Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de professeurs de musique

Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de professeurs de musique

The Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA)/Fédération canadienne des associations de professeurs de musique (FCAPM). An umbrella organization encompassing provincial registered music teachers' associations in all 10 Canadian provinces. The CFMTA and its members should not be confused with the CMEA; the latter is an association of institutional educators and teachers.

The CFMTA was established in 1935 by the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba associations, joined in 1942 by Ontario, in 1944 by Nova Scotia, in 1945 by Quebec, and in 1954 by New Brunswick. It was incorporated in 1961. Its purpose was to lobby for school credits for grades achieved in private music study. Latterly, in addition, its objectives have been to improve the standards of music education, to promote provincial music teachers' associations, and to foster public appreciation of music.

The federation is governed by an executive council of elected provincial representatives. It serves approximately 90 branches in Canada and a membership of about 3,300. Roy Robertson was the first president (1935-6). Conventions are held biennially and feature master classes, workshops, and concerts with world-class clinicians and musicians. In alternate years the CFMTA has organized charter tours of world cultural centres. The CFMTA has published the Canadian Music Teacher (1937-46), News Bulletin (1946-71), and the Canadian Music Teacher (1971-5). It began publishing its quarterly Newsletter in 1975. In 1942 it initiated the Young Artist Series, under the direction of Lyell Gustin, to provide touring experience for talented student performers. Among these have been Garth Beckett, Angela Cheng, Neil Chotem, Andrew Dawes, Laurie Duncan, Elaine Keillor, Boyd McDonald, Morley Meredith, Kenneth Perkins, Arthur Polson, Winifred Scott, Jamie Syer, and Malcolm Tait.

The CFMTA provides further support to young talented performers through national competitions and scholarships. In 1960, then-president Violet Isfeld helped to establish the annual Canada Music Week in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the CFMTA. Since 1967 this program has focused on celebrating the music of Canadian composers through special projects of CFMTA member teachers and their students. The Music Writing Contest was launched in 1971 as one of the Canada Music Week events to encourage young people in the area of music composition. Judges have included Dr. Violet Archer, Robert Fleming, Godfrey Ridout, Jean Papineau-Couture, Talivaldis Kenins, and Keith Bissell.

The CFMTA is affiliated with the Canadian committee of the International Society for Music Education (ISME). The CFMTA's records are held at the NA of C.