North Shore Music Teachers Association
Connecting the Chicago North Shore community to music educators since 1974.
The North Shore Music Teachers Association (NSMTA) is a group of teachers from the Chicago suburbs who love music and love to teach! We gather for meetings each month to network, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration. We organize events for our students including competitions, recitals, and non-competitive festivals and exams.
Click on any of the links for quick access to NSMTA information:
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NSMTA News and Announcements
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2025 IMSTA Foundation Fellow: Jennifer Cohen
We are so proud of our own Jennifer Cohen, recipient of the esteemed ISMTA MTNA 2025 Foundation Fellow Award.
She was honored at the 2025 MTNA Conference Gala in Minneapolis in March and said it was the highlight of her career. Congratulations, Jennifer!
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March Newsletter
Read the latest issue of The SCORE, NSMTA’s monthly newsletter!
All issues of The SCORE can be found at www.nsmta.org/thescore
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2024 Member of the Year: Anthony Ty
Anthony Ty has served NSMTA in great capacities with his technical skills in marketing and social media. He also expertly runs the live stream monthly meetings, making the programs accessible to all our membership. Congratulations and thank you for your service, Anthony!
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Free Headshot Session
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2024 Teachers Recital & Luncheon
The 50th anniversary of NSMTA’s founding was celebrated at the annual Teachers Recital & Luncheon on June 10, 2024.
View the recital program and gallery of pictures at www.nsmta.org/teachers-recital-luncheon.
NSMTA MONTHLY MEETING
Join us on the 4th Monday of the month as we gather for our monthly member meetings!
The next monthly meeting is on April 28, 2025. This is the last meeting of the 2024-25 year.
9:30-10:00 Pre-Meeting Presentation
10:00 Business Meeting / Coffee & Refreshments
11:00-12:00 Program
We are pleased to offer hybrid meetings:
In-person at Northfield Community Church (400 Wagner Road, Northfield, IL 60093).
Online via Zoom (link emailed to members the weekend prior along with the newsletter).
Head over to the Calendar of Events (or click on the picture) for event information.
Fellow MTNA Members are invited!
Members of other local chapters are always welcome to join our monthly meetings. This is in the collegial spirit and to engage a wider audience for esteemed program speakers. Contact programs@nsmta.org for more information.
APRIL PRE-MEETING
Presenter: Jennifer Cohen
Program: What can Google Forms do for my studio?
In this digital age where you’re probably communicating mostly by emails and texts with your students, Google Forms is a great way to gather information you need without having to sift through numerous emails or texts! This interactive session will have you creating a Google Form in no time, which you can adapt for every need in your studio that require collecting information. How about all the information you need to enter students in AIM or SSF? Already know how and use Google Forms? Jennifer will share other creative ways that she uses Google Forms with her students, so bring your iPad, laptop or even your cellphone, and let’s create a Google Form together!
Read Jennifer Cohen’s biography here.
APRIL PROGRAM
Presenter: Winston Choi
Program: Beyond Apples and Oranges: Using Comparison Practice to Enhance Musical Growth
Comparing musical elements (such as hands, fingerings, keys, section) enhances awareness and practice efficiency. This approach encourages musicians to observe differences and similarities, fostering focused practice, improved problem-solving, and greater artistic control. Practical examples demonstrate integrating comparison-based thinking for deeper musical and technical development.
Read Winston Choi’s biography here.