Treasure Valley MTA
Newsletters
2012 January Newsletter
2011 Dec Newsletter
2011 Nov Newsletter
2011 Oct Newsletter
2011 Aug/Sept Newsletter
Officers & Committee Chairs
| President | Tawna Love |
| Vice President/Program Director | Amy Weaver |
| Treasurer | Gerri Harrison |
| Registrar | Reed Burkholder |
| Secretary/Newsletter | Andrea Hansen |
| Past President | Juli Draney |
| Sonatina Festival Chairs | LuAnn Fife and Tonya Robertson |
| Sonatina Selection Chair | Suzy Clive |
| Certificate of Merit Chairs | Kristie Rue and Jill Wright |
TVMTA Member Resources
Certificate Of Merit
The Music Teachers' Association of California sponsors a study program entitled Certificate of Merit. Initiated in 1933, this prestigious program provides study guides and performance opportunities for students. In 1997, the Treasure Valley MTA started working with MTAC to sponsor this program in Idaho. Our first Certificate of Merit event took place in April 1998.
The goals of the program are:
- To provide a systematic and comprehensive plan to develop performance skill, technique, ear training, sight reading, and understanding of music theory;
- To develop practical goals to help students maintain a steady and focused approach to their musical studies.
- To encourage students to strive for musical excellence
- To create opportunities in which students may share their music with others.
Students enrollect in Certificate of Merit participate in an annual evaluation. Experienced evaluators hear students perform selected literature, technique elements, and sight reading. Each student will receive a written comprehensive assessment of progress. Students will also complete a written theory exam that includes an ear training component. Each student will receive a certificate for successfully completing all phases of the examination.
Students can earn up to four points per year for successful completion of the different phases. When they have achieved 12 points, they will be awarded a trophy. Students who demonstrate exceptional skill may be selected to perform at our Branch Honors Recital. The fees for participation range from $23 to $35, depending on level of enrollment.
Sample Registration Sheet, Information, and Evaluation Guidelines
Sonatina/Sonata Festival
The purpose of the IMTA Sonatina/Sonata Festival is to:
- Provide students of high school age and younger the opportunity to perform before a judge
- Receive a positive critique of his/her performance
- Compete with other students in an encouraging atmosphere
Students of members of TVMTA in good standing are eligible to participate. The festival is divided into 15 levels with each level being represented by one sonatina or sonata movement selected from various composers and levels of difficulty.Ê Students may enter only one level.Ê Student performances are grouped by level with one judge per group.Ê Levels in which enrollment is overly large will be divided into groups with a judge for each group division.Ê Schedules for judges contain student's names and performance time only; teacher names of students are not available to the judges.Ê Students are required to play their pieces by memory and present their music to the judge so they may be judged on the edition from which they learned. Scores should be marked with measure numbers at the beginning of each line.Ê Music must be original; copies will disqualify the student.
Students will be assigned individual performance times for the preliminary round, which take place with a single student and a single adjudicator in a private studio. Parents and families are not permitted to observe the preliminary round, but must wait outside the door. All participants will receive a ribbon following their preliminary performance.
Two students from each group will be chosen to perform in a final round called the Honors Recital, which is open to the public. First and second place winners are chosen based on their performance in the Honors Recital. Up to three additional students from each groupÊmay be chosen to receive Honorable Mention awards.Ê Choosing students to perform at the Honors Recital or as Award winners in the Honors Recital is at the discretion of the judges.Ê Judges are given the option of not declaring a winner.
An awards ceremony follows the final round. The first place winner receives a trophy and the second place winner receives a rosette ribbon. Honorable mention winners also receive rosette ribbons at the awards ceremony.