Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve visited our site. I’ve had the privilege of being a member of WSMTA for over 20 years, beginning as a 22-year-old fresh out of undergrad. I consider the members of our group to be colleagues, mentors, and friends. We have a wonderful group of teachers committed to continued learning and best practices in music education. I hope you will join us!

Janna Williamson, President

About WSMTA

The West Suburban Music Teachers Association (WSMTA), founded in 1961, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to raising the standards of music teaching and to encouraging and promoting the cause of good music. We are affiliated with the Illinois State Music Teachers (ISMTA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

We are committed to the following goals:

To encourage the exchange of ideas in the field;
To enrich the love & understanding of music;
To raise the standards of teaching music through continued professional growth.

Member Benefits

Community and camaraderie

Teaching private music lessons can be a lonely profession! We work alone, often in our own homes or studios without co-workers in the same building.
Membership in a local association connects individual teachers to like-minded colleagues.
New teachers learn from the experience of our seasoned teachers, some of whom have been teaching for as much as 50 years. Our long-time members benefit from new teachers' ideas and familiarity with technology and previously unavailable resources.
The West Suburban Music Teachers Association is a friendly, welcoming group with extensive accumulated experience. We build one another up and enjoy stimulating opportunities for professional development every month.
Access to student events

Students of teachers in the WSMTA have the privilege of participating in the ISMTA Achievement in Music (AIM) Theory and Performance Exams. This comprehensive musicianship curriculum is designed to develop strong performance and technical skills and a thorough understanding of music theory.
The AIM program not only ensures a well-rounded music education, it also acts as a great motivator for students and is highly valued by parents.
WSMTA teachers also have access to other performance opportunities for their students. These include performing at monthly chapter meetings, participating in chapter recitals, competing in the Berkley-Pendell Scholarship Competition and Festival, and entering the ISMTA and MTNA Competitions.
Invaluable resources

Membership in WSMTA means membership in MTNA which provides access to countless benefits, including:

- deep discounts on print services, car rentals, insurance, sheet music, and more

- monthly webinars covering a variety of topics presented by experts around the country

- access to MTNA’s professional certification program and the opportunity to become a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM)

- professional support services in the form of insurance and legal consultation, enrichment grants for teacher study, merchant services and new technology resources

- exclusive publications including American Music Teacher magazine and the Business Digest quarterly email

2024 WSMTA Member of the Year:
Anne Marie Kuhny

Dr. Anne Marie Kuhny holds a DMA in Piano Performance from the University of Illinois, studying with Dr. Ian Hobson, in addition to her MM in Piano Pedagogy and MM in Piano Performance. She serves as Chair of the ISMTA North Piano Competition, Chair of the Joint Chapters Workshop, Chair of the CAMTA Sonata Sonatina Festival, and Secretary Emeritus of the West Suburban Chapter. Dr. Kuhny is artistic director and piano educator of DuPage Musical Arts Academy with a large studio. She is a frequent adjudicator, presenter, and author of journal articles.

Meet our Executive Board