General Meetings

SMTA hosts General Meetings for members, either in-person or on Zoom.

Meeting Schedule

9:00 coffee/pastries

9:30 business

10:00 guest lecture

September 19 - In-person

SMTA Open House: come get a to know a little bit about all of the different programs SMTA has to offer.

WSMTA President, Kira Miller, will speak about higher level happenings.

October 17 - In-person

Demystifying Rhythm

The best musical performances have both rhythmic drive and subtle nuance.  In this session we'll discuss how to help your students level-up in their understanding of meter, time signature, and underlying pulse.  Topics will include poetic meter as it relates to time signatures, compound meter, common problems in iconic teaching pieces, and helping your students conduct their music to achieve compelling results!

JENSINA OLIVER Known for her expressive and passionate performances, pianist Jensina Oliver has appeared as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. She was a national finalist of the MTNA Chamber Competition, a resident artist at the Banff Chamber Music Festival and has won several solo and concerto competitions throughout the US. Ms. Oliver is well-known for providing meaningful artistic instruction to students and teachers alike. She is a frequent presenter both locally, regionally, and nationally, and enjoys inspiring all with whom she works to reach their full creative potential. She currently resides with her family in Seattle, where she enjoys the beautiful mountains, trees, and water that the PNW provides.

November 21 - Online

February 20 - Online

What Makes A Method Work?

Why are some methods more popular than others? Is it because the music is more interesting? Is the pedagogy cleaner? What is the purpose of even having a method in the first place? We will investigate these questions and more using the first two books of The Music Tree by Francis Clark; its advantages, its disadvantages, and what teachers can do to bridge that gap.

Michael Zutis is a pianist/composer in Kalamazoo, MI who works to emphasize the role of music in the greater community. He is the immediate past-president of the Kalamazoo Area Music Teacher’s Association, and represents them on Michigan’s state board as the Arts Advocacy and Awareness chair. Additionally, he is the keyboard area chair at the Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo, Director of Music at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, and co-founder and president of Arts In Action, an organization which raises money for various charitable causes through the performance of music and the auctioning of visual art pieces. Currently, he is working on his master’s degree in piano performance at Western Michigan University under Professor Lori Sims and Dr. Yu-Lien The.

May 15 - In-person

January 16 - Online

April 10 - In-person