Programs for GCMTA Meetings 2018-2019
Program Chair: Pam Asberry, 404-434-8004
Meetings are usually held on the 4th Wednesday of each month, September through May; specific locations are indicated below. Refreshments begin at 9:30 AM, followed by a brief business meeting at 9:45 AM and the monthly program. We conclude around 11:30 AM
NOTE: There will be no meetings in December or April.
Program Topics
September 26, 2018
9:45AM @ Grace Bible Church, Lawrenceville
Dr. Benjamin Warsaw: “Microcosms/Working Improvisation into Your Practice”
In this two-part presentation, Dr. Benjamin will first perform selections from the 2017 GMTA commissioned work Microcosms, an interdisciplinary progressive book for pianists from containing works for intermediate to advanced students. This will be followed by a short workshop in which he will share simple exercises to help both student and teacher become more comfortable with improvisation.
October 24, 2018
9:45AM @ Grace Bible Church, Lawrenceville
Dr. Grace Huang: “Albums for the Young (and Young at Heart)”
For centuries composers have written collections titled “Album for the Young,” “Music for Children,” or “Children’s Pieces” for the early to late-intermediate piano student. Some of these collections are well-known and still popular in performance today; others are more “off the beaten path” but every bit as well-written and imaginative, and will engage younger and older students alike. Teachers seeking effective music for recitals, festivals, and auditions will enjoy exploring this diverse collection of 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st century works by Beach, Previn, Gurlitt, Bloch, Casella, and others.
November 14, 2018
9:45AM @ Grace Bible Church, Lawrenceville
Dr. Thomas Martin Wubbenhorst: “Personality Characteristics of Music Educators and Performers”
The results of Wubbenhorst’s published studies have been cited in hundreds of articles and books and indicate that musicians who are educators and musicians who are performers may be more alike than different with regard to personality type and psychological androgyny. In this session we will identify our individual characteristics and explore how these manifest in our teaching styles.
January 23, 2019
9:45AM @ 1123 House, Snellville
January Brunch
Yumi Patterson, Cathy Thacker and Pam Asberry
William Gillock Association USA
February 27, 2019
9:45AM @ Grace Bible Church, Lawrenceville
Dr. Robert Henry: “Practicing Like a Pro”
Is it really possible to learn a piece in an hour, as did Rachmaninoff with Scriabin’s Opus 42 Etude in C-sharp minor? If so, how is this accomplished? What is the ideal practice session? How long should a musician practice? How many times should one repeat something? What should a musician be accomplishing? Is slow practice really important? What does the latest research in neuroscience tell us about learning? These questions and more are answered in this most invaluable presentation.
March 27, 2019
9:45AM @ Grace Bible Church, Lawrenceville
Dr. Alex Wasserman: Master Class
May 15, 2019
9:45AM @1123 House, Snellville
May Luncheon
Teacher of the Year