Fall greetings to you! The holidays are just around the corner, and with them come the anticipation of sharing wonderful moments with family and friends, making special memories, and enjoying great holiday music! We are so fortunate to be able to share the gift of music with so many. Music soothes the soul, speaks peace and unity in troubled times, and elicits excitement and joy. My students love holiday music, and especially love to be able to share the holiday music they learn with family and friends. Wonderful moments for them, indeed!
I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the power of music, it truly is a blessing in my life. I am grateful to be a part of DVMTA, and for all of you who give so much time and effort to help with our events and organization, you are amazing! Many thanks to Tamara Pew and Meredith Ferrin for organizing Music Marathon, we had a lot of enthusiastic participation, great job! I am also grateful for the friendships and feelings of camaraderie that we are able to build with one another as we teach and learn together. I look forward to our December Luncheon, to share a few moments together in friendship as we prepare for the busy holidays.
-Shannon Payne, DVMTA President
Member News:
I’m sure you all have heard about the passing of our friend, Ede Yarter. What a wonderful legacy she has left behind. She is loved and cherished by so many, and we send our heartfelt condolences to her family. We will miss her deeply, she has cared for so many in our organization, and given so much of herself in all she has done. Here is a link to her obituary, which also contains a guest book to sign.
Edith Mary Yarter (1929 - 2016)
WATERLOO/TEMPE, Ariz. - Edith Mary Yarter, 86, of Tempe, Ariz., passed away on October 21, 2016.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on November 12, 2016, at University Presbyterian Church, 139 E. Alameda, Tempe, AZ 85282.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish, may make memorial donations to either University Presbyterian Church or to the Lyric Opera Theater Guild at Arizona State University.
She was born December 15, 1929, in Seneca, N.Y., to Hillman Schooler Fisk and Florence Irene (Fisk) Covert Ganoung. A 1946 graduate of Waterloo High School in Waterloo, N.Y., she earned her music degree at Ithaca College, in 1950. She married Donald E. Yarter, in 1950 and had a daughter and three sons. She taught piano in her home studio for well over 60 years and was a founding member of the Desert Valley Music Teachers Association and an active part of the Arizona State University Lyric Opera Theater Guild. She was an active member of University Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder and was the communion preparation chairperson, for more than 40 years. She was an active volunteer for Tempe Meals on Wheels and maintained her participation in all these things, including her piano studio, right up until the last day of her life.
She is survived by three children Gayle S. (John) Stever, Jeffery A. (Mary) Yarter and Victor A. Yarter; eight grandchildren Erik and Alisha Yarter, Paul and Scott Stever, Cathie Mancini, Paul Fitzsimons, Dane and Max Yarter; four great-grandchildren Keeton Yarter, Demi Gagnon, Peyton Weaver and Emily Stever.
She was predeceased by her husband, Donald and her oldest son, Donald A. Yarter.
Bastien Workshop Opportunity
The Music Store is looking into hosting a workshop with Lori Bastien on the subject of the Bastien New Tradition Method.
The dates we are looking at are:
Monday, January 23rd
Tuesday, January 24th or
Saturday, January 28th
Would the Saturday date be better for those teachers that work/teach during the week?
Please let me know at pr@the-music-store.com
-Charles Newton
Our General Meeting for November will be a panel discussion on Preparing Students for Competition. The panel will consist of 5 of our own members Fei Xu, Kathryn Rood, Lori Weidemann, Charles Newton and Claire Westlake. Please plan to join us. The information presented there will be AWESOME!
November 18th
9:30 am
My First Piano
Fei Xu Kathryn Rood Lori Weidemann
Charles Newton Claire Westlake
FYI –for those who knew and loved her, my mother-in-law Wanda West Palmer passed away last Monday night October 31st. Wanda was a well-known composer and musician. Her funeral services will be a musical event! They will be held on November 19th at 11:00 am. For more information please visit the website www.wandawestpalmer.org
Bren Palmer
Congratulations DVMTA teachers and students! Another successful Music Marathon is on the books. We had 44 teachers and 560 students participate at 5 locations this year. Marathon day is the biggest fund raising event of the year and your participation is vital to the continued success of our great organization. Thank you for making it a special day for each student, parent and fellow teacher. We would also like to thank the staff at AZ Piano, Brookdale Park Regency, Citadel Retirement, My First Piano and Superstition Springs Mall for their fabulous hospitality.
My group was at the Citadel where we were warmly greeted by staff and residents. They provided refreshments and such a great audience! As I checked back throughout the day, I noticed that many residents stayed for a good portion of the day to enjoy the kids. What a positive experience!
Due to rising costs and the declining numbers of students registering in DVMTA events, the Marathon committee made the tough call to cut costs in two areas; chair rentals and participation ribbons. This saved our organization around $400. Meredith was able to round up (borrow), deliver and set up chairs at the mall, which of course, included tear down, and delivery back to the individuals who were gracious enough to lend them to us. After receiving some negative feedback, participation ribbons are in the process of being ordered. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Please send an email to tamarapew@gmail.com by noon on Friday, November 18 if you would like ribbons purchased for your studio.
There will be some document revisions necessitated by these changes. As mentioned earlier, please check the website frequently. Except for the map, all documents available on the website will be revised by January 1st for your planning purposes! Questions? Contact Carolyn Rooder carolynrooder@gmail.com.
If you have students that may be eligible for the Devoted Performer or Senior Scholar awards next spring, remember a letter of intent is due by December 1. A simple email will suffice; nothing formal is required. This just helps us to plan and prepare.
Now that registration for three of our five events is done, remember to keep track of what students participated this year. Good record-keeping is vital in our studios.
If you have any questions about Awards Plus, please contact Lorri McHardy.
