GEMTA MINUTES—MARCH 13, 2009

Nine GEMTA members met in Room 100 at the Goshen College Music Center for the monthly meeting:  Candy Henkler, Cindy Hawkins, Maxine Yoder, Evelyn Stichter, Karen Hartman, Nancy Ludden, Carolyn Hertzler, and Patricia Puffer.

PROGRAM

Goshen College Professor Beverly Lapp presented “Building Teacher/Student/Family Partnerships”, opening the discussion with intriguing questions such as (paraphrased):

“How do you communicate with parents?”

“What do you wish parents would do more?”

“What would you define as the ideal home environment for piano development?”

“How do you work at the relational aspect of your teaching (with student)?”

Sources she shared:

• Raising Musical Kids (book) by Patrick Kavanaugh (Grace College professor)
• Helping Parents Practice (book) ©2005 by Edmund Sprunger, Yes Publishing, St. Louis, MO
• The Road Less Travelled (book) by M. Scott Peck, Simon & Schuster, New York
• Progressive Sight Reading Exercises (music) by Hannah Smith, available on Internet

BUSINESS MEETING

Reports

Secretary Report read and accepted; Treasurer Report read and accepted; Historian Report not available; Website Report—website is progressing, www.gemta.net.

New Business

1. Donation to The Maples for piano in honor of Miriam Byler
1. Patricia Puffer made a motion to contribute $200 from GEMTA funds, Nancy Ludden seconded, passed
2. Check will be sent to Lowell Byler
2. Contribution to the Goshen College “Acorn Program”
1. Karin Hartman motioned to contribute $200 from GEMTA funds, Maxine seconded, passed
2. Check will be sent
3. Motion by Nancy Ludden to use GEMTA funds for teacher training by utilizing an application form and boundaries as to function;  tabled
4. Indiana Wesleyan Piano Pedagogy Conference Friday & Saturday, April 3-4; members discussed attendance, transportation, and lodging
5. National Conference on Piano Pedagogy in Chicago—members encouraged to attend
6. SBAMTA Keyboard Concert participation and teacher fees discussed;  tabled
7. South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s address is 127 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601
8. 2009-2010 Slate of Officers presented by Nancy Ludden

President:                    Cindy Hawkins

Vice President:            Evelyn Stichter

Secretary:                    Laurie Miller

Treasurer:                    Maxine Yoder

1. Suggestion by Nancy Ludden to establish an Ad Hoc “Tech Chair”;  discussion;  tabled
2. Announcement of Goshen College opera presentation of “Gondoliers” at Umble Center at 8pm on March 27, 28, & April 4;  3pm presentations on March 29 and April 5

The next GEMTA meeting is April 17 at Goshen College Music Center in Room 100, 9:00am.  Patricia Puffer will moderate a Round Table Discussion on teaching concepts.  Please bring topics and questions for discussion.

Maxine Yoder moved to adjourn the meeting, Evelyn Stichter 2nded, meeting adjourned.

Respectfully,

Patricia Puffer

for Laurie Miller, Secretary