NEWS

MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT ELECT:
DEMELZA BURSILL

Dear Members
Firstly, I would like to thank all members for putting your trust in me to lead WAMTA in 2012.

I would like to acknowledge the role of Karina Sysko as President of the Association for the past 13 years. During Karina's Presidency, WAMTA introduced
the Biennial Piano Pedagogy Convention, forged closer ties with UWA and organized the Association's Centenary Celebrations including the publication of the updated "What Harmony is This?"
which provides the history of the association over its first 100 years. Thank you, Karina, and we wish you all the very best for the future.

Council and I are eager to help the Association move forward into the future. We look forward to representing all members' interests and
would like to invite you to contact us with any suggestions or concerns that you may have.I look forward to having the opportunity to see everyone at the
Extraordinary Meeting and Social in February or March 2012.

Demelza Bursill
President
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STUDENT FORUM REPORT 2011
Jocelyn Kotchie

Hosting three of the Student Forums this year has been an absolute joy! The attendance has been terrific and has grown substantially throughout the year, from 13 performers in March through to 43 in September and similar in October. The levels and ages of the students have varied considerably, from tiny tots and absolute beginners playing one-line songs to older teenagers with their learned interpretations of Beethoven and Debussy. We've even had a mum with her two children playing a piano trio!
As well as an 'across the board' representation of performers, it has also been extremely encouraging to see a similar representation of teachers, with those younger and newer teachers bringing their students alongside the more experienced teachers, who even with their own busy practices, are still making time to bring their students along to experience and learn from these performance opportunities.
And the students themselves are an absolute delight! As host, I have the advantage of sitting right up the front and can see the expressions on the performers' faces when they experience the applause from the audience and it's absolutely priceless – not just the younger children but the older teens as well – to see their faces light up when they
hear that applause.

Of course there are mistakes and muck-ups as is quite natural and for the most part I'm happy to report that the students take it in their stride, although there are the occasional histrionics, usually humorous, such as the 4 or 5 year old who sits down to play his little tune, makes a mistake then throws his hands to his forehead with great drama, exclaiming 'OH NO!!!!!' Of course, that generally brings the house down and the moment of
tension is gone!

For those who have never attended a Student Forum, which included me, I'm ashamed to say, it's a painless procedure. St Mary's Church on the corner of Ridge and Karoo Streets in South Perth, is large enough to hold a good-sized audience but intimate enough to still feel warm and welcoming. There is no charge for performing students or their teachers and only a $2 per person charge for audience members, which is donated to the church towards upkeep of the piano and the church in general. The atmosphere is friendly and supportive and provides the opportunity for students to become comfortable playing in front of an audience. I strongly recommend teachers to embrace this wonderful opportunity for their students and I personally can't wait to get back and host the next one!

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RECITAL AND CONCERTO COMPETITION REPORT 2011
Nancy Fragomeni

The Recital and Concerto Competition 2011 was held in Zenith Music Auditorium in Claremont from 19 to 23 September, during school hours. The adjudicator was Associate Professor Peter Moore OAM.
This was another wonderful year with an assortment of instruments and music of all genres, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. The playing was again of a very high standard and it was difficult at times for the adjudicator to place the competitors, often with just one mark between first and second place. There were 140 entries. Seventeen entrants withdrew, mostly due to illness.
It was brought to my attention by a member of our Association that there were a few competitors who entered the wrong grade. Those competitors were allowed to perform but were not eligible for prizes. I notified the President and we agreed to add to the 2012 entry form a special notice to teachers with regard to the specifications that need to be observed for each grade.
The Winners' Concert was held in Callaway Music Auditorium at UWA on Sunday 2 October. The afternoon concert was given by the winners of each section and it was such a delight to hear the performances given by these talented young people.
I thank all of the members who offered help and support during the competition. WAMTA would like to thank our major sponsor, Zenith Music (John and Lionel Cranfield) for their generous sponsorship and their continuous support throughout the year, and for allowing WAMTA the use of the auditorium for seminars, workshops, masterclasses and the Recital and Concerto Competition.
We thank all of our sponsors for their generosity and support and UWA for the use of Callaway Auditorium as the venue for the Winners' Concert. Lastly, I thank Jackie Clift, our secretary, who has a tremendous amount of paper work to prepare and put into order so that the competition runs as smoothly as possible.

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2012 13-15 April
WA Piano Pedagogy Convention

The 6th Western Australian Piano Pedagogy Convention will be held at the UWA
School of Music from 13-15 April 2012. Please download the Brochure that has all
the information needed, including pricing and registration.

	Click HERE for brochure

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REVIEW: A CENTURY OF TEACHING HARMONY

Ronda Jamieson and David Hough
What harmony is this? 100 years of the Music Teachers' Association in Western Australia

Review by David Tunley

This book is an update of Ronda Jamieson's history of the first 75 years of the WA Music Teachers' Association, with the addition of a survey by David Hough of the 25 years following that book.
In this handsome volume the authors have traced the fascinating story of a remarkable organisation that is still flourishing today. It is the oldest association of its kind in Australia, with similar organisations in other States soon following its lead.

Perth was fortunate in attracting a young graduate from the Royal College of Music, Alexander Joseph Leckie, to St George's Cathedral in 1908, the first fully trained professional musician to work here. It was his experience and vision that led him two years later to call together a group of music teachers to forma a professional organization to serve their needs and those of the community. His idealism and practical concerns still inform the work of WAMTA.

Revealed in this meticulously researched book, there were a number of reasons why WAMTA was able to withstand various threats to its existence – as faced by all voluntary organisations. Without abandoning its ideals, the Association moved with the times and embraced innovations.
For example, the vexed question of professional training of music teachers, a problem confronting the Association from the beginning, was taken in hand in the 1970s in an accreditation of teachers through a system of seminars, mentoring and examinations that has immeasurably strengthened the profession.
While other excellent musical organisations were created over this period, instead of isolating itself, WAMTA encouraged a spirit of cooperation and fraternity with them. Yet undoubtedly the Association has succeeded largely through the vision and capability of its 17 presidents and various committees whose devoted service is traced here.

The book also throws light on the social and cultural development of our State, and it is gratifying that the many people who contributed to this will be remembered through this excellent publication.Reprinted with the kind permission of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society (Inc) and Emeritus Professor David Tunley.

 The book is available from the WAMTA Office (9470 5595) for $40 or if you are a member you can get it for $25.

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BOOK LAUNCH

WAMTA's book "What Harmony is This?" was launched on the 3rd October 2010 at the 100 year Anniversary gala event that was held at the Government House Ballroom. The event had over 250 people, past and present members attend.

The book "What Harmony is This?" is about the 100 years of the Music Teachers' Association in Western Australia. Written by 2 Authors,
Ronda Jamieson and David Hough.

Ronda Jamieson
At the time of the publications of 75th Anniversary edition, in 1986, Ronda was an oral historian who worked for the Battye Library and other archives. Among her many oral history projects was a study of music and musicians in Western Australia. She has since added a PhD in history to her qualifications and has written a biography of Sir Charles Court due to be published in 2010.

David Hough
David is the author of A Dream of Passion: the centennial history of His Majesty's Theatre and the best selling Boans for Service: the story of a department store 1895-1986. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, London and has Licentiate qualifications in speech and dramatic art from the MAEB and from Trinity College.

The book is on Sale now for $40 per copy or $25 if you are a member. Please email or ring WAMATA to order you copy now.

 

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100th Anniversary of WAMTA is this year.

The West Australian Music Teachers’ Association (Inc) is celebrating its 100th anniversary on October 3, 2010. We are marking this splendid occasion with a concert, the launching of the book “What harmony is this?” written jointly by Dr. Ronda Jamieson and David Hough, which is the updated history of our Association, the oldest music teachers’ association in Australia.

The event will take place in the elegant surroundings of Government House Ballroom on Sunday 3 October, commencing at 4.00pm. The gala concert will be presented by current and past members of the Association.