THE SOUND OF GOLD with guest Palm Beach County Music Teachers Association

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0:51 Hi, welcome to the Sound of gold Well. This is our fifteenth show, sorry, sixteenth show, sixteenth episode in our season. And if you've been here before, you know, and welcome back. And if you're new. The Sounds of Goals is based on or the focus is on music. It's on music, musicians, music venues, music teachers, and music schools. I'm not only a radio host, but I'm also a music teacher, and it's so important to for me as a teacher, it's so important that my students that I work with my students at their level where they're at. And you know, I've had my training. I've played since i was five, and not to give my age away, but I've been playing over forty five years and I still take lessons.

1:44 And not only do I still take lessons, I surround myself with other teachers, with other professionals that play music and that are motivated to learn. Being a musician, being a music teacher, there's never ending to learning. There's never an ending to like, oh, I've learned it all and I can just move on to something else. There's always something more to grow on. Now, with that being said, there is this A lot of people don't know that there is this great foundation called the Music Teachers National Association. It is a music. Teachers association throughout the nation and in every state there is a chapter of this of this umbrella we call Music Teachers National Association, otherwise known as MTNA. And I am honored to be a chair on the MTNA in Palm Beach County, and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to invite the president of Palm Beach County Music Teachers Association here with me today, doctor Barbara Salani, and please help me give her a warm welcome. I know we're on rad and some of you on television watching us, so please let's welcome doctor Solani. There's so much she has to share with us about the Music Teachers National Association.

3:11 Hi. Hello, thank you so much Lisa for inviting me. I'm very happy to be in this present to happy opportunity to talk about our association because Lisa and I both belong to the Bald Beach County Music Teachers Association, and what we do is really remarkable. By the way, as you were talking about the Music Teacher National Association, it really matters. It was founded in eighteen seventy six and today it supports thousands of teachers nationwide through training, networking, conventions, competitions, and ethics standards. So it's very important that we are proud to be part of this national association MTSA exactly.

4:06 And by the way, I have to say that if parents want to find a teacher, you can go to the MTNAS directory, but also our pub Beach County Music Teachers Association has a website that features a membership directory with teachers grouped by cities so that you can find where a teacher that lives nearby. And besides that, the MTNA has also published a Code of Ethics that provides licensing for affiliate sponsor events. And this is a backbone for professional music teaching in the United States and it connects US trains, US and raises standards. Okay, so I'm really glad to be part of this MTNA. But also we have the Florida State Music Teachers Association serves nearly eight hundred teachers across twenty three local associations and offices, offers conferences, competitions, non competitive evaluations and certifications. So this is very interesting and important to be part of all of these associations.

5:25 And our small. Association was active since nineteen forty two. Yes, and it is an established affiliate of the Florida State Music Teachers Association and of course of the Music Teacher Nationalation. And so if you want to find out more about our organization, you can go online to BBCMTA dot org for your local programs, scholarships and also to find a teacher if you want to learn about membership and for teachers to join us. Also, it's important that you go to our website and we have our doors open always, yes, okay, so if you want to make music with us, we are always open to many activities. And by the way, we recently hosted the Halloween musicale and reached the Hall and pan Beach Atlantic University on Sunday, November second, and it was a full house, wonderful student performances in costumes.

6:39 They were so cute. And a big thank you to our fabulous and faculty who made it successful, and to our chair of course, Lisa Evagor for her professional help in organizing such a successful event. What do you remember about that event, Lisa? It was so fun. It was a lot of work went into behind the scenes, as you know, and we had nineteen performers, all I think all under for the under twelve years of age, but we had nineteen performers and all different songs were chosen, and the families were there to support the kids, and it went very smoothly.

7:24 It was just it was so much fun, and I know the kids really appreciated the opportunity. And I don't know if they'll look I hope they look back because they played on a grand piano, a grand Steinway. We didn't just. Play on the tupper box, you know, standard upright piano. They played on a Grand stein Way. And I mean, even in my lifetime, I haven't had that many opportunities to play in a Grand Steinway, So it was it was a treat for them to play on that, and it was it's it's so nice. The A is like a family. Like each county has a chapter and we you know, we have our meetings and you know, we have our connections and we have our conversations, and there's just it's not only the chapters within our communities, within our cities or towns, but on the website, we have webinars.

8:22 On the website, we have zoom classes. We have it's like ongoing education for teachers. And I love that because it teaches me different ways of looking at how to teach, and then it helps me be a better teacher for my students or even you know, allows uh maybe discounts for to buy. Books for our students. It's it's a wonderful, wonderful organization. Uht Soloni. I want to I want to step aside from the mt Anda just for a moment. I absolutely love you. You have such wonderful energy and share with our listeners because for me, I grew up, I started playing when I was five, I played on off my whole life. I've been teaching over nineteen years. Tell us a little bit about you as a person as a musician. What where did your life begin with music and how did it bring you to Mtna.

9:21 Well, I was born in Venezuela and my life started there. My music, let's say, training started at the conservatory at Juan Mane Olivas and I had a great teacher. She was Gertihas, and this teacher told me, you know, the love for music. I really loved music, and I loved how she taught me. So I was when I was a little girl. I've always thought I would like to be like her. That was my inspiration. So after I graduated from that conservati territory, I went to Philadelphia and I got my bachelor's degree with Susan Starr at the Philadelphia University of the Arts.

10:08 And after that I. Moved to Italy, where I lived for many years and where I had my career. I did a master's there and with Rosanna Aboutai, and I also started performing all over Italy and also many parts of Europe. And then one of my sons wanted to come to the United States, so I decided to come here, but I did never finish learning because I wanted to do another master's. After that, I started a PhD and I completed my PhD in comparty studied at Florida Atlantic University in musicology and also Italian language, culture and literature. So I as my background, but my music has never abandoned me.

11:00 I always have been teaching for many. Years, and I still teach because that gives me so much joy to see how the kids grow. Teaching is also a method of studying. You have to teach them how to practice, and you have to teach them that kind of practicing is not only helpful. For your music, but also for your whole academic life. So it's very important to let them know that that method that you're teaching them for music is going to be helpful also for all other subjects. So that's why I'm really thrilled to be able to be a teacher, not of music in particular, because it really you see the kids how they are happy when they have an opportunity to perform, like you were saying there with the Halloween musical. But I'm going to talk about the other opportunities that we have coming up with ouration, Can I tell can I before?

12:09 Yes? But before you before we go there, I want to make a mention to our listeners and our viewers. You said such an important phrase practice, you know, in our day and age here and now I think from your studies, from my studies because I have classical background. You know, we were not taught how to practice. We were taught the lesson and to play the lesson as the as the lesson like almost repeat itself. So growing up we look, we taught ourselves to practice. So now as teachers we show up and we say this is how it is good to practice so that you learn it. And it's just it's so important. And like you said, you use that practice whether it's piano or other areas of your life. It's almost problem solving. Look, how did how you break it down and look at it?

13:02 How you can you can work with it and understand it. Because when we understand then it just comes easier. Yes, exactly. And that kind of method you can apply to other things like memorizing. It's very important for us to be honest when we have to per form the same thing you have to memorize some mathematical calculus or whatever. It's easy if you if you are trained to do that. Okay, it's easy because your brain is used to it and you know, and all the other things that are good. I mean, music really develops many many skills that have to train ourselves, but it's also a very good training for our brain.

13:49 So at every. Age, you know, when we are we get to a certain point, it's always good to have a music as a friend because music will never abandon you and it will help you keep young. I have I've said this before, I think in a previous show. My oldest student is ninety five. I just see her every other week and we have piano lessons and she plays well. And it's just there's no age, there's you can play any age. You can take lessons at any age. Before we get into the I know music Pamage County Music Teachers Association, we have so much going on before we get to that. One more question is how did you find how did you come across I love that you're our president? How did you come.

14:42 Across that the MTNA and take that step up? Well, when it came from Italy and I arrived here in Boca Raton, I didn't know anybody. I didn't know anyone that could, you know, help me to understand how to do this. I was teaching there, but it's not the same as here. I would bringing my students to the conservatory for their level exams and took competitions, and so I came here and I said, okay, I would like to have students. I would like to have friends and teachers. So one of the things that I did. The first thing I did was. To look online and I found the Poundbache County Music Teachers Association, and at that time I contacted them, and Ronda Danielson was the first one who helped me integrate into this music world. She explained to me many things, so I became I need November and she was the one who helped me understand also how to do exams to my students, because first of all I started with one, and then two and then three.

15:53 I had very little students. But at the same time, I wanted them to do what I was doing before in Italy. So I wanted them to get ready for exams and to get their certificates. And it's very important to you know, to have a goal, like why am I practicing? I have to know this piece by memory by that date, so all those things. If you have like a system and you have like a method and you have a goal, it's easier for you as a teacher to have them respect. It's like school, right they have to do exams, and by that date they have to know what I mean, it's important for them to memorize this Onnatina or the other two part invention, whatever they are studying.

16:45 So it's important. It was very important for me just to connect with other teachers to know around here what was you know, what were the things that really matter? And and then I decided to do a master's program at Florida Atlantic University in piano and I was a student of doctor Irena Kaufman and we pedagogy lessons. She also recommended to to you know, to participate in other associations, yes, as the Features Association. So that's why I started late, let's say, in my age.

17:29 But I found a. Beautiful world here in the United States and all the community of teachers and students. Uh, it's very compact, and it's very it's it's a huge one. But if you know all these teachers, we become old friends and we help each other and we want to do good for the kids, right. So that's why it's so important to have these board meetings and to try to I mean to flourish opportunities for them so that they succeed and they feel good about performing and also to participate in many activities like the ones we are planning in December.

18:18 Yes, we have the music in music so I have another question, but but go ahead, please share with us what we have coming up. I know, but our listeners don't what we have coming up for the pum Beach County Music Teachers Association. Yes, so we have the music. So as you were telling us, it's going to happen on Saturdays and Sunday, December sixth and seventh, twenty twenty five, and it's going to be at the Wellington Green Mall, and it's going to be to benefit the Hospice of pul Beach County the music therapy, especially for the children. And here the. Students share the music to give back. I mean this is important because we're raising funds to give back for the music therapy for our other children that are not as lucky. And every performance helps fun healing through music, which is very.

19:16 Important as well. Yes, we know that the power of music healing is such a wonderful power and we want to share this, let's say, this skill and this art also with those who are less fortunate than us. And after that we have a Judge Musical on Sunday, February first, twenty twenty six at Pubbach, Atlantic University. This is going to be like a competitive event where we have at four pm younger students up to age eleven and at six pm students that are about the twelve years old, and after the judges will choose up to force outstanding students for the annual Honors recital.

20:14 Yes, and then and how how I remember being a judge a few years ago? But how tell our audience because they don't know what does it mean to be honored? Do they do receive a certification? Do they receive what kind of acknowledgement do they receive? Well, yes, they do receive a certification and they also have the opportunity to play again in the Honors recital. So this is happening later in May May third. It's going to happen at the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Juno Beach. Yes, and this and not only the Judge Musical winners, but also we have another very important competition, which is the Scholarship Competition. And it's going to happen on April nineteenth at fun Beach Atlantic University again in the Rinker Hall. So both winners of those both events will be playing at the Honors recital on Sunday, May third.

21:20 Going back to because the next really the next upcoming event is the music at Wellington Mall. So our listeners, if you're in Florida Wellington Mall, what time on December sixth and seventh would our listeners come to sit and watch in or make donations? Okay, so on Saturday and Sunday if they come around eleven or something like that. Yet, we should have already teachers with their studios displaying all their students and students playing music, you know for Christmas music as well as classical or jazz. Inviting not only pianists we are going to have a nice baby grand piano in front of Macy's, but also we are inviting other instruments like greens, or flutes or singers.

22:16 Why not. We are inviting all musicians to and you know, to participate in this. Which is great. So for our listeners if they want to sign up for that, what is the best way for them to sign up for that? Music down for December sixth and seven, And listeners, you don't have to be there both days. You can choose again you. Can be that. So if you are a teacher and you want to participate, please I will be the chair of this event. So write an email to me. My email is Barbara Slani twenty two at gmail dot com. You can find all the information in our website. It's BBCMDA dot org. So you can go and and find out all the information and write to me and I will tell you what are the spots that are still available for this event?

23:10 Yes, okay, good, good, yes, And that's coming up. And then usually how long does it go to If it starts at eleven, is it a four hour. We go until six pm, so it's the whole day practically now it starts at ten. It can start even before that, but for the moment, I don't have teachers that have. Registered at that time yet. We have more like from eleven to five or six on Saturday and Sunday also we have two days. And it's going to be so nice for the community because you know, that's what we do during Christmas and you know, holidays, we go to the mall and having all these young musicians play Christmas music and you know, and sharing the music and and for you know, to benefit this important cause is going to be really great.

24:09 And so for our listeners, this is not just for our students. If you're a musician and you want to be a part of this event, like like doctor Solanni says, go to PALM, PBC, MTA dot org and to sign up, and you know you are being part of not only our event, but you're benefiting. The hospice for the children. Music is healing. I know a lot of musicians out there that are listening right now. Mark your calendars and you know, look us up online and sign up. We would love to have you participate. The more you give, the more I believe in karma, so everything you do comes back to you. So as a musician, we play from our heart. So especially Christmas time exactly the time of giving. It's a beautiful, beautiful time to share your gift to it with everyone exactly.

25:06 And I would like also to say how important is the Student Day. The Student Day is another event where it's a non competitive milestone day. This is a performance plus a written an oral theory and it's evaluation so with the judges will give comments to the performances and will give the levels, so the certificate so the kids well Okay, so I did the fifth level. I'm going to play the pieces and then I'm going to do the let's say the oral and theoretical part the Britain Test, and then you get the certificate. Sometimes you get the medals, if you get the honors, and that's another important step for their growth, so that they can see that year by year they are achieving a higher level, and that's very important. And our chair for the student Day is the Jamie lober Baker and she is Yes, she's.

26:08 Also going to chair the Teacher's Showcase. That's very important. We're going to to Yes to host this at Bob's Pianos and Organs, and that's important. That's another opportunity for teachers and students to go and perform at the teachers showcase. Yes, and what is yeah? Okay, that's all. It to happen on Saturday, May sixteenth, twenty twenty six, Yes, at Bob's Pianos. So that's also something that is in our website. And if you want more information, please contact our chair. And what else do we have we have? Okay, I talked about the scholarship competition and the orders recital, and well we have our meetings. Also our winter meeting coming out in January. On January seventeenth, we're going to have a beautiful meeting with all our let's say Publish County Music Teachers teachers and we're going to learn from a great artist who is going to explain some excellent tips of technique and also pedagogical ways of improving our teaching.

27:30 So we are looking forward to that event as well. That would be great. You know, I don't mention interrupt you, but I know you're on a time crunch, you have a student coming. Is there any last words. Before you log off that you'd like to share with us? Maybe tell us again one more time how we find you or how we find our website? Yes, our website is BBC MTA dot org. And I would like also to extend my heartfeld thanks to the executive board we have. Susan Dalbery is our first vice president, Programs, Kathy Willow second vice president, Membership and Corresponding Secretary. Dr Marije rat Bimi. She's our treasurer, Doctor Jackie Young. He's a recording secretary. Ronda Danielson she's an advisor and parliamentarian.

28:22 And Tammy Levy she's anti Trust compliance officers, and also the thanks to our incredible chairs. Lisa Young. Danovich for the Judge musicale and Jamie Lober for Student Day and Teacher Showcase, Nana Morimoto for the Scholarship Competition and honors recital doctor Stibaliska Stasy and Nana Morimoto for social Media. Because their leadership, they are professionalism and generous service make our programs possible and successful. So thank you so much for all you do. Thank you, thank you well, thank you for making it time for this and we will I know we will talk soon. Yes, And and with that being said, I have a beautiful day and my show continues, which I'm going to still continue to talk about our program because there's things we didn't mention.

29:16 O gaat Yes, thank you so much. Studies was lovely, and thank you for inviting me and for the opportunity to talk about the beautiful events that we do in our organization. Yankye. So for our listeners, there's every year the Music. Teachers Association, there is one big meeting and it's like a convention. It's a I think it's three days. I know this year our meeting. Once you remember you get to be a part of these things. This year is in an Amelia Island and we have a three day convention with different music teachers, different music professions or professionals.

30:00 I will not personally be going this year. I have not attended one. I think over the years has been in like Las Vegas or Chicago next years in Chicago. I can't really say exactly where it's been other than that because I've only joined been a member for a few years now. So there's just so much if you if you're interested, check it out again PBC MTA or just look up mtn A and you'll find your town, your city of where Music Teachers Association is located, and you'll also be able to find different music teachers listed there as well. So in addition to that, I wanted to share with you I love that doctor Solani was on here. I wanted to also share with you that for our families, for our students, that our listeners that are taking lessons, that are supporting family members taking lessons, you know, grandparents, relatives. When you're supporting let's say nieces and nephews or your relatives, when you're supporting them in their lessons, their music lessons, you're giving them a gift for life, right, because when you learn an instrument, it's not just like learning how I use this expression learning how to make a.

31:28 Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You have two pieces of bread, you have peanut butter, you have jelly. You just put the peanut butter and jelly on and put it together and that's it. You made your sandwich. And of course there's you can add. Things to it, but the foundation of it is those three things, the bread, the peanut butter, and the jelly. With music, when you're a student, it's never ending. And so whatever investments you make in your learning, in your journey for learning music, learning how to play in strument, learning how to read music, learning how to work with other musicians, again, it's a gift you're giving yourself for a lifetime because it's just never ending, and it's a beautiful gift. With that being said, there is so much out there online. There is so much in the community, so many teachers to learn from, and I mean with the with Google being so accessible and with a different technology we have, it's like there's no excuse for not being able to find a teacher locally or not to be able to find a community, a music community nearby.

32:40 And if you're not really how would you say? Some of us are not great on the computer, So maybe ask a friend or a family member to help you with that, to find local musicians that you can connect with other than. That you know. I for me personally, I've been playing piano since I was five. I still take lessons. I've been playing for over forty five years, and it's it's a constant. I have my little kitten here and she's playing with my bracelets. So if you see this ahead, if you're watching, you can probably see her, so you know it's it's again a gift that keeps on giving and it is an investment that continues to grow. So if you've thought about being a student, if you've thought about learning of a music instrument, go for it.

33:35 You're only gonna love it. And like I said, you're giving yourself a gift that keeps on giving. And for family and friends that are supporting you, they're helping you with that as well. I was thinking the other day there was there was a time recently that I finished my hundredth show, and what it was was I did online shows around the world, or I should say that we're open to around the world. And I played music, I played piano, and I read music. But when I play, I like to be original, and I like to play my own, my own melodies, and be a channel for that music to come out of me and to play with the inspiration of healing. And as doctor Solani said to us earlier, music is healing.

34:30 And the more we can. Share music with each other, the more that we can tap into the vibrations of healing, the more we find ourselves maybe feeling more relaxed, less anxious. Playing an instrument is a great way to to let go of anxiety as well. You know, there there's a way to not feel like you have to do it right, and to just be able to sit and play. Is just such a beautiful gift that we give ourselves and that we share with others. So we have a few minutes left and I just wanted to play piano for a little while for you today.

35:13 So if you're at home, if you're in a space, in a place where you can sit back and close your eyes, go kind of take this opportunity to relax and listen to some music, some piano music that I will get to play for you, and if you're driving, don't close your eyes. But. Enjoy listening to it. And no matter where you are in life, wherever you are in your journey, music has a way of touching all the.

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41:35 Well, it's been a great show today. I'm so excited that doctor Solane joined us earlier from Music Teachers National Association and the fact that she is such an inspiration to our community. If you are a resident of Florida and live in the Boca Raton area, she teaches in that area and again to find her information, she is on the PBC mt A music or Palm Beach County Music Teachers Association dot org. And myself, I'm also a teacher, a music teacher, and I teach them hom Beach Gardens, Florida, and you can probably find me by my name Lice Evagold. However, i am on the MTA MTNA as well, the pom Beach County Music Teachers Association and music is a gift to give yourself, and you give to your family members that you support whatever instrument.

42:36 You play, it doesn't have to be piano. And also what Robert said earlier in our show, and I'm so excited that there's so many different opportunities for musicians to be a part of sharing your gift with our listeners, our audiences, our live audiences, especially at the next event at the Music Than which will be held at the Wellington Mall December sixth and December seventh. And if you are available one of those. Days, please do go to our website PBCMTA to sign up and contact doctor Solane and let her know because she is the chair for that event. Yeah, the more we come together as musicians, the more we share our gift.

43:25 What we give we get back and the fact that we can We're not only playing at this event Wellington Mall, We're not just playing to play for the holidays. We're playing for a charitable cause to raise money for the children of Hospice. And Yeah, other than that, it's been a pleasure having doctor Solanie on the show today and the members that she did mention there is a grand, big community of us and if you are looking to sign up, please contact us and we'd love to give you more information than just on here, so. Other than that, we have a couple of minutes I love to play. Thanks for tuning in today.

45:46 Again. Our guest was doctor Barbart Soloni from the Music Teachers National National Association. For Bombage County. And yeah, I mean her. She's gone through training for so many years growing up in your and myself, I've gone through taking lessons and learning what i've what I know now and music is a gift and I know I've said that several times. And there are so many ways to learn how to play an instrument. There's so much support out there. Please please please help me keep music alive by by taking a look in not being afraid to step into that realm of if you've considered playing an instrument. And we have such a great program in so many different areas, in so many different states and so many different regions.

46:38 There's just so much support out there. There's so much to learn, So again, reach out to us at PBC MTA dot org for Palmage County. And if you're tuning in from another state, all. You need to type in is MTNA for Music Teachers National Association, and there is a whole of information. That was a. Wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you next week. Tune in to find out who my guest is. I can't wait to see you soon. Help keep music alive with me