MTAC Santa Clara County Branch

Are you interested in learning more about what sets Piano Safari apart from other methods? Join co-author and internationally respected pedagogue Katherine Fisher as she provides an overview of this highly acclaimed piano series that is revolutionizing piano teaching and learning around the world. Topics covered include the essentials of elementary technique, the development of reading and rhythm, and incorporating improvisation into lessons for beginners. 

Presenter：Katherine Fisher
Time: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 10 AM PST
Zoom Link：
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2395165866

The upcoming monthly program Daily Rituals of the Modern Music Teacher is about organization and studio management. It includes technology and apps, studio policy must-haves. Here is the  landing page and registration URL for Santa Clara branch members. Upon registration, members will receive the Zoom link.

Landing Page URL: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pqnjk4k/lp/5a2b0e84-87d0-4107-b9cd-e6df8c2f1753
Registration URL: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pqnjk4k

Presenter: Noreen Wenjen

Time: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 10 AM PST

After a relaxing summer, we are ready to start the new academic year! Our annual branch general meeting will cover topics including monthly programs, branch recitals, Steinway Society concerts, and scholarship foundation.  Please join us on:

September 11, Wednesday, 10 AM, via Zoom  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85404037961

I look forward to seeing you!

1.  Technique and Artistry:  You Can’t Have One Without the Other – how to master technical skills and how to implement them to make the playing of the music more beautiful, fluid, artistic and simultaneously maintain relaxed physicality. 

2. The Magic of Imagery: Unlocking Creative Potential – how using imagery can inspire us as teachers and inspire our students  to connect to the emotional and expressive character of the music as well as being more confident and intuitive interpreters. 

Presenter: Catherine Rollin

Date: Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88636307163?pwd=1E68ToNOB52owB9YXZbHBeqDEDEgSR.1

We will begin our year with an informative meeting covering significant changes in our monthly student recital program, details of this year’s pedagogy seminar, and an overview of several state programs that are available to members.

Meeting is Wednesday, September 13 at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom

Please join this meeting using this link: MTAC Zoom Meeting Sept 13

By Dr. Svetlana Belsky

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Time: 10 am

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84200630766?pwd=UlNGRGdydlBpQXVTOUh0K3ZMZHVnZz09

“Bach’s 18 Little Preludes, too rarely taught and performed, offer an unparalleled window into Bach’s own pedagogy.  While Inventions and Sinfonias teach the contrapuntal style and compositional techniques, the Preludes concern themselves with expressive playing. Each one focuses on a specific challenge of technique, touch, style, or character – in a setting so beautiful that the students are meant to enjoy the struggle, as they prepare to tackle the great masterpieces of the Baroque Era.”

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Time: 10 am

Presenter: Nicola Cantan

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcO2qrzgoG9yCMTqCYFO6n34Kh6DId-hb

Interleaved Teaching: Taking Practice and Lessons to the Next Level

Teaching this way so that our teaching can also be more efficient and so that our students can learn interleaved practice by osmosis.
The concept of interleaved teaching is really very simple, but it can provide extraordinary results for students in so many areas such as: reading, rote learning, and technique. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the benefits of interleaved teaching and practice.

Move it or lose it! 17 Easy Strategies for Rock Solid Rhythm Skills

The nitty gritty of teaching and what the students consistently struggle with, rhythm is a common topic of much agitation and exasperation. In this interactive session, we’ll play 17 different rhythm games that can be used with students of all ages and levels. 

Bio

Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher, author, blogger and creator of imaginative and engaging teaching resources. She loves getting piano students learning through laughter, and exploring the diverse world of music making; through improvisation, composition and games. 

Nicola’s membership site Vibrant Music Teaching is helping teachers all over the world to include more games and off-bench activities in their lessons, so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. Nicola also runs a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where she shares creative ideas and teaching strategies, and hosts regular training events for piano teachers.  

When: Wednesday , November 9, 2023

Time: 10 am

Presenter: Eik Siang Mar

Eik Mar has always been interested in making theory fun for students.  In graduate school, she earned the nickname of “Master of Games” after showing up with hand-drawn Disney characters and a homemade velcro keyboard for a pedagogy class presentation.  Her 20+ years of teaching experience gives her the insight into how individual needs differ from student to student, and she has first-hand experience with the hassle of finding good theory resources to supplement the existing available methods. In 2014, Eik founded SproutBeat to provide high quality worksheets for teachers. SproutBeat has since added interactive games to the platform and is used by teachers around the globe.

Meet our old and new members and find out what programs our branch has in store for you!

• Wednesday, September 14, 10:00 a.m.
• Lincoln Glen Church, 2700 Booksin Avenue, San Jose. 

We have another exciting presenter for our program next week.
Nahre Sol will speak about “Navigating Today’s Landscape As a Modern Musician” She will be sharing her personal path in terms of how she has been building up her career, practical tips on utilizing today’s resources for building your audience, and her creative process.
Date: Wednesday, March 9thTime: 10 amZoom link will be provided later

Nahre Sol is a pianist, composer, and multi-discipline creator, most known for her videos online about various musical topics intertwined with her creative process and original compositions. She was also a co-host of Sound Field, a music channel by PBS Digital Studios from 2019-2020. Her works feature an eclectic mixture of music that draws from aspects of improvisation, the avant-garde, traditional Western forms and harmony, jazz, and minimalism. Recent projects include her contribution to the Boss Baby 2: Family Business soundtrack with Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, Rayark’s video game DEEMO II, andcommissions by the BBC Radio 3, Headspace, Universal Audio, Native Instruments, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Happenstance, and the Raleigh Civic Symphony. She received her training at The Juilliard School (NYC), Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and La Schola Cantorum (Paris).