Change. (In Unison).

CHANGE. It affects each of us every day of our lives. We "change" our clothes daily. We "change" what we eat for a meal so our palettes have some variety. Some changes are more significant such as a "change" in lifestyle or "change" in location. We "change" the way we teach, incorporating a new technique, a new way of communicating verbally with our students and new piece of music. As a teacher who moved to a new state five years ago and started an entirely new independent music studio, the "change" became an opportunity to assess my goals and develop a studio that reflected my new thinking, rather than keep doing the same thing in the same way year after year. Some thrive on change in their lives, and others approach change cautiously and with trepidation.

Change can be very healthy for us as individuals and for an association. Michael H. Annison has said, "The issue isn't whether or not there will be change, but how we will manage it." Change is the only constant any organization faces. Associations that cannot or will not change diminish in effectiveness, in membership numbers and in the ability to connect with the society in which we live and work.

Do you recall the characters in Spencer Johnson's book, Who Moved My Cheese? There are two little mice named Sniff and Scurry as well as two little people named Hem and Haw. When the four of them discovered they no longer had any cheese, Sniff and Scurry immediately set out to find some. Hem and Haw, on the other hand, ranted and raved, and screamed, "It's not fair!" Day after day Hem and Haw returned to the cheese station, but there was no cheese. Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry were hunting a new food source.

Finally, one day Haw began laughing at himself. "Haw, haw, look at us. We keep doing the same things over and over again and wonder why things don't get better. If this wasn't so ridiculous, it would be even funnier." Haw was scared about striking out on his own to find some cheese, but he knew that to survive, he had to do just that. And he did! There were some frightening moments, but Haw realized, "When you move beyond your fear, you feel free." He also came to the conclusion, "The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese." And he found his old mice friends, Sniff and Scurry, when he found a new cheese source. But what about Hem? Read the book to find out about him.

Over the past four years that I have served on the Board of Directors, the Board has worked very hard to assess the association very carefully and decide how the association can become more effective and increase MTNA's influence nationwide. It has spent its time on philosophical issues and policies, trying to find or improve ways in which MTNA can better serve its members. In its effort to address "change," the Board has become a strong, cohesive unit that can brainstorm, discuss, debate, make decisions that reflect the best interest of the association and manage "change." The diversity of opinion, the number of options and finding the best choice make for lively discussion and exchange of ideas. Board meetings are anything but dull!

As of this writing, MTNA has completed its first nationwide election for national officers to serve on the Board of Directors. Every member has had the opportunity to vote for the candidates of his or her choice. Previously, approximately 100 people elected the national officers and now, 24,000 members have had the opportunity to elect the people they want to have representing them. What a "change!"

With this election, new officers assume the role of governance for MTNA. I wish to thank Wayne Gibson, NCTM, immediate past president, for his outstanding service to MTNA, for his vision and guidance, and for his leadership in helping MTNA "change" the way it governs. The "Music for Everyone" programs implemented in the previous two years are a tremendous "change" in recognition and support of the teachers in the association who teach the music lovers, the music amateurs and the music students of the next generation. These programs--Music Study Awards, Student Achievement Award and Studio Festival Program--reflect MTNXs mission statement, "To advance the value of music study and music making to society." As an independent music teacher, these programs have enhanced the value of music making in my studio. Have they done that for your studio? As a college teacher, these programs will increase the possibility of having more students continue their musical training at the collegiate level, especially as an avocation. In fact, this year I have more students of all ages who have always wanted to learn to play the piano in my college piano classes.

Another huge "change" that has taken place is within the MTNA Competitions. With the growth of the student competitions program over the years, its complexity had reached a point that it took pages of the AMT to list all the rules and regulations plus a complete handbook for competition volunteers. Even at that, it was often hard to remember all the rules for each level and instrument. Yet, as a teacher, accompanist, parent and MTNA member volunteer who has participated in the competitions for more than twenty years, I know they provide an invaluable experience for the students. In an effort to make the student competitions more accessible and reflect today's society, a Competitions Task Force of Paul Stewart, NCTM, chair; Ann Fernandez, NCTM, and Scott McBride Smith, NCTM, surveyed MTNA members across the nation who are involved in competitions, and the task force spent hours of study and discussion before presenting their conclusions to the Board of Directors. The Board then spent most of its winter meeting time discussing the competitions in depth. The results are printed in this issue of AMT. Yes, there are many "changes." I hope you will understand the logic behind the Board's decisions. We owe our deepest gratitude to the task force and the Board of Directors for undertaking this gargantuan task.

CHANGE. We can either ignore it and hope it will go away, OR we can embrace it and create a stronger, more viable association. I am voting for the latter!

Phyllis I. Pieffer, NCTM
MTNA President