"Welcome to our WSMTA website! We are glad you are interested in us. Our group is highly active at the local, state and national levels, working together with joy to foster the love of music, to teach each student with excellence, and to promote the collegiality of all. If you would like to visit us or join us, please let us know. We would welcome your presence.
Karin Redekopp Edwards, President
About WSMTA
The West Suburban Music Teachers Association (WSMTA), founded in 1961, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to raising the standards of music teaching and to encouraging and promoting the cause of good music. We are affiliated with the Illinois State Music Teachers (ISMTA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).
We are committed to the following goals:
To encourage the exchange of ideas in the field;
To enrich the love & understanding of music;
To raise the standards of teaching music through continued professional growth.
Member Benefits
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Community and camaraderie
Teaching private music lessons can be a lonely profession! We work alone, often in our own homes or studios without co-workers in the same building.
Membership in a local association connects individual teachers to like-minded colleagues.
New teachers learn from the experience of our seasoned teachers, some of whom have been teaching for as much as 50 years. Our long-time members benefit from new teachers' ideas and familiarity with technology and previously unavailable resources.
The West Suburban Music Teachers Association is a friendly, welcoming group with extensive accumulated experience. We build one another up and enjoy stimulating opportunities for professional development every month.
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Access to student events
Students of teachers in the WSMTA have the privilege of participating in the ISMTA Achievement in Music (AIM) Theory and Performance Exams. This comprehensive musicianship curriculum is designed to develop strong performance and technical skills and a thorough understanding of music theory.
The AIM program not only ensures a well-rounded music education, it also acts as a great motivator for students and is highly valued by parents.
WSMTA teachers also have access to other performance opportunities for their students. These include performing at monthly chapter meetings, participating in chapter recitals, competing in the Berkley-Pendell Scholarship Competition and Festival, and entering the ISMTA and MTNA Competitions.
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Invaluable resources
Membership in WSMTA means membership in MTNA which provides access to countless benefits, including:
- deep discounts on print services, car rentals, insurance, sheet music, and more
- monthly webinars covering a variety of topics presented by experts around the country
- access to MTNA’s professional certification program and the opportunity to become a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM)
- professional support services in the form of insurance and legal consultation, enrichment grants for teacher study, merchant services and new technology resources
- exclusive publications including American Music Teacher magazine and the Business Digest quarterly email
2024 WSMTA Member of the Year:
Judit Mohai
Judit assumed responsibility for the production of the membership directory in 2019. During her first year, she continued the established practice of working with a printing company and distributing printed booklets to members of the organization. In her second year, the onset of the pandemic resulted in the closure of the printing company. After careful deliberation, a decision was made to transition the directory to a digital format. Judit undertook this challenge with professionalism and efficiency. Since that time, the directory has been distributed electronically—a change that has proven to be highly effective. The organization has benefited from the elimination of printing costs and the ease of distributing the directory via email. We thank Judit for her perseverance in making sure all information is included and her meticulousness in checking every detail for accuracy.
Meet our Executive Board
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Karin Redekopp Edwards
President
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Janna Williamson
Immediate Past President
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Patricia Arzaga
First Vice President for Programs
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Michael Messer
Second Vice President for Publicity
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Janna Williamson
Third Vice President for Membership
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Mary McGinty
Secretary
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Katrina Cline
Treasurer
Interested in membership?
There are so many benefits. Send us a message today to get started!