The SCORE Newsletter for April 2022

1. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Our last business meeting and program before the Spring/Summer
break will be on Monday April 25th.
The Location will still be the Winnetka Covenant Church at
1200 Hibbard Rd. We will be meeting in person and have a Zoom
option available as well. The church has indicated that masks are
optional if you are vaccinated.
We have a full agenda of items that will needs to be addressed.
We need to vote for the MOY, discuss whether we should have
a June Luncheon/ teacher recital, and much more. Also, the Bylaw
committee has finished its work on reforming our bylaws and we
would like to present several of the changes.
The Piano Competition had a far better turnout than last year, and
I hope that this important program will continue to grow in scope
and size. And finally, I’m happy to announce that the slate of new
officers was presented at our March meeting, and they were
elected unanimously. George Radosavljevic will be our president,
Grace Juang our vice president and Susan Corkum our
corresponding secretary. I welcome George, Grace, and Susan in
these new roles, and I know they will do terrific work.
The Board meeting will be held Monday May 16th
9:30am at the
Northfield Community Church.
It has been an honor to serve as your president. I look forward to
seeing you all at the meeting!
Eric Sutz
NSMTA President
Eric Sutz, President
In this Issue
President’s Message---- ------1
Meeting Information--------- 2
Program ------------------------3
AIM ---------------------------- 4
Competition -------------------5

2. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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• Please enter through the office entrance -
to the left of the big sanctuary doors.
• Restrooms are down the first hallway to
the left.
• Do not enter or leave through the doors by
the playground.
• Masks are recommended but no longer
required.
• Refreshments - will be served rather than
“buffet style”
Browse through music books on the piano in the narthex
before or after our meeting and leave a donation for what
you take. All donations will go to our Scholarship Fund.
Shop the music sale before and after our
program/meetings. 9:15-9:30, 10:45-11:00, 12:00-12:30
If you have books to give away, please bring them in a box
for easy browsing. TAKE HOME YOUR UNSOLD BOOKS
after the meeting.
This month’s sale will include classical and teaching
material donated by Winnetka Covenant Church and the NU
Academy.
Monthly Meeting
Monday, April 25th, 2022
* Our meeting will be presented
in-person
Winnetka Covenant Church
1200 Hibbard Road, Wilmette
Virtual Meeting also available through
Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/8472046954
Meeting ID: 847 204 6954
9:30-10:00
Pre-Meeting
The Right Tool for the Right Job:
Essentials for One Teacher's
Online Studio
10:00-11:00
Business Meeting
11:00-12:00
Program
Introduction to Jazz
Rhythm and Style

3. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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Pre- Program
The Right Tool for the Right Job:
Essentials for One Teacher's Online Studio
If you're tired of searching for the right tool for the right job, please attend this pre-
session where I will discuss my top tools for online teaching. I use some of these tools
during in-person lessons too. Hardware, software - we all have our essential
equipment, and I hope that you can benefit from my returns, exchanges, trials and
errors! I will bring my laptop and equipment so you can see how things work.
Program
Introduction to Jazz Rhythm and Style
Bio:
Bassist/vocalist/educator Katie Ernst is described by the Chicago
Tribune as "a versatile young bassist who plays in far-flung bands and sings with uncommon delicacy and
authenticity." She is co-leader of the adventurous Chicago-based jazz trio Twin Talk and has received
widespread critical acclaim for her Dorothy Parker poetry song cycle Little Words, which premiered at the
Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in 2015.
Katie is an active sidewoman in the jazz and improvised music communities of Chicago, and travels throughout
the US as a performing artist and as a guest artist/clinician for young musicians. She directs the jazz ensemble at
Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, serves as a residency teaching artist for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, and
teaches at the Jazz I session at Birch Creek Music Academy. Katie holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies &
Contemporary Media and a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

4. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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AIM News
We are looking forward to the upcoming in person and remote AIM Performance Exams for levels 3-12. This is the first
time we are offering both exam formats concurrently, and despite the additional challenges, we are happy to be able to
offer both options this year. The in-person and remote format selected were almost equal with the remote (video) slightly
higher.
In Person Exam dates are April 24 and May 1, 2022
Remote Exams via Video Submissions deadline is midnight, April 24, 2022
Video Judging Evaluation Period is April 25 – May 1, 2022
Please visit the AIM page for complete exam details: https://nsmta.org/aim/
All score sheets from students that will complete In Person exams will be mailed to teachers after May 1.
All Remote Exam files will be transferred electronically
• Remote judges will receive files via their Judges Folders. Links to these will be emailed to the judges from the
AIM coordinators
• Completed score sheets will be returned electronically, either emailed as attachments to coordinators or uploaded
directly to their Judges Folders
• Returned score sheets will be distributed to Teacher Folders in Google Drive. Links to Teacher Folders will be
emailed from coordinators after May 1.
AIM Student Roster and Score Files in Teacher Folders
• Teachers will enter the Performance Exam scores in the same AIM Roster and Score Files that were used for Theory
Exams, which is containing in their Teacher Folders.
• All scores from both exam formats are due by Monday, May 9, 2022
AIM Awards (medals and plaques) will be ordered after May 9. Email will be sent to teachers for designated dates and
locations for pick up when all awards are available, hopefully by late May.
Awards from ISMTA: Passing Grade is 65
• AIM Medal – to all first time (new) participants to AIM.
• ISMTA AIM Pin – successful completion of levels 3-12 theory exam and levels 1-2 AIM exam.
• ISMTA AIM Plaque – successful completion for levels 9, 10 11 and 12 with a combined theory and performance
score of 80 or higher
• ISMTA AIM Certificate – successful completion of theory and performance exams.
With the ISMTA plaques awarded at levels 9-12, NSMTA will no longer offer trophies for upper levels. We will still
offer $100 monetary awards to level 12 completion that meet the specific requirements and we will continue to offer
different composer statuettes each year.
This year’s statuette is Johann Sebastian Bach.
Thank you to all teachers and students for your continued support and diligent efforts that make AIM participation such a success at
NSMTA!
Jennifer Cohen, Lake Forest Area AIM coordinator
Jia-Yee Tang, Northwestern Area AIM coordinator

5. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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NSMTA Piano Competition
Sunday, May 8, 2022
Music Conservatory of Illinois
2809 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
Teachers will receive students'
competition time slots by
April 25th
Co-coordinators:
Lindsey Baer:
lindseypoling@gmail.com
Larry Baer:
lawrencebaer@gmail.com
Winners’ Recital
2:00pm, Sunday, May 15th
St. James Lutheran Church
1380 Waukegan Rd, Lake
Forest, IL 60045
Competition Repertoire List
Primary (Grades 1-3)
- Tchaikovsky: “Old French Song” from Album for the Young, Op. 39, No. 16
- Haydn: Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI: No. 7: 3rd
mvmt (Allegro)
Elementary (Grades 4-6)
- Schumann: “From Foreign Lands and People” Kinderszenen, Op. 15 Please play both repeats.
- Kabalevsky: Variations, Op. 40, No. 1 (can be found in Bastien Piano Literature, Vol. 4)
Junior (Grades 7-9)
- Bach: Sinfonia #11 in g minor BWV 797
- Grieg: From Lyric Pieces: “Butterfly” Op. 43, No. 1 and “Kobold” (also called “Little Troll” or “Puck”)
Op. 71, No. 3
Senior (Grades 10-12)
- Scarlatti: Sonata in b minor, K. 87/L. 33
- Liszt: Valse Oubliee No. 1, S.215/1

6. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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Piano Competition Rules and Guidelines
1) Registration and applicant fees will be accepted online only. Paper applications and checks will no longer be
accepted.
2) NSMTA members whose current year’s membership dues were paid by October 31, 2021 are eligible to
enter students. Non-members or members who missed the dues deadline must pay an additional $25 fee
which is automatically added to the shopping cart upon checkout.
3) The applicant’s contest division is determined by his/her grade in school. Teachers will be asked to verify
this information at the time of registration. Failure to abide by the competition rules may result in
disqualification. If your student was entered at a lower level last year, you may enroll your student in two
different levels with appropriate pieces. Two fees will need to be paid.
4) Each entrant will be assigned a participant number prior to the contest. The names of the students and
teachers will be unknown to the judges.
5) A maximum of three students per teacher may be entered in each division. There are four divisions:
Primary, Elementary, Junior and Senior.
6) No late entries will be accepted.
7) All required pieces must be played from memory. Memorized pieces must be performed in the order listed
on the Competition Repertoire list. Incorrect repertoire will disqualify the entrant.
8) Students are not required to provide copies of music. Judges will have authorized scores.
9) Four judges (two for each division) will be selected by the Piano Competition Committee. They will be a) a
piano faculty member of a college or conservatory, and/or b) an independent piano teacher who holds at
least a Master’s Degree in Music and is experienced in judging.
10) Judges may declare "no winner" in any or all divisions if performances are substandard. Their decisions are
final.
11) First place winners may compete again in the same division.

7. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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Congratulations
Zarin Mehta, student of NSMTA teacher Matt Hagle, won 2nd prize in the Junior Division of the MTNA
composition contest with his piece “Glimpses”. Congratulations Zarin and Matt!

8. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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v April 24
AIM Performance (Video
Submission Deadline)
v April 24 and May 1
AIM Performance Exam (In Person)
v April 25
April Monthly Meeting
v May 8
Piano Competition
v May 15
Piano Competition Winners’ Recital
v May 16
Board Meeting
It has been a pleasure serving
as your corresponding secretary
over these three years.
Susan Corkum will be our new
officer. Please send upcoming
news to her at
kesushan04@gmail.com
Thank you!
Grace Juang
Hi Everyone,
My name is Aspen and our company
is Overture Games. We are making
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students and we think the best way to
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presenting to individuals as well. If
you are interested in giving us
feedback or think your students
would like to try out our games
please reach out.
Contact
overturegamestudio@gmail.com
aspenbuckingham2023@u.northwestern.edu
(360)-391-3328
Aspen Buckingham
CEO | Co-Founder

9. NSMTA The SCORE April 2022
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Oakton Piano Ensemble Live in Concert April 23 and April 24
Join us for the Oakton Piano Ensemble’s live performance! The Ensemble conducted by Glenna Sprague will
present concerts on Saturday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 24 at 3:00 p.m. in the Footlik Theater at
Oakton Community College, 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines.
The group was founded by Glenna Sprague, Professor and Coordinator of Music at Oakton, where she also
teaches piano. One of the members of the Ensemble is Beatriz Levi who is also a member of the North Shore
Music Teachers Association. Performing at the multiple pianos, the group performs not only traditional
classical piano music; but also symphonic literature as well as ragtime and jazz music. The rich, layered sound
of the Piano Ensemble compares to that of an orchestra, with each member playing a different part of a
composition as the melody transfers from pianist to pianist. At this year’s concerts, the Ensemble will perform
works by Beethoven (Märsche, Op. 45, No. 2), Haydn (Symphony No. 104); Piazzolla (Libertango); Ellington
(Satin Doll); Joplin (Ragtime Dance) and other composers.
Tickets are $17 for general admission and $14 for seniors and students. There will be limited seating so get
your tickets early! COVID-19 protocols will apply. For ticket information, call the Oakton Box Office at 847-
635-1900 or order tickets online at www.oakton.edu/tickets.
Widely acknowledged as one of the most unique music groups in the world, the Oakton Six Piano Ensemble has
performed in Europe and the United States, including the 32nd
World Conference of the International Society
for Music Education (ISME) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow; the College Music Society
International Conference in Vienna, Austria; MTNA National Conference in Atlanta; numerous MTNA state
conferences; National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago.