Getting started with StAR.

"I don't have time for this." I bet you've said that, or at least thought it, several times in the last few days. Here you are with finals approaching and you've got a huge paper due for Music History, a composition to write for Theory IV, countless projects for those methods classes.... Oh, and that pesky jury coming up in a few weeks, which you are feeling less than prepared for. (Okay, truth time. You still have three pages of the Brahms and one page of the Haydn left to memorize.) There are also finals and the annual end of the semester recital to worry about. In addition, your friends and academic advisor want you to be president of the newest music organization on campus. And your professors nominated you for the MTNA StAR (Student Achievement Recognition) Award. Courtesy of StAR, you have one year of free membership in MTNA, and the professional members of the local organization have been sending you invitations to attend their monthly meetings. You're flattered but know you don't really have time. However, the meetings do sound kind of interesting and the people you've talked to seem nice. What do you do?

I was a StAR Award recipient several years ago. I received lovely written invitations and even a few phone calls from some very nice men and women inviting me to attend the local chapter meeting. The topics were intriguing, and since I had just graduated from college I felt it was important to start networking with teachers in my area. I attended a meeting and before I knew it I was invited to sit on the Executive Board of the local organization. The board members found the perfect job for me, the new college graduate: hospitality chair. This fun position allowed me to meet a lot of people, as well as take an active role in the leadership of the group. I was able to network with nearly all of the active members in the organization and ease myself into the chapter without over-committing myself. Seven years later I am still on the board, having held several offices. The one thing I didn't expect was the tight-knit fellowship among the entire organization. Not only did I make great teaching contacts, I made great friends!

In my years of involvement, we have put on a theory fun fair, a chamber music festival, a composition contest, play-a-thons to raise money for our music outreach program, and two giant music extravaganzas involving about 400 students of all ages, instruments and voices. My students have benefited greatly from being able to participate in these unique opportunities. Your students will too. It will sometimes be a sacrifice of time on your part, but these are events your students will remember and appreciate for a lifetime.

Our organization has also hosted numerous continuing education workshops for its teachers, including topics such as Dalcroze Eurythmics and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. One of our meetings each year is a roundtable discussion where we share questions, problems and teaching ideas. I've lost track of how many great teaching concepts I've taken away from not only these sessions, but our regular monthly meetings as well. Attending these meetings is, for me, a constant encouragement to strive for excellence in my teaching.

Many of the "master teachers" in MTNA are nearing retirement age. Now it is up to us--the newest generation of private music teachers--to get involved and become vital, contributing members of our local organizations. It is important for our own personal growth, as well as that of our students and our communities. Before too long, we will be the "master teachers" and will be passing this message on to future generations. So, take advantage of MTNA's STAR program. If you are a collegiate member, make sure your school selects a STAR recipient. If you've received the STAR Award, or know someone who has, activate the membership and keep it active. You won't regret it, I promise.

Heather Hoops is a native of and has taught piano lessons for 12 years. She also works at the Nebraska Wesleyan University Career & Counseling Center, plays on her church worship team and is active in Lincoln Music Teachers Association.