This year I again hosted the local MTNA chapter for their monthly meeting and a musical workshop during our Student Recital Hour. I arranged a meeting room and drink service for the group. Myself and one of my student keyboard assistants greeted and directed members as they arrived, and we made sure the group had chairs and were comfortably welcomed into Recital Hour.
I led a workshop on Accompaniment, including a local home-schooled student who was given music in advance to prepare to accompany one of our cello students. While I was leading the workshop, it was completely open to comments by any student, faculty, or visiting MTNA teacher.
First I accompanied a voice student, creating a real-life situation as if it were the first time we were meeting through a first rehearsal. After that we followed with the young pianist accompanying the cello student. This was an excellent opportunity to work with both sides of the accompaniment collaboration, working on communication, breathing, standard tuning practices, eye-contact, and many other subtleties.
I heard many compliments about the usefulness of the workshop and I am very pleased with the outcome. It was extremely beneficial to have a home-schooled student who was able to come during the day to participate.