Collaborative performance: Year of Collaborative Music.

MTNA is pleased to announce a yearlong celebration of collaborative music making: the Year of Collaborative Music (YCM). YCM will celebrate the importance of collaborative music in society and in the profession worldwide. Initiated by collaborative pianists within MTNA and led by significant national and international music associations, YCM will promote the diversity of ensemble playing opportunities available to musicians of all ages and skill levels.

We are defining collaborative music broadly as any activity involving two or more musicians, but perhaps particularly one-on-a-part, unconducted ensembles. The umbrella definition would include professionals, amateurs, families, retirees, students of all ages or any combination of interested musicians. YCM will launch at the March 2010 MTNA National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and will conclude at the March 2011 MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee. Members of the MTNA Collaborative Music Steering Committee are Janice Wenger, NCTM, University of Missouri, Columbia, chair; Jean Barr, NCTM, Eastman School, Rochester, New York; Gail Berenson, NCTM, Ohio University, Athens; Andrew Campbell, Arizona State University, Tempe; Anne Epperson, University of Texas, Austin; Alexandra Nguyen, University of Colorado, Boulder; and Jennifer Snow, University of California, Los Angeles.

One important aspect of the project is to invite other professional music organizations in the United States and around the world to join us. YCM will promote the future of all music organizations and the profession; by working together on this project, we will help advance the power of collaborative music in society. MTNA will be promoting Collaborative Performance in our conferences and American Music Teacher. We hope that every society and association, as well as our MTNA state affiliates, collegiate chapters and local associations, will plan articles in their newsletters and schedule sessions at their conferences that showcase collaborative performance.

The YCM celebration also includes an International Day of Collaborative Music (IDCM) on January 22, 2011, one special day devoted to collaborative music making throughout the world. Hosting simultaneous performances around the world would clearly bring attention to the importance of making music together. We are urging every local association, as well as participating music organizations around the world, to consider joining us by scheduling some type of collaborative performance event on this date. Many of your members are likely already involved in a wide range of chamber music and might be very excited to take part in this kind of unique event that spans the world.

We are urging every teacher in MTNA to be a part of YCM and IDCM. In the future, would you consider planning collaborative music in your curriculum? Assign duets to your own students, encourage your pre-college students to learn an instrumental or vocal duo with one of their classmates or schedule a chamber music festival with other independent teachers in your community. Resources abound for locating piano duets, and you may wish to consult the MTNA Intermediate Chamber Music Repertoire Database for ideas of mixed ensembles. And don't forget to SAVE THE DATE of January 22, 2011, for IDCM; reach out to other musicians in your area to make this a truly special day of Collaborative Music.

BONUS BYTE

The MTNA Intermediate Chamber Music Repertoire Database can be found on the MTNA website at www.mtna.org under the "Resources" tab at the top of the page.

Janice Wenger, NCTM, is professor of piano and coordinator of keyboard studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In MTNA, she has served as national vice president, West Central Division president, and chair of the Collaborative Performance Forum.