UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 21st
10:00 a.m.
Speaker Series:
Artist
Donal Fox
(online)
Sunday, Oct. 25th
2:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Halloween Recitals
Grades K-6
(online)
Monday, Oct. 26th
10:00 a.m.
Speaker Series:
Artist
Steven Mayer
(online)
Sunday, Nov. 15th
2:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Music for Hope
Recitals
(Grades 7-12)
Monday, Nov. 23
10:00 a.m.
Teachers' Master Class
Spencer Myer
(online)
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PRESIDENT'S GREETING
Dear NEPTA Members,
Greetings and welcome to NEPTA's 70th anniversary season! I am grateful NEPTA continues to support piano teachers as it has since 1950, and I am thankful to each of you who make it possible. This year has been an extraordinary one filled with challenges and changes. I wish you continued perseverance and strength, and I hope you will find comfort and solace in seeing your NEPTA colleagues and friends at our upcoming events and our first Speaker Series meeting online this Monday.
I am reminded, on this 70th anniversary year and this 250th anniversary year of Beethoven's birth, of the composer's isolation and challenges. There were many times this summer I returned to reading Beethoven's words in the Heilegenstadt Testament for inspiration. His example of strength to rise above, through his art, in the face of extenuating circumstances, continues to be a source of light in my life.
I also continue to be uplifted by the incredible support and teamwork I have witnessed among my colleagues at NEPTA. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Vice President, Sivan Etedgee and his wife Sarah Failla, as well as our Treasurer, Shizue Sano, for volunteering countless hours to help me produce a beautiful 2020 - 2021 Program Booklet and Directory. Thank you! I would also like to thank Sue Demb, our Website Chair extraordinaire, for her continued dedication, and excellent work; our Program Chair, Colleen Campbell, for arranging a wonderful season of guest artists; and Eleanor Perrone, our Email Communications Chair for keeping us connected.
The NEPTA Board of Directors is also working to implement ways to aid our teachers and students during this challenging time. We are launching a new Charity Recital "Music for Hope" on November 15th for grades 7-12 to support piano lessons for students in need, including NEPTA students. Further details can be found below.
In this newsletter, you will also find useful information on the new optimized music Zoom settings and helpful equipment suggestions for online teaching.
Please join me to kick off the year online this Monday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. with guest artist, Donal Fox, who will present: "The Art of Making Mistakes, and the Art of Discovery, Transformations, Variations and Improvisations". Please click here to join the Zoom meeting. Make sure you are able to login to the NEPTA website prior to the meeting. Further details and information on web support can be found below.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President as we celebrate NEPTA's 70th anniversary season in 2020. Together, we will continue to rise above to keep the music playing!
I look forward to seeing you on Monday!
Best wishes,
Diana Tetzlaff
President
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FALL SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS
Mark your calendars and join us for our fall Speaker Series events:
"The Art of Making Mistakes, and the Art of Discovery, Transformations, Variations and Improvisations"
Donal Fox
Professor Donal Fox welcomes your questions before the meeting this Monday by sending them to: [email protected] He also encourages teachers to participate in the meeting at their pianos as he leads an easy and fun improv.
 "Gottschalk: From Chopin to Creole"
Steven Mayer
Monday
October 26, 2020
10:00 am - 12:15 pm
The Speaker Series is free to NEPTA members, and the first meeting of the year is also free for non-NEPTA members! Please share this flier with students or musician friends who would be interested in attending or joining NEPTA. Guests can click here to register and receive a link to the meeting. The non-member fee for all other events is $20.
To join the NEPTA online zoom meeting this Monday at 10:00 a.m. please go to:
Then login with your NEPTA password and click "Join Meeting" (You may join the meeting 5-10 minutes early and wait for it to begin).
If you need online Zoom meeting assistance please contact Sue Demb, NEPTA Website Chair at: [email protected] and write your phone number in the email. Or, contact Sue by phone at: 617-484-3049.
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UPCOMING HALLOWEEN PIANO RECITAL - OCT 25th
NEPTA's Halloween Recital for grades K-6 will be held on Sunday, October 25th online via Zoom. This is an opportunity to perform in a friendly setting, and memory is optional. Costumes and Halloween music are welcome and encouraged! Detailed information is available in the NEPTA Program Booklet and on our website: www.nepta.com
Teachers may enroll up to 15 students.
Registration fee is $25 per student.
Time limit is 2 minutes per student.
Application Deadline is October 5, 2020.
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TEACHERS' MASTER CLASS
 NEPTA is pleased to present this Master Class with Spencer Myer as a benefit for NEPTA's Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Grants. Donations are welcome! Donate online at www.nepta.com
Monday, November 23, 2020, 10:00 am - 12:15 pm
NEPTA members interested in performing should contact Robert Finley, [email protected] by October 23, 2020. The fee for performers is $40.
To join the NEPTA online zoom meeting please go to:
Then login with your NEPTA password and click "Join Meeting" (You may join the meeting 5-10 minutes early and wait for it to begin).
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MUSIC FOR HOPE: A Charitable Recital (Grades 7 - 12)
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Music for Hope is a recital to raise funds to support piano lessons for students in need (including NEPTA
students). Its creation was inspired by the crossroads of COVID-19 and racial injustice to provide hope through music. Recital registration proceeds, and 100% of donations received beyond the recital registration fee will go toward this fund. All musical styles and compositions are encouraged. Our students will be helping students in need just by registering for this recital!
NEPTA is a 501c3 non-profit. Please consider a tax deductible donation for Music for Hope today! www.nepta.com
Application Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2020
Up to 8 student entries per teacher
Time Limit: 4 minutes per student.
Memorization is optional.
Registration Fee: $45 per performer
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NEW ZOOM SETTINGS, MICS and EQUIPMENT
NEPTA recommends the following specifications to ensure the best sound and video quality during remote lessons and recitals.
Do: Use a computer instead of a phone or tablet
The Three "E's"
Ethernet - Connect your computer to your router via ethernet cable whenever possible.
External Microphone - use one of our recommended microphones to improve sound quality.
Earphones - when both parties use earphones, the sound quality improves dramatically.
Microphone Recommendations
Under $100:
$100 - $200:
$200 and up:
Camera Recommendations
(A USB Webcam will allow greater flexibility with camera angles, as well as a higher quality image than most built-in webcams)
$100 - $200:
$200 and up:
NEW information on optimizing Zoom settings:
Click here: The Complete Guide to Zoom Audio Settings for Music Teachers
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