Sigma Alpha Iota

music teacher national association SAI Named MTNA Teacher of the Year By Sue Steck-Turner W hen I received notification that I had been selected as the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Teacher of the Year for 2011, I was incredulous. Knowing that each state affiliate in the nation could nominate one teacher for the award, I could not believe that I was chosen above so many other teachers I deeply respect. I have pondered this wonderful dilemma for many months and have finally decided it might all stem from something my mother told me when I left for college: "Bloom where you are planted." I was first "planted" at Bowling Green State University where I was nurtured by outstanding faculty and wonderful friends —and joined the Gamma Omicron Chapter of SAI. From there I was "transplanted" to the University of Maryland, a very cosmopolitan area for a small town girl. There I grew and flourished under the guidance of many of today's well-known pedagogues and the boundless cultural activities offered in the D.C. area. From Maryland I was uprooted to the snowy north of Upstate New York where I joined the music faculty of State University of New York-Oswego. After the first major snowfall, I seriously questioned how I would survive in such an unkind environment. However not only did I survive, I also bloomed — for fourteen years! I published many articles and a piano method series; performed as a collaborative pianist throughout upstate and central New York; taught well enough to be awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching; and made life-long friendships. In Oswego, I gained many important professional credentials, along with a husband and my first child. This Gamma Omicron initiate and Lafayette Alumnae Chapter member Sue Steck-Turner, middle, receives the 2001 Music Teachers National Association Teacher of the Year Award from MTNA President Ann Gipson, left, and MTNA Executive Director & CEO Gary Ingle. portion of my life ended abruptly when New York City defaulted, the economy fell, and my husband's position was deleted. My family was transplanted to Louisiana in 1983. Never in my life did I expect to live in the South. Not only was it hot and muggy, but people moved at a snail's pace and spoke twangy French. Thus began the next segment of my life in the heart of Cajun land. I became an independent teacher and began my involvement with MTNA. My studio opened with four preschoolers and soon blossomed to 70 students. I taught students of all ages and abilities, really young children, exceptional learners, students with dyslexia, Down syndrome, and autism. I concentrated on developing basic musical fundamentals for my students, sound piano technique, strong theory, and compositional skills. It was during these years that I really learned how to teach. Soon students were winning awards in all of those areas, and I began presenting sessions on various aspects of my TEACHER continued on page 8 McBrayer Honored With MTNA Distinguished Service Award T ulsa Alumnae Chapter Member Philelle McBrayer was honored with the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Distinguished Service Award at the Awards Brunch of the 2011 MTNA National Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 30. The MTNA Distinguished Service Award recognizes an MTNA leader who has provided significant and lasting volunteer service to the national association. McBrayer, a nationally certified teacher of music, is an independent music teacher in Tulsa, where she maintains a private studio. An initiate of the Alpha Zeta Chapter at Oklahoma City University, she has served MTNA in many capacities, including the national certification board, the governance study committee, the nominating committee and as president of Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA), Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA) and Houston Music Teachers Association (HMTA). McBrayer was named an MTNA Foundation Fellow in 2003. Both the Texas and Houston Alumnae Associations have named her Teacher of the Year, and she has been awarded honorary life membership by TMTA. She performs duet and duo piano music and is a frequent adjudicator in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. She is a member of the Tulsa Piano Study Club and the Hyechka Music Club. MTNA is a nonprofit organization of nearly 24,000 independent and collegiate music teachers committed to furthering the art of music through teaching, performance, composition and scholarly research. Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music teachers' association in the United States. — mtna.org sai-national.org FALL 2011 PAN PIPES 7

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