About Us

The Tennessee Music Teachers Association was formed on November 14, 1953 at the James Robertson Hotel in Nashville. 

Fifteen MTNA members from across the state adopted a constitution and by-laws, and elected J. Clark Rhodes as president.  Other officers included Phil Howard (vice-president), Elizabeth Wall (secretary), and Alfred L. Schmied (treasurer).  MTNA  approved the affiliation at its executive committee meeting in Chicago on November 27.

Tennessee Music Teachers Association logo
 
 

  • The first TMTA convention was held in 1954 at Peabody College (Peabody would merge with Vanderbilt University in 1979).  Some 55 TMTA members and approximately 70 college and university students from across the state registered for the two-day session.

  • In 1956, President Vernon Taylor proposed that, in addition to clinics, panels, and demonstration lectures, the annual convention should include “live” music in the form of recitals featuring Tennessee artists.

  • The 1956 convention was moved to late November to coincide with Guiomar Novaes’ appearance as piano soloist with the Nashville Symphony.

  • Knoxville hosted the 1958 convention, the first held outside of Nashville, featuring Frederick Schauwecker and Dorothy Gaynor Blake.  The business meeting included plans to form a certification process for private music teachers.

  •  In 1959, TMTA developed at least one local association in each section of the state, sponsored piano teachers’    workshops in each section of the state, and established student auditions across the state for the purpose of selecting performers for future conventions.

  • Records indicate “magnificent performances” by the Sacred Harp Singers (Middle Tennessee State College), and Noel Gilbert and Herbert Hermann (Memphis State University) at the 1959 conference held in Memphis.

  • Middle Tennessee State College hosted the annual convention in 1960.  TMTA reported 123 members, not including its newest local association, Chattanooga.]

TMTA now has over 300 members in 13 local associations and, together with all 50 states, is devoted to the MTNA commitment of “ensuring access to music study for all students and promoting a vital and enlightened music culture for all people.”