APRIL-MAY 2008
MTAC MARIN BRANCH NEWSLETTER
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT,
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dear Fellow Teachers,
This is the time of year when we need teachers to volunteer to serve as officers, board members and program chairs of the Marin branch in order to replace those of us whose terms of office are finished as of June 2008.
Our organization cannot function without an active and dedicated pool of teachers who are willing to give up a few hours a week so that our wide variety of programs can continue uninterrupted in the future.
With this in mind, we are asking teachers who have not volunteered before to consider doing it next year. Most importantly, we need someone to fill the job of President, as current President Chris Bradley will be completing her third stint at President in June. Additionally, we will need a new Recording Secretary and several program chairs to volunteer for next year.
The situation has reached a critical point. Several of our older members have retired and we find that a few of us are doing more and more jobs because the pool of volunteers has dried up. We desperately need new people to step up to the plate.
We have also noticed a steep drop-off in the number of students and teachers who are taking advantage of some of our offerings, resulting in several cancellations in the past few years.
In an effort to take the pulse of the membership, we are creating a questionnaire, which will be posted on our branch website when it is completed. Through it, we will attempt to determine why member support of and attendance at various MTAC activities has been low or in some cases non-existent. We would like your ideas about ways in which we can tailor our offerings to better meet the various needs of the entire membership.
Watch your inbox for the announcement that this survey is ready.
In the meantime, we’d like to remind all of our members that the State Convention will be in Riverside from June 27th to July 1st.
The State MTAC is offering to pay the full registration fee for one lucky Marin Branch member who has never before attended the Convention. If you are interested in this offer, please contact Chris Bradley at 302-0396. The deadline is June 1st. First come, first serve.
This year at the Convention there will be a Silent Auction on June 27th to benefit the MTAC Foundation and chair Jeanne Jordan is asking for donations from MTAC members. The wish list includes but is not limited to holiday items, gift certificates, lessons, restaurant gift cards, gifts for him or her, electronics (adults & children), event tickets (music, theater, sports), vacations (airfare miles, hotels, timeshare, tours, cruises), memberships (gym, zoo, aquarium, golf), gift baskets with a theme, theme-park season passes, family portrait certificates and dance instruction classes. If you think you’d like to donate or want more information, contact Jeanne at jeannejordan@sbcglobal.net
- Christina Bradley, Paul Agricola, Audrey Mahler, Marie Carbone, Mariko Heenan, Janice Clark, Phoebe Dong, Helen Konowitz and Joan Weinstein
COMPOSERS TODAY & IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
Date: Saturday, APRIL 19th
Time: 5:00 PM
Place: JB Piano, 540 Irwin Street, San Rafael
Fee: None
Chair: Christina Bradley, 302-0396- musicamarin@pacbell.net
Deadline: April 16th
This will be a fun, casual chance for your talented composers and improvisers of all ages to play for an appreciative audience. Open to any student who has composed an original composition or who improvises, either freely or on a specific melody. Pieces may either be written out or done by memory. All ages and levels welcome!
SPRING FESTIVAL
Date: MAY 4th
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: JB Piano, 540 Irwin Street, San Rafael
Fee: $5.00 per student
Chair: Stephen Shen, 233-2454. – Xianti98@yahoo.com
Deadline: Monday, April 28th
You may register students by email or mail. If you register by email, please include student's name, age, the level of the piece, the complete names of the piece, the last name of the composer and the length of each piece. For those who are entering more than one student, you must also give the recital chair the total time your students will be playing.
If you register by postal mail, please use the MTAC Marin Branch Spring Festival Registration Form available under BRANCH ACTIVITIES on the branch website. Web address is http://www.mtacmarin.org/activities.htm
Teachers may not exceed a total of 10 minutes and 7 students.
Program chair has complete discretion regarding programming, acceptance of late entrants, timing, etc.
MARGARET BEAN DAVIS COMPETITION WINNERS’ RECITAL
& GENERAL MEETING
Date: Saturday, May 17th
Time: Recital at 2:30 PM, General Meeting follows
Place: Mt. Tamalpais UMC, 410 Sycamore, Mill Valley
Admission: Free
Come and hear the wonderful student winners of our own music scholarship competition, named for former member Margaret Bean Davis. This is always a superior concert, featuring the added bonus of a 30-minute performance by a Young Artist Guild member. Afterwards, we will have a short general meeting to vote to install the new slate of officers.
SPRING POTLUCK, INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS & GENERAL MEETING
Date: Sunday, June 8th
Time: 5:00 PM
Place: 85 Oak Ridge, San Rafael
Google map link: http://tinyurl.com/4lvrjq
Hostess: Nancy Loder – 479-3557
Join your fellow teachers for the annual year-end potluck.
PROGRAMS! PROGRAMS! ASCAP WANTS YOUR PROGRAMS!
Per their agreement with MTAC, ASCAP requires us to send them copies of all our programs so that royalty payments may be extended to the composers and publishers. All you have to do is save a program from your fabulous student recitals, awesome teacher recitals, inspired master classes, brilliant workshops, etc. and mail it to:
Marie Carbone
150 Buchanan Court
Sausalito, CA 94965
THE TEACHER’S CORNER
Helpful hints, tips and teaching tricks
From President Christina Bradley:
1. For those teachers who are over the age of 50 and do not currently have any dental insurance coverage, there is an inexpensive policy available through AARP. For about $50.00 a month, Delta Dental offers 50% coverage (100% on some of the regular maintenance procedures such as cleanings, etc.). While it is true that most Marin dentists charge more than the generally assigned value, some coverage is better than none at all. You can check it out at http://www.aarp.org
2. Additionally, are you aware that, as a self-employed business owner, you are permitted to contribute to the California State Disability Insurance program? SDI will provide approximately $300.00 a week should you be disabled and unable to work. The amount annually is 2.26% of your net income on Form 1040 Schedule SE. While it won’t pay the mortgage or the rent, it will help with basic living expenses while you recuperate. For more information, go to http://www.edd.ca.gov/direp/difaq9.htm
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
April 17th
The San Francisco ChamberJazz Quartet in Concert at Anna's Jazz Island -
MTAC Marin Branch member Gini Wilson: Piano, Steve Heckman: Reeds, Pat Klobas: Bass, Ron Marabuto; Drums - 8-11pm - 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704- 510-840-JAZZ http://www.annasjazzisland.com/
April 18th
At 7:30 PM at JB Piano in San Rafael author Perri Knize will read from and sign her book Grand Obsession, the story of her quest for a grand piano and the changes that music has made in her life. There will also be piano performances and a reception. RSVP: 415-456-9280 - info@jbpiano.com
April 20th
Concerts Grand presents MTAC Marin Branch member Elenor Barcsak in a program of Beethoven, Cramer and Chopin at 3:00 PM at JB Piano, 540 Irwin Street, San Rafael. Tickets: $15.00 at the door or you can order online at http://www.concertsgrand.com/tickets.htm
April 30th
Gini Wilson Trio featuring John Wiitala on Bass and Ron Marabuto, Drums at Jazz ‘round Shanghai 1930 - 133 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 896-5600 Fax: (415) 896-5688 - http://www.shanghai1930.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Five students who study with MTAC Branch member Kuei-Ling Pomerleau are winners in the 2008 Marin Music Chest scholarship auditions. In the Junior division: Katarina Lee, Kuni Migimatsu and R. J. Pearce. In the Senior division: Olivia Jew and Toki Migimatsu.
Additionally, student Zachary Mathe, who studies with branch member Florence Aquilina, won in the Junior division.
The Winners' Recital will be held on May 4th, Sunday, 2:30 pm, at San Domenico School, admission is free.
Congratulations to both teachers on a job well done!
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
MAY 22nd
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