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Teacher of the Year – 2006
Barbara Shinn
2006 Teacher of the Year
 Each
year, AMTA presents the Teacher of the Year award to a member who
exhibits excellence in the teaching of music and service to AMTA.
Barbara Shinn, the 2006 recipient, easily achieves these standards.
Barbara’s dedication to teaching and to AMTA is
revealed in many ways. Now in her twenty-fifth year as an adjunct
instructor and adjunct assistant professor at Huntingdon College,
she teaches private piano, class piano, sophomore theory, freshman
and sophomore ear training. She coordinates the theory program and
is a staff accompanist. Barbara also maintains an independent piano
studio in her home. As a nationally certified teacher, her
pedagogical skills have served her students well. She has
consistently guided students to be named AMTA state winners and
honorable mentions in both solo piano and concerto categories. Some
of these students have also participated in the MTNA competitions
and have received awards ranging from state winner and alternate to
Southern Division alternate and honorable mention. Barbara provides
further performance opportunities for her students through concerto
competitions with the Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Shoals, and Alabama
symphony orchestras. Her studio is also well represented with
winners and honorable mentions in local festivals.
Barbara’s contributions to AMTA go well beyond her
students’ involvement. She has served AMTA as the district chair for
the Montgomery district since its inception and has also held many
positions within the Montgomery Music Teachers Forum. Barbara’s
state-level leadership positions include president (1998–2000), vice
president for membership, and her current position of clinician. Her
tireless energy is also being devoted to a third term as the MTNA
Southern Division junior auditions chair.
Current and former students as well as colleagues
applaud the caring, compassionate and knowledgeable way in which
Barbara, a former Benedictine nun, is committed to excellence in
teaching. A former student says, “Although I no longer study with
her, I continue to keep in touch and ask for her advice on certain
matters pertaining to my musical studies. She has always served as
my mentor and support system. I have grown so much under her wings.”
One colleague states, “Her students are among the most well- taught
in this state.” Further recognition of Barbara’s influence as a
teacher can be seen through those students who have become piano
majors in such institutions as Vanderbilt, Boston University, Auburn
University, Huntingdon College, and Samford University. Some former
students have also become successful independent teachers.
Barbara Shinn’s commitment to teaching and to AMTA
are exemplary. A genuine interest in the lives of her students and
colleagues is evident. Because of this, many lives have been
enriched. |
