Eastern Division.

According to PMTA President Millie Eben, Pennsylvania MTA just completed another successful annual conference at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Guests included Eastman School of Music organist David Higgs; composer Peter Davis; and Yamaha technology clinician Dennis Stanfill; and keynote speaker Morris Brand, executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony (presentation: "Is Classical Music an Endangered Species?"). A highlight of the weekend was a discussion on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities and its impact on private music instruction. Guest speakers included Michael Cerveris of the Arts Education Collaborative, and Paul Doerksen, chair of the Music Education Department at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh.

Other PMTA developments include:

* Initiation of an e-mail newsletter service, which will deliver the quarterly newsletter, "For the Record," directly to members' e-mail accounts

* Continued expansion of the website pamusicteachers.org

* Award of $1,000 to Pittsburgh member Kate Clark to attend the MTNA National Conference in Toronto

* Membership Campaign Award of $250 to Lancaster Chapter for largest percentage increase in its membership for the 05-06 season

* Initiation of a new PMTA/Keystone Student Composition Program to begin 2007

--Deborah S. Martin, NCTM

Ithaca, New York