Music Teachers’ Association

The Canberra MTA Branch

Our branch covers from Cooma through to Canberra and onto the Coast, including Bateman's Bay area. We have about 45 members, and are always looking for new members. Throughout the year we run the following activities:

• Two pre-exam, subsidised student workshops, held on a weekend ranging between 3 to 6 weeks before AMEB exams. Experienced examiners/piano teachers are our tutors. Time allocations range from 10 minutes for Preliminary through to 45 minutes with 8th grade and A. Mus. Candidates. For students requesting extra time, a normal rate is charged to the student's parents.
  
  
• One or two Professional Development courses per year. MTA members pay discount rates. Last year we went back to two events. The first was held in February, the second, a wonderful artistically successful Classic Era Performance Practice, was held the last weekend of September, in conjunction with the Canberra School of Music, Dr. Geoffrey Lancaster and the Suzuki Organization.

• Our first Professional Development this year is Saturday, February 24 and Sunday February 25. Saturday includes Baroque Performance Practice in with Mr. Terry Norman  (am),  Aural Theory and Applications and Teaching with Mrs. Marretje Van Wezel (PM). On Sunday the topic is Classical Performance Practice with Dr Geoffrey Lancaster, concentrating on the works presented in the AMEB syllabus from Grades five to eight.

• The special event this year for us is participating in the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference this year, from July 2- 6. This is of international standard and status, so I strongly urge all members to attend, as we are, here!

• Two piano competitions for students: The first, MTA Awards, promotes Australian Music, where one of their two pieces must be Australian. The second, the Battisson Award is one where the finalists are chosen by their sightreading ability. The finalists are chosen performing a new work in less than 3 weeks, as well as their own choice, in Government House.

• Various student ventures: We have had some non-competitive events - which is an area we would like to encourage - such as a Romantic student workshop (with Dr. Marilyn Meier), and end-of-year Celebration of Piano concert, where students of all ages and abilities participated in a friendly atmosphere with afternoon tea, like a mini-party. These events are very popular, but we need more people and help to run them. If anybody is willing we would love to have you!

• Regular meetings (once a month) in a member's home: Not just work, but pleasure, food and friendship, encouragement, sharing ideas and problem solving are the norm.

If you would like to know more about MTA Canberra, please contact Phillipa Candy on (02) 6254-9423 or Jenny Kain on (02) 6254-6133.