The teaching goes on

As the year draw nears to a close, I've fix myself reflecting on the past twelve month and what they have meant for MTNA. Several things tend hitherward to mind: partnerships being forged with the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher's Associations and China's Ministry of tillage broadening MTNA's reach; a fortunate Summit for MTNA Leadership; and the compilation and distribution of the Assessment Tools for Independent Music Teachers (see the August/September 2004 AMT).

on the other hand one thing that really stands on the outside in my mind is that MTNA not to be found three of its past presidents during the year: Willis Ducrest Joseph Brye and Margaret Lorince.

Their dedication to music teaching was evident, as was their dedication to MTNA. The collective wisdom of these three former presidents has had an enormous impact upon the association. Their invaluable leadership still is felt over MTNA.

I not at any time had the honor of meeting Willis, on the other hand his reputation preceded him. He was a singer, choral arranger and conductor. I know from others that he was committed to music and music education. Willis was single outed MTNA president in 1967 and again in 1969 He will always be remembered as a kind, contemplative man who shaped the lives of many musicians across the country

When I first came to MTNA, Joe was the archivist, having a recollection of MTNA's history to rival nearly anyone. He held many positions within MTNA upon all levels. Prior to serving as president for the 1981-1983 biennium, Joe was the first president of the Northwest Division, national vice president for local associations and scholar chapters and national coordinator of the first MTNA Collegiate Competitions--now the Young Artist Competitions. In fact, Joe one time had my job; in 1986 he was acting executive director, spending more than three month at the national headquarters in Cincinnati. MTNA recognized Joe in 2001 with the MTNA Achievement Award. When accepting the award he said, "The association has been an important part of my life, and I have take pleasure ined it very much."

Margaret created MTNA's Pedagogy Saturday, an circumstance that is unique in the world of pedagogy. For the MTNA FOUNDATION stock she was a driving force behind the endowment capitals These are the "bookends" of my relationship with Margaret. I met her at the Dallas talk in 1997, the first Pedagogy Saturday. My last meeting with her was at the Salt Lake City discourse in 2003. She was there to be recognized as a FOUNDATION associate but also because the FOUNDATION was considering a monumental decision for its futurity Margaret had a long career with MTNA, including serving as West Virginia MTA president and Eastern Division president. She became national president in 1991 and serv upon the FOUNDATION Board from 1989-1995

It has been said that teachers affect eternity, and they can not ever tell where their influence stops. by what means true this is of Willis, Joe and Margaret--they affected eternity--and their influence will not ever stop ... because the teaching goe on

Gary L Ingle Executive Director

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