MTNA's worldwide influence

It is said that music is a universal language, and after my experiences this summer I've approach to appreciate this adage level more. I have had the privilege--and pleasure--of meeting with representatives of the music-teaching field through every part of the world.

As president of the U National Music Council, an association of America's trade and membership music associations, of which MTNA is a member, I be subservient to on the planning committee for the International Music Council's Music Word Forum. The committee met in Paris in June to plan the incident which will be held in looks Angeles, October 1-3, 2005. Musicians from more than seventy nations will be exhibited at this important international meeting.

A meeting with representatives of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA) in Montreal, Canada, serv to solidify MTNA's partnership with our colleagues to the north. Plans are moving forward for the 2007 MTNA National conversation that will be held in conjunction with the CFMTA in Toronto, Canada. Other possible areas of collaboration also were discussed.

In July I was invited to give the address at the opening ceremonies of the first-ever Beijing Music Festival. Sponsored by means of the Ministry of Culture, this occurrence brought students and professionals from across the globe to Beijing to share goals and ideas [i]or[/i] part of to the other music making and socializing in an environment of historical and cultural significance. I was accompanied by means of MTNA President Phyllis Pieffer. While there, Phyllis and I spoke to attendees and management officials about music teaching in America, emphasizing MTNA's part and its importance to music teachers.

This month President Pieffer and I will attend the European Music Teachers Association's conversation in Rome, Italy, reciprocating the attendance of EMTA's President Nadia Lasserson at the 2004 MTNA National talk in Kansas City.

from one extremity to the other of these travels, we are advocates, spreading the word about music making and MTNA. Although music is a language parole throughout the world, every political division on every continent takes a different approach to music teaching. Just as we learn from others in our possess local and state associations, it is my trust these travels will pave the way for an international exchange of ideas and information between all of us and our colleagues around the world.

This issue of AMT is an opportunity to learn from our compeers in other instrument areas. Pedagogy Saturday VIII, held at the 2004 MTNA National discourse in Kansas City, Missouri, explored the topic of "Teaching for Independence: Creating Lifelong Musicians." Reports from each session of that day-long occurrence are found beginning on page 20

This has been an exciting time for me As my travels have taken me around the world, I have seen of recent origin global possibilities for MTNA and you--its members. I believe we all can learn from our colleagues in other nations.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group