Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
St. Paul Piano Teachers Association offers a professional program to meet the needs of its members based on the Professional Standards from the Music Teachers National Association. Professional Preparation, Professional Teaching Practices, Professional Business Management, Professional Partnerships, Professional and Personal Renewal.
Attendance at four general meetings per year (other than the Autumn Tea, if there is no presentation) counts as one point for MTNA Recertification (NCTM) under “Attendance at local pedagogical programs.”
Join our SPPTA Members Forum! This is a private group for SPPTA members - a closed group so your posts are visible only to its members. Click the button below to make a request to join the members-only group.
Upcoming Meetings
ANNOUNCEMENT: SPPTA and MMTF are combining our monthly meetings. MMTF will be hosting in- person/hybrid meetings and SPPTA will host Virtual-only meetings during the winter months.
Come join us!
September 25th, 2025 Thursday
Autumn Tea hosted by SPPTA and MMTF
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Summerhouse of Shoreview
4655 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126
Cost: $18
Menu: The Autumn Tea is being catered and there will be a selection of teas, beverages, tea sandwiches and desserts
Register here by Friday, September 6th, 2025
Register here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintPaulPianoTeachers/AutumnTea2025
SPPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, September 9th at 10:00 am.
October:
No Monthly Meeting
SPPTA members are encourgaed to attend the Masterclass and Recital November 8th, 2025 with Nick Susi.
See details here: https://sppta.org/master-class
SPPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, October 14th at 10:00 am.
_______________________________
November: SPECIAL EVENT
MTNA 150th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate with SPPTA on Saturday, November 8th, 2025
*Masterclass: 10:00 am-12:00 pm Masterclass with Nick Susi
Register here:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintPaulPianoTeachers/MasterclassNovember8th2025DrNicholasSusi
*Lunch 12:15-1:45 pm
MTNA 150th Anniversary Celebration Lunch
SPPTA and MMTF members invited to
Saint Paul Grill across the street from the Landmark Center
(Each person will purchase their own lunch of their choice off the regular menu.)
RSVP required by October 15th, 2025:
RSVP HERE:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintPaulPianoTeachers/MTNA150thAnniversaryLunch2025
*Dr. Nicholas Susi Recital 2:00 Nick Susi Recital
Location: Landmark Center, Thelma Hunter Recital Room - Downtown Saint Paul
If you would like to attend the recital, please RSVP by November 1st, there is limited seating.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintPaulPianoTeachers/RECITALMTNA150thAnniversaryCelebration2025
___________________________
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
Monthly Meeting
Time: 10:30 am - Noon
Hosted by MMTF (Hybrid)
Presenter: Masterclass with Jean Krinke focusing on INTA, INTB and JYA state contest repertoire
Location: HYBRID
IN-PERSON: Bloomington Schmitt Music
ZOOM: Link in November Newsletter
December:
No Meeting
January 2026
No Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 10:30 A.M.
Presenter: Dr. Paul Shaw
Topic: Interpretation: Reading the Score
Location: In-person Bloomington Schmitt Music and ZOOM (Link for ZOOM will be emailed.)
Jamaican-born pianist Paul Shaw -- a top prize-winner in the William Kapell International Piano Competition and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions -- has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York; the Kennedy Center and the Hall of the Americas in Washington, D.C.; Beethovenhalle in Bonn; the Manoel Theatre in Valletta, Malta; Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica in San José; and was the first classical artist from the Caribbean to perform at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. He was educated at the Jamaica School of Music, and at The Juilliard School where he earned the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance. Dr. Shaw is Professor of Piano and Chair of the Keyboard Division at the University of Minnesota School of Music.
SPPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, February 10th at 10:00 am.
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 10:30 A.M. (Note, this is the second Tuesday of the month)
Presenter: Dr. Ann DuHamel
Topic: "The Soil of His Heart, The Soul of Poland: "Zal" and Chopin"
Location: In-person Bloomington Schmitt Music and ZOOM (Link for ZOOM will be emailed.)
Prior to earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Ksenia Nosikova, Ann was Assistant Artistic Director to Paul Wirth at the Wirth Center (then Central Minnesota Music School) in St Cloud, MN, for 8 years. Ann’s had the great fortune to play in masterclasses and lessons for many pianists, including Vladimir Feltsman, Alexander Korsantia, Fernando Laires, José Ramón Mendez, Susan Starr, Nelita True, and more, in addition to collaborative piano coaching with Martin Katz, Arlene Shrut, and John Wustman.
An active member of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association for over 25 years, Ann is Past President of the organization. She devotes herself to the mission of sharing high quality traditional and contemporary classical music with students and the greater community.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 10:30 A.M.
Presenter: Katherine Jacobson Fleischer
Topic: Leon Fleisher: Legendary Musician (1928-2020)
Location: In-person Bloomington Schmitt Music and ZOOM (Link for ZOOM will be emailed.)
Leon Fleisher wished to be known and remembered first as a musician. Katherine Jacobson Fleisher will speak about the great pianist, master teacher and conductor; sharing some of his enlightened ideas on music in her talk, with a few select examples at the piano .Some interesting & amusing personal anecdotes will also be included.
Katherine Jacobson Fleisher received degrees in piano performance from St. Olaf College (B.M. Margaret Birkeland)) and the Cleveland Institute of Music. (M.M. Vitya Vronsky) The major musical influence of her life was Leon Fleisher with whom she studied at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
She served on the piano faculty of Goucher College and the piano ensemble faculty of the Peabody Institute from 2000-2020.
Katherine performed and toured globally with her husband, Leon Fleisher from 2003-2018.
SPPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, April 14th at 10:00 am.
May:
Tuesday, May 5 th, 2026
Hosted by MMTF
Presenter: TBA
Location: Bloomington Schmitt Music and ZOOM Hybrid
SPPTA Board Meeting Tuesday, July TBA at 10:00 am.