North Valley Music School hosts spring workshop

North Valley Music School invites the community to attend its 2023 Spring Workshop, “Your Brain on Music.” The free event is Saturday, April 15 at the Whitefish Community Library at 11 a.m., presented by Diane Volkman, NCTM.

Volkman’s presentation will explore the importance of formal music training with the brain in mind and discuss these topics: Musical Memory, Muscle Memory, Listening Skills, Rhythm, Beat and Pulse, Music Notation and Music theory, and Musical Development.

“Formal music lessons have positive impacts on our brains,” says Volkman. “How do music teachers incorporate these understandings and move their focus from teaching the student to teaching with the brain in mind? What musical skills can be enhanced and addressed to strengthen of the student's neural networks? These questions and more will be discussed during the presentation.”

Volkman was a member of Kalispell Area Music Teacher Association (KAMTA) when it was first organized in 1977 and became a member of Montana State Music Teacher Association (MSMTA) and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) in 1979. In 1987, she began studying with Master Teacher, Kay Lund of Whitefish. Lund not only helped her to further her performance talents but coached her through those years of studying for the MTNA certification process. Volkman earned her MTNA certification by exam in 1993.

Volkman’s performances include MSMTA state conferences, KAMTA teachers' recitals, accompanying, and performing all over Montana with her duet partner of almost 30 years, Marty Palmiter, NCTM. Volkman has judged many piano festivals in the Northwest as well. She furthered her education in 2000 and earned her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Providence in 2003. She currently is retired from teaching general music but still maintains a private piano studio.

Volkman has been honored to serve MSMTA as Membership Treasurer, Secretary, and MSMTA President in 2011-12. She has also served as MTNA Northwest Divisional Senior Competitions Coordinator and has served as the co-chair for MTNA State Competitions. Her students have performed in master classes at MSMTA conferences in the past and one of her former students won the MSMTA composition competition.

Volkman’s teaching philosophy can be summed up with these words, “We must first teach our students a love of, and passion for, music. All else will follow.”

The event is free and open to the public thanks to a grant from Humanities Montana.

Library doors open at 10:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. presentation. More information can be found at northvalleymusicschool.org or by calling 406-862-8074.