VLMTA of Western North Carolina – new in 2022!

---

---

Meeting Link: Use for all regular VLMTA Monthly Meetings

Next Meeting: Friday, April 28, 2023 10am EST

Topic: “Expanding Repertoire Choices”

Presenter: Dr. Willliam Chapman Nyaho, MTNA National VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

William Chapman Nyaho earned his degrees from St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Switzerland. Chapman Nyaho currently serves as Vice-President for DEI at Music Teachers National Association. He is on the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and runs his private piano studio in Seattle. Washington. He is also on the summer faculty of Interlochen Center for the Arts. As an active solo recitalist, a member of the Nyaho/Garcia Duo, a chamber musician and lecturer, his passion is advocating music by composers of African descent.

Read more about Nyaho at https://www.nyaho.com and please join us for our informal conversation with this celebrated expert.  

Password if prompted: vlmta

---

Meeting Archives

Meeting Dates	Topic / Presenter	Recording	Materials
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