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
10 November 2026
Curtain Raiser: Judi Cook
Special Guest: John Sanders
Topic: Jazz Piano 101
John Sanders is entering his 24th year as full-time faculty at Edmonds College. John teaches the music theory classes and directs the Jazz and Salsa Band. In his jazz studies, John played under renowned directors Dave Barduhn and John Moawad. John enjoys traveling and studying styles and instruments in other cultural context. Earlier this year John spent four months traveling and studying in Brazil. He has spent time in Cuba and Puerto Rico as well and has led multiple Jazz Band trips to the Caribbean.
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.
11 January 2027
Curtain Raiser: Leah Deobald
Special Guest: Jeffrey Gilliam, Head of Piano Department at Western Washington University
Topic: Mental Practicing with Regard to Memorization, Big Picture, and Public Performance
There will be a master class after the program for students who are interested. Students will be signing up to have 20 and 30 minute master lessons with Jeff. He can stay for several hours Tuesday afternoon and into the evening if needed.
Prior to joining the piano faculty at Western Washington University, Jeffrey Gilliam taught at The Juilliard School; The University of Michigan School of Music; and at The International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland. He has performed and taught all over the world, including guest university teaching positions in Thailand and South Africa, as well as receiving two Fulbright awards. He has recorded with violinists Yehudi Menuhin, Alberto Lysy, and Ruggerio Ricci for the EMI, Dinemec Classics, and Opus 111 labels respectively. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Jeffrey Gilliam studied piano with Cécile Genhart at The Eastman School of Music, and with Theodore Lettvin at The University of Michigan. He also studied collaborative piano with Martin Katz and Margo Garrett. He has performed in master classes for Leon Fleisher, György Sebök, John Perry, MariaCurcio Diamand, Tatiana Nikolayeva, György Sandor, and Dorothy Taubman.
In addition to teaching piano and collaborative piano at Western, he is Artistic Director of Western’s Sanford-Hill Piano Series. In 2015 he established the Jeffrey Gilliam Piano Scholarship Endowment Fund. His students have gone on to distinguished piano performance programs at Stony Brook, New England Conservatory, Rice University, and Eastman.
9 February 2027
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Leah Deobald
Topic: Psychology of ADHD and Piano Learning Strategies for the Modern World
March 2027
There is no EMTA general meeting in March.
13 April 2027
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Kirk Marcy
Topic: Teaching Improvisation to Your Students
11 May 2027
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Reid Wolch, CFP®
Topic: In Rhythm with Your Money: Practical Systems & Saving Tools for Music Teachers
A practical session for independent music teachers on managing variable studio income, building sustainable money habits, and navigating retirement saving options.
Reid is a Financial Advisor at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in Bellevue, WA, and an active collaborative pianist and piano teacher in the Seattle area. Working within the HNH Private Client Group, he provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management for musicians, families, and business owners. Reid serves on the faculty of the Chopin Academy of Music in Issaquah. He holds a Master of Music from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University.
8 June 2027
Member Social: Our member socials include a short business meeting, light refreshments, incidental performances, and plenty of time to chat with other members.
July – August 2027
EMTA Summer Holiday
14 September 2027
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: Jody Graves
12 October 2027
Curtain Raiser: TBD
Special Guest: TBD
