Volume VI | June 14, 2020
June Newsletter
Hello,

June does not disappoint: The summer heat prompted me to look for patio furniture to set up a waiting area, for family members to wait outside while I teach my students in person.

Some MMAMTA members and friends met on May 28 for our spring meeting on Zoom, which enabled us to discuss teaching during COVID-19, and review annual calendar of events for 2020-2021. Because CDC guidelines change by the hour, we do not know if all or some auditions will remain online. I will keep you informed as the details become available.

June 1 was the deadline for the MMAMTA's annual Summer Camp and Collegiate Scholarship. MUCH thanks to audition chair Karen Larvick, who swiftly moved the event online, and also thanks to Melissa Simons, who judged the event. (Result, below.)

For those who pre-paid for Federation Festivals Bulletin, the book is now available for pick-up at the Music Suite. When you do, please keep in mind Pat Rybolt needs our (and students') business. If you have a student graduating from a keyboard to an acoustic piano, Pat's Music Suite is a good referral. ( Jerry's Instrument Shop too!)

Hope you are well,

Ayako Tsuruta
MMAMTA President (through May 2021)
Luyben Music is closing June 20
I am heartbroken that Luyben Music is closing after 70 years in business. When they would still allow us to roam around, I remember Peter and I would spend hours hunting for scores old and new, and they never disappointed. We will miss them; Luyben's was our regular stop in KC.

Scholarship Auditions RESULT
Congratulations to the following students and their teachers who received the Summer Camp or Collegiate Scholarships. A BIG thank you to all of YOU for supporting Musicathon in both Jefferson City and Columbia! A total of $2000 was awarded.

Summer Camp Scholarship recipients:
Anthony Wu (11th Gr, for Vivac-e!), teacher: Natalia Bolshakova
Lauren Webb (10th Gr, for UCM Summer Piano Institute), teacher: Jan Houser

Scholarship for graduating seniors who will major or minor in music in college:
Lien-Hsin Lee (MU), teacher: Ayako Tsuruta
Robert Cline (MU), teacher: Karen Larvick


Protecting Yourself - Legally & Physically during COVID-19
Opening your studio back in-person in a middle of a pandemic - where vaccine is nowhere in sight - can be quite daunting. To open your studio for in-person lessons, it is important you have a conversation about your comfort level about this with your own family, and your students and their families.

On March 23, MTNA has shared its resource list that you may find helpful: https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Learn/COVID19_Resources.aspx

Some basic advice:
  • Ask your student to wash their hands upon arrival,
  • Clean the surface of piano keys between each student; other instrumentalists will refrain from trading instruments for a while, and no touching;
  • Social distancing (6 ft), and/or
  • Ask the student leave a mask on if possible,
  • Ask everyone else to wait in car or elsewhere outside of your studio,
  • No communal magazines, toys etc,
  • Have hand sanitizers readily available (now possible to purchase from Amazon, Bath and Body Works, Menards, etc.) for everyone's use.

On May 27, MTNA sent this: " As a service to our state and local affiliates, MTNA has asked its legal counsel, Scott Gilligan, to answer these and other frequently asked questions. In addition, Mr. Gilligan has prepared an "Association Waiver and Release of Liability for Exposure to COVID-19" form you may use at your events. The form provides guidelines each attendee must follow, and, when signed, releases your association from liability due to COVID-19.

MTNA is delighted to provide this important legal resource to our affiliates free-of-charge.



The second PDF includes, " 6. Release of Liability. The Attendee hereby agrees to release and hold harmless the Association, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all illnesses, injuries, sickness, death, or other losses arising in any way from Attendee’s attendance at and participation in the Event, including, but not limited to, exposure to COVID-19."

If you feel the need to have something to protect yourself just-in-case, you may need to have such agreement in writing. I strongly encourage you to read both PDF files, so that you are well informed how this may be possible.

Good luck!

Federation Festival Bulletin 2020-4
National Federation of Music Clubs is open to ALL instrumentalists and vocalists! Auditions usually takes place at the end of February - mid-March in Jefferson City and in Columbia.

Federation Festival Bulletin 2020-2024 is also available for purchase online. Click on the link below for instructions.