March 2024

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Monthly Newsletter

In this issue

February Recap

Spotlight

Achievements

Upcoming Events

A Message from the LASMTA Board

Quick updates

Officer Elections

We will soon be taking nominations to elect for the positions of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for the 2024 - 2025 school year. These positions are one-year terms with the expectation of providing reports at monthly meetings.

Vice President

Provides support to the president by assuming the duties of president in the president’s absence or upon request, accept extra duties as required, may be a signing officer, submit an annual report, and serves a one year term that is eligible for reelection, if desired. Estimated monthly time requirements: 3 - 5 hours (including meetings).

Secretary

Provides necessary documentation and fulfills organizational duties to keep LASMTA running smoothly and its members notified. Responsibilities include creating monthly digital newsletters, noting and keeping records of meeting minutes, maintaining the LASMTA website, updating and maintaining an active membership list, and working collaboratively with other officers to create content for and maintain the organization’s social media accounts. Estimated monthly time requirements: 5 - 8 hours (including meetings).

Treasurer

Oversees all financial aspects of LASMTA in order to fund scholarships and educational events. Responsibilities include keeping up to date with taxes (LASMTA is a 501(c)3 organization), ensuring proper payments are made to fund specific events (i.e., the annual Stewart Rupp and private lessons scholarships). Estimated monthly time requirements: 3 - 5 hours (including meetings).

Click here to nominate candidates or to self nominate for these positions

The Meeting

Please join us for our March meeting at Huntington Park High School on Monday, March 18 from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, hosted by Kelly Anthony. The jazz workshop will be taking place at 6:30 PM (and will not be recorded).

Melissa Palmer will be presenting a best practice session on the jazz workshop taking place after the brief meeting. Below is the campus map for Huntington Park High School.

If you are not able to join us in person, we would still love to have you there virtually!

Click here to join the Zoom meeting on Monday, March 18 at 6:00 PM

Zoom Meeting ID: 860 7507 2196
Password: 437671

Salary Points

If you haven’t heard, our meetings are now eligible for salary points! Each point is accrued after 30 hours of attendance has been recorded and can accumulate across the years. Message LASMTA Secretary Amy Lui at [email protected] for any questions or if you would like to claim the hours.

Mentorship Program

Are you a new music teacher or someone with a few years under their belt but still need some guidance? Are you a veteran music educator and have an overabundance of advice to give? We hope you will sign up to become a mentor or mentee through LASMTA by completing this form. Questions or comments may be directed to LASMTA Vice President Claudio Alcantar at [email protected].

2023 - 2024 Mentor/Mentee Program Form

Or, do you want to share your expertise on a specific topic? We are currently working on establishing a database of local music educators along with their specialty in order to facilitate the sharing of resources. To register, click on the LASMTA Mentor Support Sign Up form.

LASMTA Mentor Support Sign Up Form

Best Practice Sessions

LASMTA is seeking best practice presenters. If you would like to share a lesson idea or demonstration in one of our monthly meeting sessions, please complete this form. Any questions can be directed to LASMTA President Kelly Anthony at [email protected].

Best Practice Session Sign Up Form

LASMTA Merchandise

We finally have LASMTA merchandise! Contact Kelly to purchase from our limited quantity. Get them while they’re still available!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

The LASMTA Executive Board

February Meeting

The recap

View the February meeting minutes

Best Practice

Claudio Alcantar (Barack Obama Global Prep) showed us some tips and tricks to effectively teach woodwinds to beginners, including precautionary advice on how to help students achieve long term proficiency on their instruments. This information has been noted into the February meeting minutes.

Click here to view Claudio’s information sheet

Spotlight | Get to Know

Melissa Palmer is a music educator, saxophonist, adjudicator, and clinician. She has a master’s degree in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton. Melissa is currently teaching at Rogers Middle School in Long Beach, California and is a lecturer at California State University, Long Beach.Her teaching career has involved Director of Bands at Canyon High School, Instrumental Music Director at McAuliffe Middle School, and Instrumental Music Director at Lakewood HighSchool.

Melissa is a 2024 recipient of the “Gold Award” from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). She was named Teacher of the Year in 2011. Melissa is also the recipient of several college scholarships and awards including “Outstanding Collegiate Saxophonist” at the Reno Jazz Festival.

Her work with the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association includes Executive Board Secretary, VP for Jazz Education, conference presenter, field show judge, and honor band manager.Melissa also serves as a jazz festival and solo ensemble festival judge, clinician, and an honor band conductor.

Melissa is married to professional musician, Kye Palmer and they have a son, Clayton, who is 12. When Melissa is not performing around the Los Angeles area or teaching, she enjoys playing tennis, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Achievements | Recognizing those in our Community

Recognizing those in our community

Vincent Womack and the LAUSD Music Repair Shop

A huge congratulations to Vincent Womack (Fremont High School) and our incredible district repair shop for taking home an Oscar!

Click here to watch “The Last Repair Shop” on Youtube

Upcoming | LASMTA Events

LASMTA events

Jazz Workshop

Monday, March 18 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Huntington Park High School

Please let us know what instrument you plan to play for it. ANY instrument is fine, it does NOT have to be a traditional big band instrument.

In order for us to best prepare for this workshop, please fill out the form below. Let us know what you would like to learn and what instrument you are going to play. This is going to be hands on!

Solo & Ensemble Festival

Saturday, April 13 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Barack Obama Global Prep Academy

Our annual Solo and Ensemble Festival will be hosted again by Claudio Alcantar. This event provides a non-competitive opportunity for your students to receive meaningful feedback from respected clinicians. Teachers will be able to register students under the solo $10, small (2-5 individuals) $15 or large (6+ performers) $20 ensemble categories.

Registration will be due Friday, March 15. Forms are now available on the LASMTA website.

Conducting Workshop

Tuesday, April 23 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Hamilton High School

The Hamilton Wind Ensemble will be hosting our first LASMTA conductor's workshop. Depending on the number of participants, conductors will choose a piece from the repertoire in the registration link to conduct. When not conducting, teachers are welcome to play with the Hamilton Wind Ensemble!

You must be a member of LASMTA to conduct. To join or renew your membership, go to LASMTA.com.

Scholarships

For students of active LASMTA members

Stewart Rupp Scholarship

Deadline to apply: Friday, April 12

LASMTA is offering one $500 scholarship to a graduating 12th grade music student who shows exceptional promise and achievement in the field of music and will be majoring in Music in college. The $500 scholarship is being given in honor of former LASMTA member and distinguished music teacher Stewart Rupp.

Stewart Rupp (1940-2013) was the instrumental music teacher at Paul Revere M.S. for 35 years before retiring in 2003. He was also a professional trumpet player and active member of LASMTA.

Private Lessons Scholarship

Deadline to apply: Friday, April 26

For Los Angeles county middle and high school students currently enrolled in their school's music program and whose school music teacher is an active LASMTA member, there is now a chance to audition for a $250 scholarship prize to go towards private music lessons.

Applicants must submit a video of an appropriate solo performance that is 5 minutes or less and a complete application. Students should consult their school teacher on choosing the piece of music.

Apply for scholarships here

Don’t want to miss out on any of these opportunities? Make sure to join or renew your membership!

Click here to join or renew your LASMTA membership

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