VLMTA of North Carolina: Year Three in 2023-24!
YOU ARE INVITED!
Email: fischer@elon.edu for more info

WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE
The VLTMA of North Carolina meets online on the last Friday of each month at 10:00am Eastern Time. Note: November we will meet the 3rd Friday to avoid Thanksgiving, and no December meeting.
Mark your calendars for Fall 2023 meetings:
- September 29, presenter Karen Knight – see topic below
- October 27, presenter Karen Thickstun
- November 17, presenter Cathy Pescevich Kreplin
Missed a meeting? Recording links can be found in the Archive section below!
VLMTA Fall 2023 Fundraiser: The Scale Olympiad
Submissions accepted Oct. 28-Nov. 4, 2023
Click here for a video overviewing the Scale Olympiad – with video examples of a student performing different levels!
Click here for the minutes from the July 28 meeting, explaining the nuts-and-bolts of Scale Olympiad.
Click here for a chart detailing the levels and requirements of the Scale Olympiad
Meeting Link: Use for all regular VLMTA Monthly Meetings
Next Meeting: Friday, September 29, 2023 10am EST
Topic: Transforming Struggling Students With Pure Tones
Karen Knight will be sharing the use of unconventional tools to help students work through their anxiety and become engaged and excited learners. She will include the topics of sound healing, singing bowls, and the humming effect.
Password if prompted: vlmta
Meeting Archives
Meeting Dates | Topic / Presenter | Recording | Materials |
---|---|---|---|
9/29/23 | Transforming Struggling Students With Pure Tones Presenter: Karen Knight | Minutes of 8/25 Meeting | |
8/25/23 | Double Feature: 1) Fun pieces from NCMTA Junior rep lists you may not know 2) Sneak peek at an upcoming 3-volume pedagogical edition of the complete keyboard works of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges Presenter: Doug Jurs | Meeting Recording | Minutes of 7/28 Meeting |
7/28/23 | Scale Olympiad: Our Fall 2023 Fundraiser | Meeting Recording: Please Refer to this recording for information about the Scale Olympiad! | Minutes of 6/30 Meeting |
6/30/23 | Meet your NCMTA State Leadership/Officer reports | Meeting Recording | |
4/26/23 | Expanding Repertoire Choices Presenter: William Chapman Nyaho | Meeting Recording | Minutes of 3/31 Meeting |
3/31/23 | MTNA National Conference recap | ||
2/24/23 | Our Students Have Something to Say! (Exploring Student Creativity in Your Studio from Start to Finish) Presenter: Diane Higgins | Meeting Recording | |
1/27/23 | Storm in the Studio: Pedagogical Strategies for Teachers Instructing Students with Hyperactivity, Disruptive Behaviors, and Inattention Presenters: James Douthit, DMA and Kathryn Douthit, Ph.D. | Meeting Recording | Minutes of 11/18 meeting: Click here |
11/18 | Why Didn’t I Think of That? Presenter: Dennis Alexander | Minutes of 10/28 Meeting: Click Here | |
10/28/22 | The Joy of Teaching “Typical” Students Presenter: Martha Hilley | ||
9/30/22 | Arranging your Students’ Success: Incremental Steps to Teaching Scales and Chords Presenter: Dr. Vicky Fischer Faw, NCTM | Minutes of prior meeting-Click Here | |
8/26/22 | Evaluating (and composing) Pedagogical Repertoire. Presenter: Dr. Andy Villemez, CCM | Meeting Recording | Presentation Handout-Click Here |
7/29/22 | Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Ideas for Productive Lessons When Students Don’t Practice. Presenter: Laura Chu Stokes, NCTM | Meeting Recording | Presentation Handout-Click Here Minutes of prior meeting – Click Here |
6/24/22 | ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING | Meeting Recording (Email llagrimas@wcu.edu if prompted for passcode) | Minutes of Prior Meeting |
Meeting Dates | Topic / Presenter | Recording | Materials |
VLMTA Meeting #4 Friday, April 29, 2022 11am EST
Agenda:
I. Minutes and Announcements:
- Cannon music camp
- General ideas for summer/upcoming year
- Potential scheduling for meetings in Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
II. Election business
- We will be electing officers for the 2022-2024 VLMTA term beginning July 1, 2022. As per our new bylaws, the Exec Board presents the following slate:
President, Victoria Fischer Faw
Secretary/Treasurer, Laura Chu Stokes
VP President-Elect, Leonidas Lagrimas
III. Program: A Seat at the Piano: Mindfully Changing the Canon, with guest presenter Dr. Annie Jeng
Please learn more about our presenter: https://vpa.uncg.edu/home/directory/bio-anniejeng/ as well as the organization,
A Seat at the Piano: https://www.aseatatthepiano.com/
VLMTA Meeting #3 Friday, March 25 2022 11:00 am EST
- Agenda:
- Discuss and approve bylaws, report survey results
- Discuss upcoming meeting schedule for Spring/Summer 2022
- Program: Ask-me-anything! with Kevin Chance
- This open forum discussion will be an open Q&A with Kevin Chance on any number of pertinent MTNA-related topics. Come prepared with questions and topics to help get the discussion going!
- Link to final draft of Bylaws. VLMTA members, please read and review before Friday’s meeting.
- Hope to see you then!
VLMTA Meeting #2 Friday, February 25, 2022 11:00 am EST
Unable to attend the most recent meeting? Click the button below to view the video recording. Password required – please contact one of the VLMTA leadership team.
VLMTA Meeting #1 Friday, January 28, 2022 11:00 am Eastern Time – Inaugural Meeting
The inaugural Virtual Local Music Teachers Association – VLMTA of Western North Carolina – held its holding its official organizational meeting and launch party Friday, January 28, 2022, 11am-noon on Zoom
Officers
- President – Vicky Fischer Faw, Alleghany County, fischer@elon.edu
- Secretary/Treasurer – Laura Chu Stokes, Watauga County, eznotespianostudio@gmail.com
- President-Elect and Vice President – Leonidas Lagrimas, Jackson County, llagrimas@wcu.edu
Who was invited
All interested NCMTA members in Western North Carolina. The organizational meeting targeted western NC teachers who are already members of NCMTA/MTNA. If you couldn’t make it but are interested in joining, or if you know of NCMTA members not yet on our radar, please let us know!
Agenda
- Organization and Ceremonial signing of the charter
- Discuss goals and next steps in moving forward together to serve the specific musical needs of our region
- Presentation by Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas, NCTM, DMA, NCMTA Collegiate Chair, Assistant Professor Western Carolina University) “Real World Approaches to Sight-Reading”
What was accomplished
- 18 members signed the charter
- 4 VIP guests from NCMTA were in attendance
- Officers were elected
- Plans for the next meeting were announced: FRIDAY, FEB 25, 11:00 am (Save the date!)
- Before that meeting we will share two things:
Draft of our new bylaws for discussion and approval
A survey to learn more about each other, share ideas and lay the groundwork for future. That survey is on its way soon—I’m not sure it was clear that we didn’t have it ready to go today.
Other discussion and news
All were invited to a Zoom presentation held Friday 1/28/22 at 10:20, headed by Jenna Jaffe. “Dollars & Sense – Charging What Musicians are Worth.” Friends were also invited to join.
What else?
Reach out to music professionals who are not yet NCMTA/MTNA members. While it is a challenge for us to identify potential members across such a large area, you know who your neighbors are. MTNA and VLMTA are offering substantial financial incentives for first-time new members, so please invite them to contact us, and invite them to the next meeting.
Thank you for an amazing meeting today! We took the first substantial steps in establishing our new Virtual Local MTA chapter.
Warmly,
- Vicky Fischer Faw, NCTM, President VLMTA fischer@elon.edu
- Laura Chu Stokes, NCTM, Secretary/Treasurer VLMTA eznotespianostudio@gmail.com
- Leonidas Lagrimas, NCTM, Vice President for Membership/Technology VLMTA llagrimas@wcu.edu
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM VLMTA
If you’re an NCMTA member and would like to join VLMTA, there are no local dues this first year!
Simply indicate Virtual Local MTA on your membership form – we look forward to seeing you.
We hope you’ll join us! Watch for more details, supporting documents, and the Zoom invitation closer to the meeting. We welcome inquiries or questions, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Vicky
Victoria Fischer Faw, NCTM, DMA
Professor Emerita, Elon University
NCMTA Planning Senate Chair
NCMTA 2021 Teacher of the Year
MTNA Foundation Fellow 2022
MTNA 2022 National Teacher of the Year