President's Message
It all begins with you and me. We pursue our labor of love and we bring our students into our labors of love. It’s all about teaching the passion for music that sustains us all. What a gift we may give! Young, middle, and old, we all know that music is a never-ending source of pleasure in our lives in so many ways. We can listen and be emotionally transformed; we can practice diligently and feel the satisfaction of accomplishment; we can perform and bring the joy to all. Music allows the intersection of so many positive things in our lives.
Come to the conference here at Converse in November because you love to keep learning. You are not satisfied with the status quo. You know that the study of music is a lifetime pursuit and you continue to be a bit hungry. This is because we know that the more we learn, the more we appreciate the beauties of music. And the more we appreciate it, the more excited we are to communicate this to our students. This is why pianists, even in their 50s, continue to take lessons from pianists in their 60s. These pianists may have a new revelation on a daily basis.
Every new student who walks into your studio has this capability. Some may be capable of only stage one of the pleasures; you may only unlock the beauties of the emotional transformation of sensitive LISTENING to music. What a gift! Some may progress to stage two of the pleasures: you may teach them how to practice efficiently to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction. What a gift! Some may actually become performers, stage three. This is where your work actually transforms our society. The performer reaches the public and affects the emotions of all.
Finally, I applaud you for your work. But I know it just feels like fun! When I walk into my lessons, my worldly problems disappear and the new life, the child, your student is in the limelight. No matter the stage of accomplishment, you have contributed to the future. I never question the value of “Why am I here?” See you at the conference!
Cheers to all,
Melanie Foster Taylor, President
SOUTH CAROLINA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
2009 SCMTA Conference
November 5-7, 2009
Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Robert Weirich
conference artist and clinician
Dennis Alexander
conference clinician
Make plans now to attend our 49th annual conference. Be sure to check out the schedule.
Congratulations!
At the 2009 National Conference, MTNA recognized a number of members for their 50 years of service to the music teaching profession. Our own Alice Gingery was among those honored at the Annual Meeting. (June/July 2009 AMT, page 48) Alice served as an SCMTA officer from 1965 to 1968. She also has been a member of Greenville Music Teachers Association since the early 1960s. Having taught on the piano faculty of Bob Jones University until her recent retirement, she and her husband, Dr. Gail Gingery, continue to teach piano and voice from their home studios. We are proud of you!
2009 SCMTA Pre-College Auditions
State Auditions were held April 25, at the University of South Carolina School of Music in Columbia. A total of 239 students auditioned. Thirteen were selected as recitalists to perform on the Honors Recital, May 24.