MTNA responds to your needs. (In Unison).

American Music Teacher: We've been hearing a lot about a new program. What is the name of this program and what's it about?

Dr. R. Wayne Gibson: First of all, the name: At this point, six months into the new biennium, the program remains nameless! We've considered a number of names. "Music for Everyone" and "Music for One and All" were considered. Another consideration was "The Twenty-First-Century Student." Yet another was "The Every-Day Student," and someone suggested that we consider "The Mainstream Student." A number of other names were considered as well, and each captured a part of the idea, but none seemed adequately to explain the purpose of the program without the addition of several qualifiers. So at this point, the name of the program is still on hold. Perhaps the reason we can't seem to name the program is because it's not truly a program!

Maybe I should just explain what it's about. Perhaps it's just a new effort or a newly emphasized effort, and that effort is being put into place to serve--in a more comprehensive and more visible way--that large portion of our membership who rarely or perhaps never teaches the kind of student whom we see and hear in our own MTNA competitions. Did you know that those of us who enter students in the MTNA competitions represent fewer than 5% of the membership? (I am certainly aware that whether or not we personally enter students in the competitions, we all take pride in the competition students and their teachers because they showcase to the wider public the quality of work of which MTNA is capable.) Many of us aspire to place students in the MTNA competitions, but if that were our only goal or even our principal goal, we would, indeed, be frustrated and totally unfulfilled as teachers of music. We all know that music teachers answer a much broader and deeper calling than that of preparing the super-talented students for competitive performance.

AMT: Just what will MTNA be doing for this large segment of the membership?

RWG: We are involved in developing a number of initiatives that we hope will help that teacher who, all day, everyday, teaches those students possessing perhaps only marginal ability or interest. One initiative is announced on the page facing this page. This is a program to recognize students simply for continuing music study. It is designed to offer encouragement--from a national music association--to students who study for as much as two years. We want students of all stripes to know that MTNA places great value on music study. We are not interested in only the elite; rather, we believe that music study should be for everyone, and we want to underline that belief by making available to teachers, at cost, certificates of recognition to encourage those students to continue with music study.

AMT: Aside from helping teachers keep their studios full, are their other reasons the leadership feel that it is important to recognize these students you seem to be describing as basically undistinguished music makers?

RWG: Yes, indeed! The leadership feels these students are anything but "undistinguished." While these students are likely not bound for careers in music, they are the future core of the volunteer choir, the town band and the community orchestra. As I said recently to the MTNA leadership at Summit 2001, "It is these students who are the audience for the next generations musical artists and who will become the heart of the nation's arts boards and the patrons of our art.... I believe that it is these students who assure a place for music as we know it for the generations yet to come. To encourage these students and their teachers is, I believe, essential if we want our profession to continue."

AMT: What, then, are some of the other initiatives that are underway for the teachers of these students?

RWG: A number of efforts are underway, but I'll just mention a couple. First of all is a program tentatively called the Studio Festival Program. This program is designed to provide a noncompetitive performance opportunity for all the students in a teacher's studio.

The purpose of the MTNA Studio Festival Program is sevenfold:

* To provide the teacher and the students of his or her studio with an opportunity to participate in a nationally sponsored program that is open to students of all ages and levels of advancement, and that is implemented in the teacher's own studio,

* To provide a performance opportunity that is adaptable by the teacher to meet the individual needs of each of his or her students,

* To provide a performance opportunity for students that is convenient, uncomplicated and at a minimal cost to the individual teacher,

* To provide a noncompetitive performance opportunity for students in geographical areas where performance opportunities are not readily available,

* To provide an incentive for practice as well as an incentive for selection of appropriately challenging repertory,

* To provide an opportunity for students to receive critique from a musician in addition to the students' teacher, but of the teacher's choosing,

* To provide national recognition to individual students and teachers for participation in a noncompetitive learning experience.

AMT: What are some of the other initiatives?

RWG: One that the task force and I are especially excited about is a brand new AMT column, "Polyphony," which will appear in each issue of the AMT. I am especially happy to announce that the column will be edited by revered MTNA member Jane McGrath, NCTM. The description of the column and a call for participation may be found on page 4 of this issue. MTNA teachers are encouraged to send in questions or issues they would like to hear experts (including Dr. McGrath, herself) discuss, and members are asked also to share, briefly, some of the successful strategies they have developed in their own studios.

AMT: You mentioned a task force.

RWG: Yes, a task force headed by Joan Reist, NCTM, and Ruth Edwards, NCTM, continues to brainstorm ideas that will assist the teacher of the "Everyday" student to inspire and support every student in her/his studio. MTNA will, I believe, be long indebted to them and to the other members of their team who have made suggestions. I should bring our conversation to a close by saying that we hope to have in place a number of additional new initiatives in time for the 2002-2003 teaching year.

AMT: Thank you, Dr. Gibson, for taking the time to explain these new MTNA Initiatives.

New AMT Column Needs Your Help

Do you have a fabulous teaching tip you'd like to share with colleagues everywhere? Have you encountered a puzzling teaching situation that might encourage a continuing dialogue? Would you like to share the discovery of new repertoire or innovative ideas for old favorites? Is there a particular person whose opinion on a pedagogical issue you'd like to see in print?

Starting in the April/May 2002 issue of AMT, you can be one of the many voices heard in "Polyphony," the magazine's new column for--and by--association members. Each issue will include material contributed by members on a variety of topics, edited by renowned pedagogue and noted author Jane Magrath, NCTM. The success of this new venture depends on you--your creativity, your curiosity and your candor. Items may be sent to: American Music Teacher, Attn: Polyphony, 441 Vine St., Ste. 505, Cincinnati, OH 45202-2811; fax: [phone]; or e-mail to [e-mail].