Questions? Ask Chairs Wilma Hawkins or Susan Todd (Contact info located in the OMTA Directory; login required).

• Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Calvary Lutheran Church, 937 NE Jackson School Road, Hillsboro, OR

• Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Forest Grove United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way, Forest Grove, OR

Questions? Ask Chairs Wilma Hawkins or Susan Todd (Contact info located in the OMTA Directory; login required).

• Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Calvary Lutheran Church, 937 NE Jackson School Road, Hillsboro, OR

• Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Forest Grove United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way, Forest Grove, OR

Questions? Ask Chairs Wilma Hawkins or Susan Todd (Contact info located in the OMTA Directory; login required).

• Registration deadline March 15, 2025

• Checks postmarked by March 17, 2025

• Event date: Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Calvary Lutheran Church, 937 NE Jackson School Road, Hillsboro, OR

• Event date: Sunday, April 13, 2025 - Forest Grove United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way, Forest Grove, OR

Presenter: Heidi Evans, current State President and past-OMTA-Syllabus-Chair, presents a session on tips for using the OMTA Syllabus program in the piano studio. This talk covers benefits and resources of the OMTA Syllabus program, how to manage teaching the skills and repertoire over the course of the year, which resources are the most valuable (and when NOT to use them), and how to choose and prepare repertoire. Heidi balances this talk by sharing what an adjudicator expects to hear in the exam and how to prepare the student for a successful Syllabus experience.

Venue: Community Room at Hillsboro Brookwood Library (Questions? Contact President Sarah Barker Ball).

Westside Ribbon Festival

Entries due: January 18, 2025

Registration: Registration will be handled through Leggiero.  Teachers, please notice special Ribbon Festival Registration Instructions to make use of Leggiero for this unique festival.   If you need to create your OMTA Leggiero account, follow this guide.

Questions? Ask chairs Sarah Barker Ball or Mary Hewitt (Contact info located in the OMTA Directory; login required)

Westside Ribbon Festival

Entries due: January 18, 2025

Registration: Registration will be handled through Leggiero.  Teachers, please notice special Ribbon Festival Registration Instructions to make use of Leggiero for this unique festival.   If you need to create your OMTA Leggiero account, follow this guide.

Questions? Ask chairs Sarah Barker Ball or Mary Hewitt (Contact info located in the OMTA Directory; login required)

Presentation: “Turning Performance Anxiety into a Superpower” by Melissa Terrall.

Description: How can music teachers help students face the daunting challenge of performance anxiety? In this practical workshop, we will discuss practical strategies to prepare students for successful performances.  Attendees will receive a packet of materials and activities for a fun and insightful studio group class on performance preparation!

Presenter: Andy D'Antonio "Teaching Adult Students" (see Flyer)

Most pedagogical training and materials tend to focus on kids, teens, and budding professionals as students.  However many people take up or resume piano study as adults and require a different approach.  As a specialist teaching adult amateur pianists at all levels, Andrew will share strategies, trends, and teaching techniques for teachers to feel confident and prepared for working with adult students.

Other Details: There will be a short business meeting from 10:00- 10:30. A Zoom link will be emailed a few days ahead as an option (Contact President Sarah Barker Ball for more information).

Presenter - Joseph Hoffman - "Teaching Rhythm with the Child's Brain in Mind."

Details: There will be a short business meeting from 10:00- 10:30. A Zoom link will be emailed a few days ahead as an option (Contact President Sarah Barker Ball for more information).

Venue: Community Room at the Hillsboro Brookwood Library.

Program Description: Many developing pianists struggle to play rhythms accurately and with a steady pulse, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Learn new fun and effective tools for teaching rhythm that align with modern cognitive science of how young minds learn.

About Joseph Hoffman: Joseph Hoffman, founder of Hoffman Academy and creator of the Hoffman Method for Piano, began playing piano when he was 6 years old. A YouTube personality, Kodaly-certified music educator, and former faculty member at BYU’s School of Music, Mr. Hoffman has dedicated his professional life to developing an innovative new piano method along with a host of online tools, games, and resources for students and teachers that make learning piano fun. His online piano lessons have reached over 200,000 students across 115 countries, transforming the way piano education is accessed worldwide.

Joseph Hoffman is also active as a composer and conductor, and his original works have been heard in many performance halls. From 2011-2013, Mr. Hoffman served as orchestra conductor of the Portland Ensign Choir and Orchestra. Mr. Hoffman regularly serves as an adjudicator of piano festivals and events, and provides training to piano teachers on the Hoffman Method. He has created a collection of popular song arrangements for beginning through late elementary piano students, “Mr. Hoffman’s Popular Hits for Piano,” published by Hal Leonard, and a vocal pedagogy book in collaboration with Betty Jeanne Chipman, “Singing with Mind, Body, and Soul,” published by Wheatmark Press.

• Where: Sarah Ball's Home, 3418 Kellwood Ct, Forest Grove, OR 97116

• What to bring: Brunch food to share, and favorite teaching pieces to share. We thought it would be fun to play some pieces for 2 pianos, so bring 4 to 8 hand pieces if you have them. 

• RSVP to Sarah at: 541-961-3146 or sarahbarkerball@gmail.com. Sarah will make a gluten free quiche or something similar. 

Venue - Community Room at the Hillsboro Brookwood Library (Contact President Holly Counts for more information).

Presentation: The Sustainable Studio, by Dr. Lisa Neher

Details: tba