2003 - Present

2003-04 The North DeKalb Music Teachers Association began the year with 48 members. The September meeting featured pianist Jeanine Morrison in 'Teaching Haydn's Sonatas'. In October, the Rachel Howard Competition winners, students of Gayle Vann and LaNelle Nash, presented their musical skits on the lives of famous composers. Dr. Geoffrey Haydon presented 'Improvisation' at our November meeting. Our December Holiday luncheon was held at President Julie Soh-Harbin's house. We started the New Year with our own Lois Finlay giving a very helpful master class to many students. George Mann gave an interesting and informative program in February on 'The World of Schumann' with emphasis on Album For The Young. In order to prepare students for our October 16, 2004 Bach Competition, teachers from all over the metropolitan area were invited to a 4-hour seminar presented by Virginia Hutchings. LaNelle Nash and Gayle Vann presented a wonderful session on 'Teaching Group Lessons' at our April meeting. Gayle brought a few of her students for a simulated demonstration of her group lessons, while the teachers pretended to be students interviewing with LaNelle Nash. They both gave us great ideas for music games to play in group lessons. Our year concluded with the installation of new officers at our May luncheon. 2004-2005 The North DeKalb Music Teachers Association began the year in September with a presentation by Betty Nolting. The topic was Foundation for Memorization. In October, our meeting topic was Put More Heart Into It! – Research on Expressive Piano Performance by Georgia State University professor Erica Keithley. Upcoming meeting programs include: Schumann Kindersenen by Tim Wheeler, a Master Class for Intermediate and advanced students by Lois Finlay, Teaching Musicianship by Jeannine Morrison, Let’s Dance! – Eighteenth-Century Dance by Glen Eckman, and We Do It! in April. We will finish the current term in May with a luncheon and installation of officers. Our Bach Competition, held on October 15, 2004, was a success. A total of 206 students competed, and 32 Outstanding Performers were chosen. The Recital was held on October 17, 2004. The Solo Festival will be in February, and local auditions will be in March. Thanks to Leslie and John Kennedy who designed a new website for us: www.ndmta.com.
 

2005-06 The North DeKalb Music Teachers Association began the 2005-2006 year in September with Dr. Maurice Hinson doing a program on "Sonatas and Sonatinas". In October, Dr. Richard Zimdars gave a "Masterclass", and in November, C.P.A. George Clark talked to us regarding "Tax Matters for the Music Studio". Our December luncheon was held at the lovely home of Portia Hawkins. In January our own Bette Chambless gave a program on "Becoming a Certified Music Practitioner (Playing the Lap Harp for the Ill and Dying)". Renowned Dr. Vicki King taught us about "Playing The Piano Naturally" in February and in March, our own Margaret Liu talked to us about "Time Management for Music Teachers". Our April meeting featured our own members performing in our annual "We Do It!" program. We ended our year in May with the Spring Luncheon & Installation of Officers at the Pearl Lian Restaurant. On October 22, 2005, we held our bi-annual Rachel Howard Competition. Our format for this year’s competition was students playing Sonatas and Sonatinas. The Outstanding Performers’ Recital was presented on October 23, 2006. February 4, 2006 we held our other bi-annual event, the Ensemble Olympics. Our local auditions were March 11, 2006 with a total of 126 students participating in the auditions and theory. NDMTA had a busy year with wonderful programs!