2010 CASS Music Theory Workshop (MTW)
Steinway Hall at Irene Besse Keyboards
6999 - 11 Street SE, Calgary, Alberta
See the registration form or the fee summary for fee information.
August 4
Clinician: Barbara Mackin
Barbara Mackin is back again to talk about her favourite topic. You shouldn’t miss these sessions, especially if you’ve never seen her before. Those who came to the 2006 sessions raved about her presentations!
Session 1
9:00 am - noon
Teaching Advanced Theory: NOT a Daunting Prospect!
Have you been teaching rudiments but have been afraid to venture into teaching harmony, history, form and analysis, and counterpoint? This is the session for you! Come and discover the in-a-nutshell approach to teaching these advanced theory subjects. The succinct hand-outs will give you the security to dive in and then you'll see that the water's fine, not really as deep as you think.
Lunch
Session 2
1:00 – 4:00 pm
The Simplicity of 18th-Century Counterpoint
So, you think that counterpoint is a complicated subject? Not so! This session is designed to show how understanding rhythmic motives, harmonic implications, simple structural elements, and easy applications of figuration can create stylistic and satisfying contrapuntal compositions. This session will incorporate some analysis of pieces that exemplify teaching points as well as some practical guided composition. You will be amazed at what you can do and what you can pass along to your students.
Barbara Mackin is a native of Alberta. She grew up in Calgary and later lived in the Edmonton area. She now lives in Virginia where she continues to teach theory and piano.
Barbara holds a BMus (piano performance) and an MMus (music theory) from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She is the author of two series of books on music theory. Rudiments: a Foundation in Music and Harmony: a Practical Approach have been enthusiastically received by theory teachers in Canada and the United States and have been adopted by several colleges and universities. Practical Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint is her newest book, due for publication in summer 2010.
Her life is full of musical activities. She teaches the music-theory sequence, piano, class piano, and MIDI techniques at Hollins University. She is the theory co-ordinator for the Renaissance Music Academy, having designed a unique program for the Academy. (Music theory is not generally taught pre-college in the US.) She is the music director for Fort Lewis Christian Church. In addition, she teaches a few private piano students.
Barbara's musical life is rich and full but she makes time for some new outdoor pastimes. She began long-distance running three years ago and ran the Boston Marathon in 2009. She is passionate about hiking and exploring the many trails on the Appalachian Trail. Having found an outstanding coach, Barbara loves being on the tennis courts–that backhand is getting better!
Barbara has been excited about music theory since she began taking rudiments lessons as a little girl and hopes that she can pass this excitement along to other teachers and students
Open Letter from Po Yeh of the Music Theory Network
January 24, 2010
Dear friends,
The Calgary Arts Summer School Association (CASSA) has been a generous supporter of the Music Theory Network (MTN) since the beginning, and we are pleased to announce that starting in 2010, CASSA will be taking over complete responsibility for the presentation of the August theory workshop.
The Music Theory Network will be dissolved as of January 31, 2010. I wish to thank everyone who has supported MTN over the years
MTN has awarded theory scholarships to high achieving students of MTN members since 1991. Congratulations to the 2009 scholarship winners:
Jeremy Ho History 3 98 %
Joanna Wright History 4 98 %
Quinn Gomez Counterpoint 84 %
Mark Ahenda Analysis 91 %
Thank you to Roberta Stephen at Alberta Keys Music Publishing and Stella terHart at Oceanna Music Publications for the many years of supporting scholarships.
It is most appropriate that Barbara Mackin, co-founder of MTN, will be back to present the workshop on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. She will be presenting two sessions:
Teaching Advanced Theory: NOT a Daunting Prospect!
For those who have been teaching rudiments, but have been afraid to venture into teaching harmony, history, form and analysis and counterpoint, this is the session that will give you the security to dive in to teaching those advanced theory subjects.
The Simplicity of 18th Century Counterpoint
So you think that counterpoint is a complicated subject? Not so! This session is designed to show how understanding rhythmic motives, harmonic implications, simple structural elements and easy applications of figuration can create stylistic and satisfying contrapuntal compositions.
For more details and to register for this summer workshop, visit www.calgaryartssummer.com
MTN was founded by Barbara Mackin and Po Yeh in 1991, with the aim of bringing continuing education opportunities for music teachers interested in theory. Our first August theory session was a panel discussion in 1992 “Why is theory important?” with guests Janet Lopinski, Dale Wheeler, Roberta Stephen and Jean-Auger Crowe. Many other clinicians have joined us for the theory workshops since, including: Cheryl Cooney, Stephan Bonfield, Kelly Demoline, Mary Fraser, Irene Johansen, Barbara Mackin, Joe Ringhofer, Gordon Rumson, and Peteris Zarins. We greatly appreciate the knowledge these clinicians have shared with MTN.
I owe a great gratitude to the many members who have served on the MTN Board of Directors and as advisors over the years: LaDona Ahenda, Wendy Arnold, Jean Auger-Crowe, Roslyn Bourak, Karen Gloge, Ethel Huber, Babette Jenson, Eileen Lucente, Barbara Mackin, Joanne Peterson, Joyce Pinckney, Roberta Stephen, and Colleen Wright. Thank you to APTA who supported theory sessions at their conferences; ARMTA and AMEF; Dale Wheeler, who took MTN theory workshops “on the road” and to Linda Dickey who organized workshops in Lethbridge; Dorothea Johanson who video taped all our August theory sessions for archives each year; RCM Examinations and Frederick Harris Music for their corporate support; and for the many members who have hosted theory “coffee parties” in their homes. There have been countless friends of MTN over the years–many more than can be mentioned here. Much appreciation to all of you for your support.
I’m looking forward to an exciting future with CASSA. Thank you to Linda Kundert-Stoll and Janice Dahlberg from CASSA for continuing the important role of bringing theory education opportunities to all music teachers.
Sincerely,
Po Yeh
Headline Speakers at Previous Music Theory Workshops:
2003 - Dale Wheeler- Ten Reasons for Studying Music Theory and From Bach to Bartok
Gordon Rumson - The First Four Preludes and Fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier and Reclaiming 19th Century Performance Practice
2004 - Cheryl Cooney - Analytical Aspects of 19th and 20th Century Repertoire
Kelly Demoline - Overview of Theory, History, and Ear Training Software and Teaching Harmony by Subversion
2005 - Mary Fraser - Questions on Harmony and Questions on Counterpoint
Irene Johansen - Twentieth Century Music Analysis
2006 - Barbara Mackin - Fashion Conscious and In Good Form (teaching theory)
2007 - Peteris Zarins - Hey, It's Canadian, eh? and What the Heck is an Octatonic Scale and other Conundrums (contributions of Canadian composers, 20th and 21st century elements in RCM theory)
2008 - Stephan Bonfield - Fundamental Tendencies of Composers in SATB Harmonization
Jean-Auger Crowe - Engaging the Whole Musician
2009 - Stephan Bonfield - Musical Tendencies of Composer: Teaching the Details of Musical Language in Theory and History Courses (preparing candidates for RCM theory exams, invertible counterpoint)
