Convention

Before you read further

The MMTA Board meets April 17 and will make a decision then regarding the 2020 MMTA convention, scheduled for June 7-9.  In the meantime, the April 1 presenter info and master class application deadlines are extended indefinitely.  However, the links below still work so if you have bios, photos, session notes, or master class applications ready to go, you can submit them now and get them off your to-do lists.

 

 

  

Schedule Highlights 

Convention schedule in brief

Mark your calendar:  June 7-9, 2020 for the 121st annual convention of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) at the DoubleTree ParkPlace.  We are excited to have Randall Faber as our keynote speaker and guest artist.Sunday June 7, 7:30 pm: student honors recital*

• Monday June 8, 9-5: sessions, master classes, recitals and exhibits
• Monday June 8, 7:30 pm: solo piano recital by Randall Faber*
• Tuesday June 9, 8-5: sessions, master classes, recitals, and exhibits

* Free and open to the public

Sunday Evening, June 7

7:30 pm - MMTA Foundation Recital and Awards
Every year on convention Sunday, we feature students who have won or placed in state and national competitions.  A truly inspiring level of talent will be on display.  We also present our annual student awards. Free and open to the public.

Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9

TEACHER ENRICHMENT
- Keynote: Developing Musical Minds and Hearts (Dr. Faber)
- Teaching Habits: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Dr. Faber)
- Teaching lessons online (Erin Winchell)
- Developing the EAR for Female Composers (Sue Ruby)
- Group Piano: Pitfalls, Perils, Powerful Tools, and Passion (Sean Slade)
- Podcasting: Arts Advocacy Through Social Media (Mindy Peterson)
- Help!  I've Been Asked to Play the Organ (Mary Newton)
- The Art of Motivation (Aaron Garner)
- What We Say and How We Say it MATTERS! (Suzanne Greer)
- How To Speak Your Piano Technician's Language (Shannon Wettstein Sadler)
- Five Finger Patterns and Famous Composers (Vicente Della Tonia)
- Música Brasileira: Spice Up Your Group Piano Classes (Ricardo Pozenatto)
 
PERFORMANCES, MASTER CLASSES, and LECTURE/RECITALS
- Solo piano recital - Dr. Randall Faber (Monday 7:30 p.m.) Free and open to the public.
- MMTA Music Bridges program recital
- MMTA Student Composition Contest winners recital
- Recital/talk: Mary Evelyn Hangley, soprano with San Francisco Opera
- Lecture/recital: Transcendental Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas (Dr. Ann DuHamel)
- Classical piano master class (Dr. Faber)
- Jazz and popular piano master class (Sarah Burk)
- Master class for the emerging and professional voice (Mary Evelyn Hangley)
- Songtaneous: Beginning a Vocal Improv Practice (Sarah M. Greer)
 
MMTA PROGRAM WORKSHOPS
- Annual meeting (all members encouraged to attend)
- Introducing the 2020 Piano Exam Syllabus (exam dev team)
- Theory Level 4: What's New? (Jake Fitzpatrick)
- Theory Levels 5-8: Part Writing (Dr. Sarah Miller)
- Judge orientation/info sessions (Jill Kilzer)
- Critique Writing to Address Different Musical Styles (Stella Sick)
- MMTA 101 (Megan Gilles)

EXHIBITS
- Sheet music, software, teaching tool vendors
- Collegiate poster sessions
- MMTA Foundation fundraiser: donated music sale (plus an opportunity to win fabulous prizes -- details will be announced at the convention!)

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Convention Sessions

Submission for convention session proposals is closed. Thanks to all who submitted their ideas!  Accepted presenters should provide their session information, including head shot and session notes, by April 1.

Presenter info (by April 1)

The above link will also be provided via email well ahead of the deadline as a reminder.

Submit an idea for next year

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Convention Registration

MMTA convention registration is open to the public and will be available in mid-March.  MMTA members and non-members are encouraged to register by May 1 to get the best rates.

Lodging

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Master Classes

Three (3) master classes are planned for the 2020 convention.  Students of MMTA members, as well as MMTA members themselves, are invited to apply.  There is no application fee.  If possible, please apply online, or download and print an application.  Performance video is required, and instructions can be found in the application form.  Deadline:  April 1, 2020

Master class: classical piano (Randall Faber)
Online application | Print version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Master class: jazz and popular piano (Sarah Burk)
Online application | Print version

 

 

 

 

 

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Master class: for the emerging and professional voice (Mary Evelyn Hangley)
Online application | Print version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibits and Showcases

All organizations, including music stores, software companies, inventors, product companies, consultants, colleges, and universities, are encouraged to participate.  Vendors may also present a showcase session to introduce new products, methods, and services to independent music teachers.  Showcase presenters must also obtain booth space in the exhibit hall. Deadline:  April 1 (non-refundable deposit required)

Exhibitors: please download and print these forms, and mail them in to our office with your deposit, by April 1.
Commercial Exhibit
Educational Exhibit
Showcase

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Collegiate Poster Sessions

We encourage our Collegiate Student Members to submit proposals for posters to be presented in the exhibit hall on Monday, June 8, during morning break and lunch.  We invite proposals that reflect innovation and cutting-edge content, stimulate and provoke audience discussion, include multimedia approaches to enhance learning, and explore pedagogical and performance issues important to all levels.    Deadline:  April 20

Online application | Print version

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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed to serve as presiders and doorkeepers. ​

• Presiders act as session hosts, introduce presenters, and manage the clock
• Doorkeepers greet attendees, make sure they are registered, and take attendance.

Volunteer signup will be available here soon.