About Us
Nebraska Music Teachers Association is an organization of over 300 musicians dedicated to a practical role of artistic service in today's society. NMTA provides cultural leadership through a wide variety of activities for teachers, students and professional musicians. It promotes high professional standards in music and fulfills its responsibility to artistic and educational leadership in the state.
NMTA was founded in 1916. NMTA is affiliated with Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), which has a membership of over 24,000 musicians nationwide. NMTA subscribes to the aims and goals of the parent organization, which provides its members access to a wide range of benefits and services.
Membership Benefits
Publications
Members receive a subscription to the Nebraska Music Teacher, published three times annually. The publication contains news and information about activities and NMTA members. Members also receive a membership contact list. Membership in NMTA and MTNA also includes a subscription to the national journal, American Music Teacher, which is published six times annually.
Conferences
An annual State Conference, featuring well-known artists, is held each fall. Recent convention artists have included such internationally known musicians as Pascal Roget and Jean-Phillipe Collard, Ruth Laredo, Libby Larsen, Claude Frank, and Stephen Hough. The convention program consists of a variety of workshops, master classes, recitals, and social events.
NMTA members can also attend the annual MTNA National Conference.
Right: NMTA members who attended the 2004 National Conference in Kansas City
Competitions
Students of all ages studying with NMTA teacher-members may participate in a variety of local, district, state, and national festivals and competitions in performance and composition. For more information, refer to Competitions or contact Linda Christensen at lichris1@wsc.edu.
Festivals
NMTA teacher-members may participate in a variety of local, district and state festivals in performance. For more information, refer to Festivals or contact Lisa Albee at lbalbee@msn.com
Certification
NMTA offers teacher certification through MTNA. This program recognizes outstanding professionalism through the national certification program. For more information, refer to the MTNA Certification Home Page or contact NMTA Certification Chair Kenneth Soh at ksoh@graceu.edu.
Composers Commissioning Program
NMTA annually partners with MTNA to commission new compositions from American composers to be premiered at the state convention. The NMTA Commissioned Composer is considered for the MTNA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year Award, presented each year at the MTNA National Convention. For more information, contact Roger Foltz at rfoltz@mail.unomaha.edu.
Outreach and Education
NMTA is a partner in the effort to maintain music as an essential element in a complete education. The organization also supports independent music teachers in their efforts to publicize their professional status, and defends the traditional workplaces of the independent music teacher. For more information, contact Wanda Mandigo at wmandigo@alltel.net.
MTNA Foundation
NMTA supports the MTNA Foundation, established in 1989 to assist the educational endeavors of MTNA. The Foundation awards grants to individual teachers. State and local MTNA-affiliated organizations receive grants for student festivals and other educational outreach projects.
Students of MTNA teachers win cash awards in the prestigious MTNA annual competitions, and receive funds to help with expenses incurred in traveling to the divisional and national levels of the competitions.
For more information, contact Tom Ediger at tediger@oakmail.peru.edu.
Online "Find a Teacher" Directory
As a benefit of membership, NMTA publishes a searchable "Find a Teacher" directory. To view the entire MTNA membership, leave the "City" field blank and click "Search."
Local Associations
Membership provides the opportunity to join one or more local associations. Each local association provides a full schedule of programs for students and teachers in addition to the benefits of state and national membership.
Omaha Music Teachers Association
Contact: Jan Zimmerman at jrziano@cox.net
Website: www.omahamusicteachers.org
Lincoln Music Teachers Association
Contact: Nancy Schoen at nschoen@neb.rr.com
Website: www.LMTA.info
Central Nebraska Music Teachers Association
Contact: Lisa Albee at lbalbee@msn.com.
Platte Valley Music Teachers Association
Contact: Lisa Albee at lbalbee@msn.com.