The dispensables and indespensables of proper pedagogical preparation or what to pack for an MTNA conference.

Note: The following article was written in 1993, but alas many of the same suggestions still are applicable. Fortunately for all of you, the superlative staff at MTNA headquarters is constantly thinking of members' needs. They have asked me to update this article to convey any additional pertinent suggestions. After all, we are now in the twenty-first century. How could those old-fashioned ideas of the twentieth century still be applicable today?

For those of you wanting to know how things have changed since 1993, all "updates" will be in bold, italics underneath the original.

As I flew back home from last convention, the pedagogue in me was assimilating what I had learned. Sitting with my dear friend and department head, Phyllis Lehrer, we tried to figure out which aspects we should include in our pedagogy curriculum at Westminster Choir College. Reviewing our notes, we suddenly realized how remiss we had been in our teaching by not including the subject "Proper Preparation for an MTNA Convention" in our courses. As I wrote this article, Phyllis was busy writing an addendum to our pedagogy syllabus. Recommended subjects included:

Tips for Wardrobe Planning

Coordinate to the badge or ribbon

If you have a special function or belong to a particular group at the convention, make sure you plan your wardrobe and accessories to match your ribbon color.

Don't be caught short like Scott McBride Smith, with one too few ties that don't fully integrate the purple of the Young Keyboard Artists Association/Guiding, Identifying and Fostering Talent ribbon. In Scott's defense, he didn't realize the MTNA Fashion Police were out in full force at the banquet. (It was insensitive of me to point out that Scott's banquet tie was the same one he wore the first day!) Again, in Scott's defense, perhaps that was because I had critiqued his lack of color coordination the day before ...

Now we have a NEW problem: Ribbon envy! There are people walking around wearing multiple ribbons. What's that all about? How does that make us poor folks feel with only one, or horror of horrors, NO ribbons?

For those of you wanting to know who's who, I've included a ribbon guide for easy identification. (Please feel free to cut this out and put it in your pocket for easy reference.)

Board Members           Maroon
Monitor                 Red
Executive Director      Red

(I vote for him to get his own color. What
do you think?)

Exhibitor               Green
Presenters              Purple
FOUNDATION Trustee      Navy
Staff                   Black
                        (very chic!)
Competition Official    Berry Pink

Leave your silks at home

Until they invent a badge that won't make holes in your clothes, select polyester, wool or special blends that don't show the holes for the life of the garment.

For the 2000 Convention in Minneapolis, the staff obviously heard my 1993 pleas and switched from the "open" pin to the safety pin.

Thank goodness we now also can purchase (for only $1) a tasteful, black MTNA badge strap to wear our badges around our necks. (I'm waiting for one in jewel tones to be offered.)

Leave last year's, white clothes at home

Perhaps you can pretend they still have that fresh, crisp white color--but next to the badge, your whites will look dingy--and everyone will know it's from last year's wardrobe.

Allow Participants to Select Their Own Badge and Dot Colors

On this important issue regarding the badge, I'd like to make a personal plea to the 1995 Convention Steering Committee. Please consult with those of us who have had "our colors done." Give us an opportunity to select our appropriate badge color. I understand not everyone is a "summer" like me.

I'd like to also make one other recommendation that seriously affects me and others. I'm very committed to new technologies in pedagogy, but it's unrealistic to expect anyone to coordinate their ensembles to the reddish-orange "tech dot." Change the dot color, and I'm ready to advance into the twenty-first century.

Hallelujah! They did listen again and finally got rid of those orange technology dots, replacing them with a tasteful apple sticker. I now have absolutely no excuse for not learning about technology, and neither do you.

Now we also have a way of identifying the conference rookies. Keep your eyes open for the instrument stickers on their badges. Remember to make our newcomers feel welcome!

Wearing the Appropriate Shoes

To be totally equipped, women clearly need three categories of shoes:

* High-heeled shoes to really complement our tailored suits and to create that stylish yet professional look we're all striving for on opening day.

* Sensible flats as we progress into our more practical wardrobe of chic sweaters and slacks. Flats are also useful when beginning your preliminary cruise of the exhibition area.

* Sneakers, running or cross-training shoes are an absolute necessity, especially on Wednesday at 5:30 P.M. At this time, perhaps you are one of those who races around the exhibition area frantically searching for a new duet that will stimulate those two students you're teaching tomorrow who haven't practiced in three months. Those cross-trainers can be particularly appropriate if you're rushing to the Alfred Publishing booth hoping you can still get your picture taken with Dennis Alexander.

Now we have a fourth category: Bedroom slippers to wear to the extended exhibit hall hours that take place on one evening from 9:30-11:30 P.M. Kudos to our Conference Committee for providing a cash bar in the exhibit hall that night. It certainly helps us keep the festive spirit past our usual bedtime.

Indispensables (Miscellaneous Essentials)

* Appointment book with ten-minute interval indications--this is an absolute must to keep track of those seventeen "We really must catch up" appointments you've made (and that's just the first morning!). Be sure to write down time, place and name of person, so you won't find yourself drinking your twelfth cup of coffee, staring into a sea of faces trying to remember who's supposed to be meeting you.

For those of us who have thrown out those old-fashioned appointment books and are now into electronic organizers, remember to recharge your Palm Pilot before coming to Salt Lake. You don't want to be staring at a Palm Pilot that won't turn on. How will you know where to go or whom to meet?

* Undereye coverup--while we promise ourselves we'll only stay a few minutes at the receptions (so we can get a good night's sleep), we tend to linger until the early hours of the morning, cherishing the time we can spend with friends we probably won't see for another year.

* Zipped plastic bags--it's so difficult to pack up leftover fruit and cheese from those receptions and stuff it in our pocketbooks using paper napkins. Finding a dehydrated grape at the bottom of your purse three months later is not the best way to remember your good time at the convention. (Author's note: the above suggestion is from Joanne Baker. I consulted with her knowing I could count on her scholarly input ... not to mention that she was on the same plane home from the 1993 convention.)

Alas, we no longer have all those receptions. What happened? Where are the party planners of yesteryear? Please identify yourselves and let's talk!

Dispensables (or, the "Don't Bother to Pack" List)

* Gym apparel or jogging suit--while you fantasize you'll actually make the time to work out, as I did, one never has the time or energy after running from session to session. I was so busy just trying to figure out where the meeting rooms were, I couldn't even find the gym. I just visualized the experience, in which I walked five miles a day on a treadmill and lifted weights.

* Music to practice--if you actually found the time, do you really think you could find a free piano?

* Leisure reading materials--you've waited this long to finish that novel you started last summer; why delude yourself into thinking you'll finally find the time at the convention?

No changes here--you still won't have time to workout, practice or read!

Physical Preparation

* Get eyes checked, contact lenses thoroughly cleaned and prescriptions for glasses updated. How else will you be able to see the names on the badges of people you've met the last ten years, and whose names you never remember? (Another plea to the Convention Steering Committee: Consider increasing the font size of our names one point each succeeding year.)

* Once again, my complaint was heard, and since the 1999 Convention in Los Angeles, the font size increased all the way up to Arie1 34 for first names. (Could this be because even our youthful executive director, Gary L. Ingle, started to need glasses?)

* Diet? Forget it! You're bound to gain five pounds from those overstocked receptions, and all those extra snacks you end up eating as we meet over coffee and drinks. Enjoy yourself--it will only take eleven-and-a-half months to lose those five pounds, and then it will be time for next year's convention.

Even without the receptions, let's be honest. How many of us order our traditional bowl of Special K with 2 percent milk at a conference hotel?

* Vacation at a spa for a few days before the convention--it's your only hope to make it through the week.

As I get older, I now advocate a vacation after a conference, too. At minimum, book a massage.

As our plane began its descent, I felt a great deal of satisfaction knowing I'd taken this time (in which I could have finally finished that novel, or at the very least helped Phyllis with curriculum changes) to give you, my colleagues, these important insights I gained at the 1993 MTNA National Convention. It was my sincere hope you would be able to integrate these preparatory pointers into your 1994 plans.

As you take this list with you and begin your packing, let's remember the new baggage restrictions. For those ladies who haven't discovered the Chico's Travel Collection, you absolutely must. These clothes can be coordinated, don't wrinkle at all (I promise) and have elastic waistbands. You can fit several mix-and-match outfits in a small suitcase. (For those of you who are interested, their website is www.chicos.com.)

For those who remember the conventions of the 80s and early 90s, I hope you enjoyed a trip down memory lane. For others who have joined us since then, I hope you can appreciate some of the traditions of our conference, as well as the changes. Hopefully, this article will facilitate your first-time packing queries. See you in Salt Lake City.

* Special thanks to the national headquarters staff, whose research provided many of the historical tidbits.

At long last, the convention issue of AMT is here--the issue we all look forward to. Now we will find out all the important information about this year's convention; performers, clinicians, topics to be discussed and repertoire to be performed. However, in past convention issues, I've noticed that we were not given all the truly necessary information to help us prepare. Since as a pedagogue and teacher I always stress the need for proper preparation, I have decided to share with you some insights I hope you will find useful ...

Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield, professor of piano and coordinator of the piano department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, is an active teacher, performer, clinician and author. Her books, From Mystery to Mastery, Artistic Preparation and Performance Series and Burgmuller, Czerny, Hanon: 32 Piano Studies Selected for Technique and Musicality are published by Alfred Publishing Company.