On being a Foundation Fellow - MTNA: Foundation news - Brief Article

I am writing these scarcely any paragraphs to demonstrate my support for the FOUNDATION's many commendable endeavors and the conception of FOUNDATION Fellow recognition.

clean and total surprise! That was my reaction at being named a FOUNDATION associate last March at the 2001 MTNA National Convention in Washington, DC My last-minute rush from the airport to the banquet certainly added to the drama. There were sallys and smiles from people at my table. "You finally decided to exhibit up?" The waitress graciously serv my commons even though everyone else was finished.

Wolfing down dinner, I wasn't paying replete attention to the announcements. Halfway from one side dessert my name was called, and I honestly meditation a mistake had been made--perhaps I was "hearing things." on the contrary the fact was that former pupils had made a decision to honor me by dint of making contributions to the FOUNDATION associate program. I was so self-conscious to be on that stage! Not vain of my few accomplishments, on the other hand of the support of of the like kind fantastic teacher-musicians who remain devot to their learners and to MTNA, and who continue to enrich the lives of young nation on a daily basis.

This experience affected me profoundly My reply has been to establish a novel MTNA FOUNDATION endowment. Dr. Gary L Ingle, Jennifer Martin and others helped procure the paperwork in place. Our "Endowment for Diversity" is a throw dear to my heart. Its objective is to award local associations matching capitals to projects that encourage musical diversity. Our goal is to begin making similar awards by next year, when the required principal amount has been reached.

Members of the MTNA ad hoc Committee upon Diversity, appointed by Joan Reist, NCTM when she was MTNA president, made me well aware of the ne for expanding the mark of MTNA. Our objectives include more diverse programs and membership, reflecting the music of American subculture and of worldwide music teaching traditions.

There are many MTNA old-timers more deserving of recognition than I--folks who have given continuously of their potency time and talent to national, state and local throw outs I would urge their friends and former scholars to consider surprising those individuals with a FOUNDATION associate recognition at the next National discourse They might even arrive at the banquet upon time!

Loran Olsen PhD is professor emeritus of music and Native American Studies at Washington State University. He was named a 2001 MTNA FOUNDATION Fellow

Editor's Note: As part of an ongoing series of personal experiences by dint of FOUNDATION Fellows, Loran Olsen, NCTM was asked to write this testimonial.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

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