|
MARCH PROGRAM - DR. CHRISTINA TIO
REPURPOSING A PARTY PLEASER: KEYBOARD SKILLS, MUSICAL ARTISTRY, AND... THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG
| |
PLEASE NOTE: there are two changes regarding the March 18 meeting.
1. We will be meeting at 9:45 AM at Countryside Church, 1025 N. Smith St, Palatine
2. Our clinician with be NWSMTA’s own Dr. Christina Tio, who will be presenting “Repurposing a Party Pleaser: Keyboard Skills, Musical Artistry, and… the Happy Birthday Song”
This presentation seeks to share strategies of using the "Happy Birthday" song for teaching hands-on theoretical concepts, developing an appreciation for basic improvisation and nurture musical artistry. By way of a 7-step process, students of ALL ages and abilities may be guided to listen, sing, and play the HB song around the Circle of Fifths. The illustrations will also include excerpts of lesson videos demonstrating real learning situations, along with sample recordings of creative renditions by students of various playing levels.
Click here for the handout for the presentation.
Christina Tio earned her piano performing and teaching diplomas, BA (Hons) and MMus in Piano Performance in the United Kingdom at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Reading University respectively, as a student of Frank Wibaut of Royal Academy of Music in London. Her interest in musicology, and the award of a scholarship led her into musicological research with Nicholas Cook, under whose guidance, she completed her PhD in Musicology at the University of Southampton, UK.
First began teaching the piano at age 14, Christina maintained a studio all through her school and college years. Before moving to Chicago, she also taught for five years at colleges and universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, including Universiti Malaya (UM), University College Sedaya International (UCSI) and National Academy of Arts (ASWARA).
Dr. Tio has been a regular session presenter. Recent conference presentations include the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) Leadership Retreat in May 2019, ISMTA Conference in November 2019 and a Poster at MTNA Virtual Conference 2022. She also presents regularly at local Music Teacher Association monthly meetings, at Naperville MTA in October 2019 and March 2022, CAMTA in June 2022, NSMTA in September 2020 and February 2023, and WSMTA in September 2022. Dr. Tio has also served as a Piano Masterclass clinician at the biennial SAA Teachers Conference in Minneapolis in 2018. She enjoys teaching and mentoring students, parents and fellow teachers at workshops and summer institutes around the US, as well as in Singapore.
Passionate about the Suzuki philosophy, Christina considers parent education and developing musicality her forte. She enjoys a thriving piano studio characterized by excellence and joy, where music making is appreciated as a lifelong endeavor. Her students frequently receive awards at local, regional, national and international competitions, as well as appearance on a national broadcast of NPR’s From the Top. They also perform extensively in the community to warm critical acclaim. Prize winnings have also led her students to perform at SAA Conferences in Minneapolis (2014, 2016, 2018 & 2024 - forthcoming), Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University, IL (2017), Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall (2019, 2021), Merkin Hall in Kaufman Center in New York (2019), Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany (2021), MTNA Virtual National Conference (2022), Koerner Hall in Toronto (2023) as well as Royal Albert Hall in London (2024 – forthcoming). Christina is currently a Suzuki Piano faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago. Aside from in-person lessons and group classes, she also teaches online with students in Kansas City, Colorado and California, in the UK and in Singapore. Also a homeschool mom since 2013, she lives in Skokie, IL with her husband and son.
| |
Please join us for the annual NWSMTA luncheon. The luncheon will take place on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at 10:30 am. This year’s event will be held at:
THE BAKESTER patisserie
13 1/2 West Davis Street in Arlington Heights
We’ll connect with old and new friends, share stories and install our new board of officers. In addition to your delicious menu, participants will receive entry into a raffle drawing featuring amazing prizes. A trivia contest will also be held.
Members will be responsible for their own orders. Let’s take a break from work!
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Justyna
| COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AND CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS | |
The College Scholarship 2023 winner, Justin Hill, has received his second scholarship installation of $500 last month.
The College Scholarship amount has been raised this year from $1000 to $2000.
The Camp Scholarships have also been increased to
$600 for the1st place winner of each junior/senior division and
$400 for the 2nd place winner of each junior/senior division.
The Deadline for applying the Scholarships is May 1st 2024.
| MIDWEST KEYBOARD PERFORMERS CHALLENGE | |
The Second Annual Midwest Keyboard Performers Challenge took place Sunday February 25 at Harper College with 168 students participating from 25 different studios. The four-room recitals began from 9:00am and the last recital finished at 6:45pm. Each recital is about 30 minutes in duration with feedback from judges Alexander Djordjevic, Andrea Schneider, Christopher Goldston, Janice Razaq and Soyoung Kee. Students had fun exchanging the points for either a ribbon or a trophy and as well as “shopping” at the Awards Store. Here is some of the feedback from parents and teachers:
"Thank you very much for organizing MKPC! Celine had a great time and enjoyed it thoroughly. She’s always been on the shy side, but through the recent short period of time, she gained confidence and is more comfortable with performing in front of the audience. I believe this transcends piano performance and benefits her overall growth.
Thank you again for providing such opportunities!” ~ Parent
"Congratulations on another really successful year of Midwest Keyboard Piano Challenge! Though I couldn’t be there myself, my students sent glowing reports of how smoothly the event was run earlier today, how fun and encouraging it was all in all. Thanks again for all your hard work putting the event together for the students and their families.” ~ Christina Tio (teacher)
We are looking forward to next year’s MKPC!
|  |  |  |  | |
OAKTON SIX PIANO ENSEMBLE | |
|
Dear NWSMTA members,
I was driving past a church near my house, which always posts a quote on the sign in front. A week ago, the sign stated, “The reason volunteers do not get paid is because their job is priceless.” I knew immediately I had a theme for my newsletter article. I could not help but think of the many volunteers of NWSMTA. The members who recently joined and stepped forward to fill a need. I have confidence that NWSMTA will continue to retain strong leadership for the group through their generosity. I think of the members who have worked for many years and continue to do so. Their ability to lead and continue evolving to improve music education through NWSMTA for our students is inspiring. Although, most of you do not likely know the founding members of NWSMTA, they began with 31 members in 1962. Their dues were three dollars. The meetings were held at various locations, such as music stores and even people’s homes. These people had a dream and saw a need for music teachers to share their ideas, to work together to provide more opportunities for their students. They were friends with a love of music and a common cause.
Thank you to Janice Wilkans who has kept the history of NWSMTA. It is posted on the website. When you have a chance, check it out. It Is listed under HOME…. ABOUT US…. NWSMTA HISTORY SCRAPBOOKS. We have a rich history, strong membership, great ideas to share and wonderful friends for life.
This month our meeting will be in person. If you are able, please come and join us for this meeting. Dr. Christina Tio, one of our own members, will be presenting a very practical and interesting program. Our May 13th meeting will be a luncheon at Bakester Patisserie in Arlington Heights. This is an opportunity for members to get to know each other.
Looking forward to spending time together.
Deborah Lynch
Newsletter Editor
| | | |
Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association | https://www.nwsmta.org | | | | |
