Iowa Pre-College Piano Auditions

In 2009, my colleague Nancy Schoen and I took advantage of the invitation to attend the Iowa Music Teachers Conference in June. We were so impressed with all we learned and their comprehensive audition/festival system, we joined the organization!

The Iowa system has both a competitive section and a non-competitive section. The non-competitive festival has some similarities to the Nebraska festivals, but is a much more ingenious and well planned event.

Encore Studio students participated in the "competitive" auditions in December, held in Council Bluffs. The levels for the competitive system are based on age, so the students who participated had to have a certain level of accomplishment in order to participate. In addition, they had to play three memorized repertoire pieces from the published Iowa repertoire list.

Similar to all festival type events, students received a rating and written comments, as well as taking a theory test. In addition though, the judge could declare a winner for each of the six levels. That winner will then go on to Iowa's State Auditions, but only if they received a passing grade on the theory exam.

Which brings me to my next point: Josh D. and Erica B. both received special attention for receiving a theory score above 90%. In addition to getting a special certificate and recognition, their scores were also printed in the "Iowa Music Teacher" which is a full-fledged magazine!







Other Encore Studio students who participated were Judith B. and Maryn H.

Tribute to Debra Ceil Brown

by Debra B Heald, NCTM

As many of you may know, longtime LMTA & NMTA member Ceil Brown passed away in January 2010. I wish Ceil was still with us so I could tell her in person how much her friendship meant to me. She was a tireless worker, chairing and/or co-chairing NMTA Lincoln District Festival for many years, as well as working with me on theory tests during my nearly eight year term as Theory Chair. She shared my vision for theory tests with more meaningful (and developmentally appropriate) questions. At the same time, her "quirky" sense of humor made the burden of these daunting jobs much lighter.

“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Ceil with student Laura J.

I have fond memories of Ceil’s insistence at District Festival that a number of us learn a special birthday song–in 3 part harmony–to sing to Nancy Schoen since her birthday fell on the day of Festival. It was a delightful celebration of music, friendship, and life.

Ceil’s piano pedagogy heritage was impressive. Her teacher, Marie Ducey, was a student of James Madison Tracy. Tracy’s teacher was Franz Liszt! Ceil’s students entered major competitions, and she taught several future music majors. However she was never one to boast about things and usually kept information like this to herself. Her student Christy Ruhl, now a music teacher and NMTA/LMTA member, said, “Ceil has given many people the gift of music. She especially taught me to praise the Lord through the gift of music and the ability to play the piano. She was a wonderful friend and is greatly missed by many.”

If you want to see an example of Ceil's sense of humor, see below: look at these "drafts" Ceil made of our first tests in 2003. You really have to see them all – make sure you go to the last page – for best effect. You may have to click on the last page to read the questions. Any NMTA member who remembers the old levels of tests, and the difficult jumps between levels (particularly to level 4) will understand!

Please, if there are colleagues, friends, or family in your life who you haven't voiced your appreciation to recently, do so! You never know when the opportunity will no longer be there. My own brush with serious illness last summer makes me appreciate even more how precious each day is.

Ceil's life brings to mind the quote:

“You are the same today that you are going to be in five years from now except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read.”

Charles Jones

Associating with Ceil made me grow as a person and as a teacher! Ceil was a wonderful teacher, a wonderful friend, and someone who gave volunteer hours way above and beyond what was required. If you didn’t take the time to thank her when she was with us, please take a moment and ponder her many contributions to our lives (and our music organizations).

(Click on each page to see a closer view)

(Click on test if you can't read the questions)