970’s, I introduced the idea of Teacher Qualification
to RCMTG. At that time, I was the Vice-President in charge of Teacher
Certification for the New York State Music Teachers Association. We
spent much time, and much debate over the pros and cons of such a
program, and came up with a program that RCMTG members could respect
and be happy with.
The Florida State Music Teachers Association has closed membership.
This means that in order to become of member, one must have a degree in
music, or pass tests in theory and harmony, musicianship, pedagogy, and
music history. One can join as a provisional member, with two years to
complete the requirements for active membership. This program is not
without its pitfalls, because we all know that a degree in music does
not necessarily make one a fine teacher.
I’m glad that RCMTG has open membership, and invites teachers to
partake and learn at monthly meetings, and become better teachers
through our audition program, and hearing other teachers’ students at
the Music Marathon. I know that I became a better teacher just by
hearing what other teachers were accomplishing with their students. I
challenged myself to reach their level of excellence, and I am forever
grateful for this opportunity.
RCMTG published its first Membership Directory in 1962, and
continued to publish these directories, for it’s members’ use, until
1972. From 1972 to this day, we have been distributing our directories
to the community through libraries, music stores, and ads we have
placed in the newspapers. We began this practice of public distribution
AFTER we had a Qualification Program in place. We felt, as I feel
today, that it is ethically and morally questionable to present
ourselves as a professional association, when the only requirement for
membership is payment of dues.
I believe in the value of our Qualification Program, and am glad
that it offers teachers five different ways to become Qualified. I am
also glad that all five plans for Qualification are based on student
evaluations, and not teachers’ degrees. We designed this plan to be
extremely user-friendly. If the problem is that the program hasn’t been
visited in recent years, that is easily remedied. The literature and
the apparatus are readily available.
Should RCMTG decide to eradicate the Qualification Program, I would
suggest that we return to publishing the Membership Directory for our
members’ use only, or change the name of the organization to the
"Rockland County Music Teachers Club", and clearly state on the
brochure that "the listing of teacher members does not constitute any
professional endorsement by the club."
I would personally prefer to see the program remain and grow,
inviting more teachers to seek out Qualification, and enjoy the status
that deservedly comes from the accomplishment of being recognized by
your peers as a teacher of quality.
My business card in Florida reads, ‘Nationally Certified Teacher of
Music." I am proud of that designation. When I lived in Rockland, my
business card read "Qualified Teacher – Rockland County Music Teachers
Guild." I was equally proud of that designation.
