2024 Annual Fall Conference


Conference will be held at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Most of our sessions will take place in the Harper Hall at Lawrence University. Your registration fee includes all sessions at the conference, the awards dinner on Friday, the Friday night recital, and annual meeting lunch on Saturday. Breakfasts and Friday lunch are not included.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION

$135 for Current MTNA members registering BEFORE August 15.

$145 for MTNA members registering AFTER August 15.

$115 for one day participation (Friday or Saturday)

$115 for First Time Attendee (Members who has never attended a WMTA State Conference.)

$95 Collegiate Members (Must be a full-time college student registered this term.)

$165 for Non Members of WMTA/MTNA

$45 for Extra Guest(s) for the Friday Dinner and Concert

Conference registration closes on OCTOBER 15.


Friday Sessions

Scores! What are they good for?
Michael Rector
Performance style has changed drastically over the 100+ years of recorded music. The relationship between performance and notation can seem unfathomable, even in stylistically authentic interpretations like Bartók or Grieg in their own music. We will listen to some unconventional performances, then I will show how this broad range of strategies for realizing notation might enable creative approaches to pedagogical repertoire.

Crafting Musical Characters through Harmony and Meter
Nic Bizub
Harmony and meter are the vital building blocks composers utilize to capture the essence of distinct character and emotion within music. Hear from a composer’s perspective how leveraging these tools can craft drastically different characters within a single composition. Though this session focuses on compositional techniques, performance implications can be gleaned.

Turning Mundane into Meaningful: Tips for Adding Joy to Your Memorization
Dr. Diana Shapiro
One of the skills expected from a pianist is the ability to memorize. We all are familiar with the idea of countless repetitions to develop solid kinesthetic memory. However, this task does not look like a creative pursuit. The presentation will provide ten practical strategies and techniques to turn the mundane task of memorization into a fun and creative project. 

Notable Icelandic Female Composers for Voice and Piano
Dr. Cayla Rosché and Kristin Roach 
Join us on a captivating journey through Iceland’s musical heritage, delving into the enchanting vocal repertoire of three extraordinary female composers. Led by Dr. Cayla Rosché, and accompanied by Kristin Roach, uncover invaluable insights and practical resources for mastering Icelandic songs.

Level Up! Using Gamification to Enhance Lessons
Christina Liu
Discover how gamification strategies can enhance piano instruction, boost student engagement, and foster a deeper love and understanding of music through interactive play. Join for a fun session filled with innovative approaches and practical tips!

Developing Musicianship Through Movement
Janet Tschida
Whole-body movement energizes children’s rhythmic flow and nurtures their musical imagination. After feeling musical concepts in their bodies, children can aptly apply to making music with an instrument such as piano. At this session, experience and acquire practical strategies for effectively integrating listening-based, whole-body movement into private or group lessons for the elementary level student.

Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Friday Evening Concert

Saturday Sessions

Harmony in Motion: Yoga for Pianists
Dr. Kaju Lee
Presented by an experienced piano pedagogue and certified yoga teacher, this session explores yoga poses and breathing exercises that can help pianists achieve tension-free, flexible playing and improve mental and emotional well-being by helping manage anxiety and stress and cultivating a calm and focused mindset.

Learning for Change
Anna Reiser
Learning that changes the way we think, believe, and act is learning that is deep and meaningful. It is learning that brings us closest to our goals and inspires us to dream up even richer goals. This session explores how we can create the conditions for this kind of learning in creative, skillful, effective, and joyful ways.

Collegiate Presentations:
New and Fun Ways Students Can Enjoy Scales (The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Collegiate Chapter)
Tinkering with Chopin (Sarah Prescott)

The Dog Ate My Homework
Sally Ritchie
Look beyond excuses and discover the real reason students come to lessons unprepared. Learn on and off the bench strategies to address the issues that prevent students from reaching their goals.

Worship Service Improvisation Skills for Classical Pianists 
Lori Rhoden
This session will demonstrate improvisation tools and resources for the classical pianist playing for worship services functioning as an accompanist with other instrumentalists, a sole accompanist, a piano soloist, and worship band keyboardist.

Annual Business Lunch Meeting


Conference Exhibitors

Be sure to stop by and check out all of the booths and exhibitors for Conference this year.  Tables will be set up on Friday, October 25th from 8:00am until 5:00pm. All the exhibitors will be conveniently set up outside Harper Hall so you can easily stop by between sessions.

Piano Arts Website

Keys to Imagination Website

Heid Music Website

King’s Music Website


HOTEL INFORMATION

For those traveling from out of town, Hilton Appleton Paper Valley Hotel is the official location for Conference rates. We have a discounted rate of $129 plus tax for a single or double occupancy room and additional adults are $10 per person. The hotel is only a 10 to 15 minute walk from the University. Driving is still an option for those who can’t walk the distance to the Conference. You can pay a little extra to get in and out of the hotel parking ramp multiple times each day.

Here is a link to hotel information, amenities, and check in and out times.
Click HERE

Here is a link to food and dining options at the hotel.
Click HERE

Book your hotel now and use code “WMTA” to get our special rate. Call the hotel directly at 920-733-8000 or go online and click the “Special Rates” button to make a reservation.
Click HERE


WHY HAVE WE MOVED TO LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY?

The WMTA 2024 Conference will be held on a university campus for the first time in many years. Why will we be returning to a college campus?

WMTA values the benefits of the state conference each year, but we often run at a financial deficit. Using a university this year is lowering our costs, allowing us to stay fiscally responsible as we invest in other areas of the organization.

It is a special year for Lawrence as the Conservatory and Community Music School celebrate 150 years of music. 

WMTA and Lawrence have collaborated on a composition commission to be premiered at the Friday night concert. 

Harper has two 9 foot Steinway grands that will allow our Friday evening performers and other conference presenters to play on well-regulated and acclimated instruments in an acoustically beautiful space. 

Harper Hall has raked seating so sightlines will be better for conference attendees. 


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who should register for the conference?

Everyone attending the Conference must register. This includes anyone attending and/or presenting. The Awards Banquet and Recital on Friday night is available via the reservation system at an additional cost for partners, family members, etc.

What does my registration include?

Your registration fee includes the conference, the Friday evening banquet and performance and the Saturday annual meeting luncheon. Please notify us if you have any special dietary restrictions. It does not include hotel costs or other meals, including breakfasts and Friday lunch. Every attendee is required to make their own transportation and lodging plans.

Are conference fees refundable?

No. All fees (including meals) are non-refundable.

Can I take my friend, spouse or child to a session without registering them?

The sessions are for registered individuals only. Should you bring additional guests, they will need to be registered and paid, regardless of how many sessions they wish to attend. If your guests wish to attend the Friday night dinner and performance, they may make reservations in the reservation system.

How do I get a roommate or someone to carpool to share a hotel room with?

WMTA does not facilitate roommates or carpools. If you are seeking a roommate or a carpool otherwise, we recommend that you contact your Local Association President to see who else is attending from your area.

Can I bring my own food?

All food/beverages must be supplied and prepared by the catering service at the university during the included mealtimes. Please indicate any food restrictions you may have, and we will do our best to accommodate those.

When will I receive my registration confirmation?

If you registered online, your confirmation was automatically emailed to you upon completion of the registration process. Attendees may pick up your name tag at the Conference Welcome Desk. The Welcome Desk will be open on Friday from 7:30am-11:30am and 12:30pm-2:00pm. It will also be open on Saturday from 7:30am to 11:00am. Program booklets will be online. Please check it out prior to the conference.

When I arrive at the conference what should I do?

Conference registration desk will open Friday morning, per the schedule. You can pick up your nametag and any other updated information. Please familiarize yourself with the program online prior to arrival. It contains many things that you will need during Conference such as the daily schedule, presenter bios, exhibitor listings and much more.

What is the appropriate dress for this?

Dress in what makes you feel comfortable, but conference rooms can vary widely in temperature. We recommend you wear layers if you tend to get cool.

When will the conference schedule be available?

The full conference schedule with rooms and times will be available online before the conference. The schedule of events is subject to change up to the day before the event.

Do you provide scooters or wheelchairs?

No, we do not.

Are there open exhibit booths?

Yes, and if you are an exhibitor that would like to be at our conference, see our exhibit booth advertising options for information.

What about parking rates?

Some hotels do charge parking rates and you will find that information on their website.


COMMISSIONED COMPOSER

Nicolas Bizub will be our 2024 Commissioned Composer. WMTA has teamed up with Lawrence University to co-commission Nicolas in honor of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music’s 150th anniversary. Nicolas Bizub graduated from Lawrence University in 2016 with a BMus in Composition and a BMus in Viola Performance. He received his DMA in Composition from CCM in 2021 and now works as Associate Director of Growth Marketing for the New York Philharmonic. Nicolas is an active professional composer and private teacher of composition. His website can be accessed by clicking HERE.

Nicolas Bizub writes music which is dark, striving, and yearning, which also points towards radiance and light. Inspired by human interaction with the natural world, he often uses nature in his music as metaphors for more human topics, including emotion, politics, creation, and destruction. He has been commissioned to write a somewhat larger-scale piece than our usual WMTA commissioned pieces, and has proposed a piece for small ensemble and soprano totaling 15-20 minutes in length. Lawrence faculty will perform the work during the Friday evening conference concert.  Members of the Lawrence and Appleton community will be invited to join our conference attendees.