2023-2024 FOUNDATION FELLOW
Sharon Marble
To make a donation to the MTNA Foundation in honor of Sharon, please complete and mail this form
or donate online at mtnafoundation.org. [Look for FELLOW box & enter 'Sharon Marble;] |
MSMTA is proud to name Sharon Marble as our
2023-2024 Foundation Fellow. Sharon grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. She started taking piano lessons from her mother at age 4, which she continued through high school. During junior high, Sharon became the organist at two churches. She played french horn in band and later went on to study at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she earned her B.S. in Music Education in 1973. Sharon moved to Billings in 1978, working full-time in the law field and teaching piano students. She earned her Professional Legal Secretary Certification and later a Paralegal Certificate while also working on her Master’s Degree in Music Education and Pedagogy at Eastern Montana College. There she studied piano with Dorothea Cromley, who encouraged her to join BMTA. During her entire working career, she appreciated being able to balance her work in law offices with her love of music and teaching piano students. She still serves as organist at her church. She attended three overseas music conferences sponsored by the International Workshops, meeting and being exposed to noted pedagogues. These musical experiences inspired her and formed a basis for her teaching career. On the local level, Sharon has been an active BMTA member. She published the newsletter for 14 years, oversaw bylaw revisions, served as president, assisted with commissioned works and Duets & Donuts Recitals, and has edited and expanded the BMTA Member Handbook since 2005. She has also compiled BMTA’s condensed 100-year written history. Sharon currently serves the state association as Legislative Chair. She has facilitated bylaw revisions, overseen meetings according to bylaw rules and is always ready to help behind the scenes. She has attended three MTNA national conferences and two NCKP conferences, where she has gained useful continuing education. She recognizes that most of her professional musical growth has stemmed from membership in our association, interacting with teachers and colleagues at conferences, attending master classes and workshops, and listening to speakers who serve as mentors to not only further her own musical knowledge and skills, but to pass on to her students. Sharon teaches both children and adults in her studio. Teaching has been a very exciting and rewarding experience throughout her life. She values building relationships with her students and encouraging them to commit to and express their music. Her philosophy is that, as music has added richness to her own life, she desires to teach others to enjoy and embrace the music they create – a talent to develop and share. She knows that music will be there for them to enjoy for a lifetime. Her advice to fellow teachers is to always continue to learn (technology too), to attend meetings and conferences, interact with your peers, be proud of your musical profession and be professional in your studio and run it as a business. Communicate. Be flexible. Always work on a piece of music yourself. Let your love of music shine through you. - Lynn Bassett, Margaret McGillvray NCTM, and Charlene Waddingham, Billings MTA |