EMTA general meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00AM with the exception of March, July, and August. Meetings are currently being held in person at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Edmonds.
Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation Address: 8109 224th St SW, Edmonds, WA 98026
There will be no more remote access to ETMA general meetings on Zoom or YouTube due to lack of participation.
13 January 2026
Curtain Raiser: Peter Renhard
Special Guest: WSMTA President Kira Miller
Topic: WSMTA
Kira Miller, NCTM, graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1997. She then attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and received her Bachelor of Music History and Literature in March 2002. While at WWU, Kira participated in Collegium Musicum, which toured Europe, including Italy and Hungary. After college she moved to the Olympia area where she taught piano and flute lessons. As an active member of the Music Teachers National Association she currently holds the position of Vice President for the Grays Harbor Music Teachers Association and President Elect for the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Kira moved to Montesano in 2021 where she works for the County, and continues teaching and accompanying, including for the Grays Harbor Opera Workshop.
10 February 2026
Curtain Raiser: Jeffrey Pettijohn
Special Guest: Angela Michael
Topic: Helping Students Get the Most Out of Home Practice
How Brain-Based Practice Principles and Structured Assignments Transformed My Teaching — and My Students’ Progress
I am a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) through the Music Teachers National Association. MTNA is “the preeminent source for music teacher support, where members embody like-minded values and commitment to their students, colleagues and society as a whole, while reaping the rewards of collaboration, continuity and connection throughout the lifetime of their careers.”
I studied piano performance and broadcast news at Gonzaga University where I graduated in 1990. I’ve been teaching piano for 15+ years after my initial career in television news.
My primary goal is to teach children and adults how to play the piano musically and develop a love for creating music. I meet students where they are, tailoring my teaching to each person’s learning style, musical interests and temperament. I want to bring out the best in each one of them.
There is no general meeting in March.
14 April 2026
Curtain Raiser: Stan Watkins
Special Guests: Frances Goei and Amber Saldivar
Topic: Music Student Mental Health Education
12 May 2026
Curtain Raiser: Valerie Gathright
Special Guest: Jeffrey Pettijohn
Topic: Book Discussion of “The Practice Revolution” by Philip Johnston – bring your questions, comments and suggestions while we learn and connect about the many ways to have fun while learning music.
Past President of Seattle Music Teachers Association, Jeffrey Pettijohn, an active member of our Edmonds Chapter, is a pianist, teacher and composer who enjoys showing students of all ages how to practice in the world of fun.
9 June 2026
Member Social: Our member socials include a short business meeting, light refreshments, incidental performances, and plenty of time to chat with other members.
SUMMER BREAK 2026 – There are no general meetings in July and August
8 September 2026
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Dr. Jensina Oliver with Dr. Yelena Balabanova, Allan Park, Rick Asher
Topic: Round table discussion of music pedagogy
Known for her expressive and passionate performances, pianist Jensina Oliver has appeared as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. Her performances with orchestra include appearances with the Hubei Provincial Orchestra of Wuhan, China, as well the Utah Philharmonia, Orchestra of Southern Utah, Intermountain Chamber Orchestra, University of Washington Symphony, and University of Utah Symphony Orchestra. She was a national finalist of the MTNA Chamber Competition, a resident artist at the Banff Chamber Music Festival, and has won several solo and concerto competitions throughout the United States. As a member of Duo Cascadia, Dr. Oliver performs with Dr. Kay Zavislak, exploring a diverse piano ensemble repertoire and concertizing throughout the Pacific Northwest region.
Ms. Oliver has been praised by critics as “highly talented,” with a “steely-fingered” technique and a flair for “panache and drama.” (SL Trib.) “Byington’s command of dynamic phrasing infused each note with elegant intensity in slower passages; in virtuosic sections, she played with assuredness and authority.” Ms. Oliver’s first CD, JENSINA OLIVER performs Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff is available on CDBaby.com.
Ms. Oliver earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Piano Performance at the University of Washington under the guidance of Mr. Craig Sheppard and has taught music courses at Shoreline Community College since 1998. As a National Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), she has a thriving studio with students of all ages. Dr. Oliver travels and teaches around the Pacific Northwest, providing meaningful artistic instruction to students and teachers alike. She currently resides with her family in Seattle, where she is a well-known performer, instructor, clinician, and adjudicator.
13 October 2026
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Debra De Miro
Topic: Icing on the Cake: Polishing for your best performance
Debbie teaches Music Fundamentals and Piano at Edmonds College where she has been on the faculty for nearly 25 years. She earned her Master of Arts in Music from WSU with an emphasis in Piano Performance, and holds degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from SPU. Additionally, she earned her AA degree from Edmonds College where she was an active member of the performing groups. When Debbie began her study with Marcile Mack at age 12, she had a lot to learn about effective practicing and attention to detail. As she progressed, she loved her new-found confidence in her playing and enjoyed performing and competing, winning honors at several festivals while in high school and college. She had the opportunity to study with Béla Nägy at an intensive piano festival for two summers while in college, and with Ruby Bailey-Ronald in graduate school. While at WSU she had many fun experiences as an accompanist and fell in love with collaborating and performing with other musicians.
Debbie has been teaching since high school, and especially enjoys helping students of all ages play with confidence. She loves working with older students to get beyond their fear of performing and to overcome past negative experiences. Debbie frequently serves as an accompanist and adjudicator for regional and state music festivals. In addition to serving on the music department faculty at Edmonds College, Debbie accompanies the Sno-King Community Chorale and the Seattle Children’s Chorus, serves as Music Director at St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood, WA and teaches privately in her home piano studio. She and her husband, Vince, have four adult children, four grandsons and a granddaughter. The DeMieros live in the beautiful small town of Brier.
10 November 2026
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: WSMTA President Kira Miller
Topic: WSMTA
Kira Miller, NCTM, graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1997. She then ttended Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and received her Bachelor of Music History and Literature in March 2002. While at WWU, Kira participated in Collegium Musicum, which toured Europe, including Italy and Hungary. After college she moved to the Olympia area where she taught piano and flute lessons. As an active member of the Music Teachers National Association she currently holds the position of Vice President for the Grays Harbor Music Teachers Association and President Elect for the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Kira moved to Montesano in 2021 where she works for the County, and continues teaching and accompanying, including for the Grays Harbor Opera Workshop.
8 December 2026
Member Social: Our member socials include a short business meeting, light refreshments, incidental performances, and plenty of time to chat with other members.
Edmonds Music Teachers Association 