Sept. General Meeting
Monday, Sept 20, 2021
9:45 AM
Meeting ID: 798 765 8928
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SEPTEMBER
PROGRAM
Dr. Svetlana Belsky
"Into Darkness: Music written between 1910-1920"
multi-media lecture / recital
Monday, Sept 20, 2021
Online Zoom
9:45 A.M. Meeting
OCTOBER
NWSMTA NEW MEMBER COFFEE
Monday, October 4, 2021
Online via Zoom 10:00 A.M.
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Email registration: Sonata-Sonatina Festival
FESTIVAL OF PIANOS –
will not be held this year
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Online registration:
Fall Classical Recital
Checks must be mailed by October 10, 2021
PROGRAM
Awards Committee
Awards Workshop –
Dr. Svetlana Belsky
Monday, October 18, 2021
Online Zoom
9:45 A.M. Meeting
FALL CLASSICAL RECITAL
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Online via Zoom 1:30 P.M.
FALL POP & JAZZ RECITAL
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Online via Zoom 3:30 P.M.
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A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT |
Hello NWSMTA Teachers! It’s Back-to-School time again! Time to resume doing what we do best - explain, instruct, model, lead, demonstrate, motivate, encourage - in a word, TEACH - the next generation of pianists and music consumers to the best of our abilities! Many of us are also managing our businesses, serving on boards and committees, PRACTICING, continuing our education, reading the latest information available on studio management and teaching tips, advocating for music education, and keeping up-to-date on COVID requirements, adjudicating, performing, - - wait - how many hats do we wear in an average day? Three or four? In a week? Maybe 5 or 6? Studio music teachers are among the most creative and adaptable professionals anywhere! Since the onset of COVID-19 we have learned to do what we never imagined doing, and thought would be impossible - teach students how to play the piano (or other instruments) ONLINE.
Many of us may be feeling drained, exhausted, and burned out , given all the challenges we had to face. Despite this, if you haven’t, take a moment to reflect on the past year and note what YOU have learned, what you have accomplished, how you have made a positive impact on your students, how you have improved your teaching, and how you have contributed to NWSMTA and other professional organizations to which you belong. I imagine your list would be quite long and impressive! It’s so easy to see the downside - remember the positive side too!
I personally noticed an increase in the number of students in my studio, possibly because there was nothing - or very little - for students to participate in during COVID. When my music therapy worked declined significantly due to COVID, I applied (and was accepted) to serve on the Exam Committee for the Certification Board of Music Therapists (2-year commitment). Since I couldn’t work as much, I figured I at least could contribute to the profession! I also spent more time improving my website, reading teaching tips and other pertinent information from MTNA and other professional teachers, and planning for what I wanted to change or add for this school year.
Despite the continued COVID variant, I am pleased that NWSMTA is starting this upcoming new year with almost all of our events taking place for students. We have great programs lined up for teachers, to follow our virtual business meetings since Rollling Meadows Library is not open for our use. We are specially glad that Harper College is open and that AIM evaluations will be LIVE there. So there will be some return to NORMAL! And we have added several new and returning members!
I hope you all took time to RELAX, refresh, rejuvenate, and re-create your best self this summer and are ready to begin a new teaching year! I am looking forward to seeing you all, and working together again. Best of luck for a successful year!
Brenda Haynes, MA, NCTM
President, NWSMTA
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NEW MEMBER: JENNIFER ROSANWO |
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SEPTEMBER PROGRAM: DR. SVETLANA BELSKY
"INTO DARKNESS: MUSIC WRITTEN BETWEEN 1910 - 1920"
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BUSINESS MEETING: September 20, 9:45 AM, via Zoom Video Conference.
We will be kicking off our new school year with a fun and informative program presented by Dr. Svetlana Belsky, “Into Darkness: Music, written between 1910 - 1920”. To accommodate the special demands of a Zoom presentation, Dr. Belsky has pre-recorded a multi-media lecture-recital that will include her best-loved piano masterpieces from Debussy to Charles Griffes, with Busoni and Stravinsky in between. These will all be presented in their historical context and accompanied by the art of the period, and will include pieces which incited a riot upon their premieres. She will also be present to take our questions and feedback.
Nancy Dempsey, 1st VP/Program Chair
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NWSMTA has two vacant board positions at this time - Recording Secretary and Publicity Chair. If you would like to know more about this opportunity to get involved, meet your colleagues, and share your expertise, please contact the President, Brenda Haynes, at 217-246-7958 or email her at Notes88MusicStudio@gmail.com" Job descriptions are available!
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SONATA FESTIVAL and GOLD MEDAL RECITAL |
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The Sonata Festival will be an in-person event. The Gold Medal Recital will not, since libraries and churches are not available to host it. We are aware of how intensely the Gold Medalists have worked to prepare their perfomances and wanted to offer them an opportunity to share it. We will invite the parents of the Gold Medalists to create a video and send a link to their child's performance and submit it for viewing on the NWSMTA website. Check website for details.
Michele Ryder Smith does an amazing job creating one of our most successful events. We are all indebted to her and her committee. The day of the event is stressful, especially early in the morning and she cannot be in two places at once. If you are willing to help out, especially in setting up, please call or email Michelle. I know she would appreciate it.
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WANDA HOLLENSTEINER 1932 - 2020 |
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Mary Peterson Hollensteiner passed peacefully at home in Rollins, Montana surrounded by her loving family and devoted dog, Mox IV, on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Though very physically limited by Parkinson's Disease, she lived an extraordinary and adventurous life until the very end, arriving in Rollins from Chicago via her first RV trip just two days earlier.
Wanda was born to Alf Victor and Mary Wanda Peterson in Chicago on June 9, 1932 during the Great Depression. Her list of many accomplishments began at two years of age when she was voted the "World's Most Beautiful Baby" at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1934, and she remained beautiful her entire life. She was baptized at the Fourth Congregational Church in Chicago and her faith always remained important to her. Her first prayer was "God bless mother and daddy and make me a good girl." And a "good girl" she was...gifted with musical talent, she had perfect pitch, made her first recording at age four, and was a brilliant pianist.
Wanda attended Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin and double majored in psychology and art. She was on the Homecoming Court and accompanied the Beloit's Men's Choir, the Choraliers. In 2009, the Wanda Peterson Hollensteiner Art Gallery was founded at her alma mater to renovate the museum and to fund ongoing restoration of significant works of art. Wanda and her college girlfriends founded the Beloit Bridge Club (aka BBC), and while they never played bridge, they met regularly and shared a lifelong friendship.
In her early twenties, the adventurous Wanda went to Germany for two and a half years to work for the U.S. Army Special Services. Based primarily out of Amberg, she was the highest-ranking female officer at the Service Club where her job was to provide entertainment and cultural experiences for off-duty soldiers. When asked about her experiences, she laughingly responded, "Ever been on a field trip with 30 GIs?"
After Europe, she returned to Chicago and met Jim Hollensteiner at a reunion party for North Park Academy, where they both attended high school. Wanda's beauty, charm, and yellow sweater immediately attracted Jim's eye. They became engaged shortly thereafter and married six months later on December 6, 1958 at the Fourth Congregational Church. They honeymooned on a ski trip to the Laurentian Mountains of Canada.
Wanda became a mother to five children even as she continued with her own musical interests, teaching myriads of students over thirty-five years. She was part of the leadership of the Northwest Music Teachers' Association (President from 1976-1978) and the Chicago Lyric Opera. She also played piano on a regular basis for patients in the Elgin State Mental Institution. In addition, she founded and led the Honey Lake 4-H Club in Barrington, IL.
During her lifetime, Wanda visited over 60 countries. Unbelievably, while Jim was studying for the Illinois State Bar Exam, she took three of her children - ages one, three, and five - and her disabled mother on a four-month tour of Western Europe. As a "People-to-People" Ambassador for piano teachers, she traveled to Russia and Eastern Europe. She also had many adventures with her family to Africa, South America, and Europe, including a "Ladies Day Out " month-long trip to Eastern Europe with her two daughters.
She was an organizer, contributor, and promoter of the James & Wanda Hollensteiner Foundation which supports approximately 35 organizations annually in Northwest Montana as well as a number of other charities across the country.
Wanda enjoyed spending her summers with family at their home in Rollins where she loved tending to her garden, boating and waterskiing on Flathead Lake. Glacier Park was a favorite place of hers to hike and look at wildflowers. She made many trips to Sperry and Granite Park chalets and loved to visit her children when they held summer jobs in the park.
Her five children are grateful for her bringing them into this world. Throughout her life, she impressed upon them to value and nurture the gift of family and friends, to help those less fortunate, and to go beyond societal norms and expectations. She encouraged them to dream their own dreams, to live their own lives, and to have fun along the way. She was not only their mother, but also their friend and confidante.
Wanda was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 17 years ago and despite burdensome physical challenges, she was an inspiration to all as she continued to laugh, never complained, and lived for the next fun adventure. She said: "It is what it is" and "You have to make jokes." In her last year of life, she drove a golf cart six miles down Hwy 93, operated an excavator, bounced on a trampoline, floated in an inner tube on Flathead Lake, dressed up as the Queen Mother for Halloween, jumped into a pool in her clothes into the arms of a random man, and even rode piggyback five days before she passed.
Wanda is survived by her husband, Jim, of 61 years of marriage, her five children Lisa, Jamie (Diane), Jena (Pend Armistead), John, Andrew, and her grandchildren Logan, Connor, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, Walt, Will, and Anna; and step-grandchildren Scott and Sarah Armistead. The family is very grateful to her caregivers who cared for her so lovingly the last few years of her life.
Published by Chicago Tribune on Jun. 14, 2020.
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A NOTE FROM JANICE WILKANS |
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Hello everyone,
I thought I would share my experience since April. Due to fluid around my heart and lungs I had to go to the hospital to have the fluid drained. The last week of April, I was hospitalized for nine days because of low sodium. When I came home, I was weak, lost my balance and fell. Back to the hospital, I went. I was sent to the Moorings for rehabiitation. Somehow, I rolled out of bed. I was injured in the fall and went by ambulance to get three stitches on my ear. I returned at 2:00 AM. I held on to my walker, instead of the bed, to stand up and went down again. Another trip to the hospital for three stitches on my elbow. (Deb: If this wasn't such an awful thing, it could make a scene from a comedy. I know Janice was not laughing.)
The director of the Moorings spoke with me and found out I like flowers and played the piano. In the afternoon, she brought me a vase of flowers. Dan brought me a lot of music and the director chose the songs she wanted me to play. I practiced a lot. The following week I was famous. I was playing near the nurses' station. I had no idea how many people were watching. Dan's nephew was walking down the hall and heard the music. (Deb: No doubt, he was not surprised to find out it was Auntie Janice.)
In September, I will start practicing Christmas music and give them another performance. They will miss my piano playing at the Moorings. My sister-in-law is in a nursing home. I don't know if it has a piano or electronic keyboard. I should play music for her. (Deb: Good for you, Janice. The show must go on.)
Janice Wilkans
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So I purchased a music notation face mask to augment my collection thinking that it would look sharp, but my expectations fell flat. After wearing it for an interval, I developed a staff infection and a clef chin. I should have known buying it would lead to treble. It wound up not being a major problem but a minor inconvenience. I do have a diminished opinion of the product though. Not sure if I should throw it out because I don't know how long it will take to decompose.
Thank you, Jerry.
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Dear NWSMTA members,
Welcome back!
Get involved. Find a committee that interests you and join it. AIM, the Sonata Festival and Awards are eager to welcome you.
Check out the resources in our library; listed on the website. Suzanne Fleer will be happy to share a book or two with you.
Your NWSMTA Yearbook will be mailed to you ASAP. Patronize our advertisers.
Attend the wonderful meetings that have been planned for you. And check the website for information on all that's coming.
If you are a new member, and would like someone to mentor you, let Chyi-Ling Evans know. Several names are listed in the Yearbook.
There is much to look forward to.
Deborah Lynch
Newsletter Editor
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Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association | https://www.nwsmta.org |
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