Special Project Recipients for 2009
Alabama ASTA
Honors Orchestra Festival
Alabama ASTA
Daniel Hornstein, Chapter President
“Alabama ASTA Honors
Orchestra Festival” will provide high quality musical experiences
for participating students, as well as the opportunity for professional
growth by the chapter’s 75 members. In a state with very few
string programs, this opportunity to play in a full-sized orchestra
under nationally-recognized guest conductors will be a thrill for these
young musicians. The Festival should also encourage students to
spread the excitement of participation in their home communities, and
provide chapter members an opportunity for professional
development.
NYASTA in November:
Workshops Upstate and Downstate
New York ASTA
Jackie Darville, Chapter President
“NYASTA in
November: Workshops Upstate and Downstate” will take place
over two Saturdays, and feature both an Alternative Strings Day and a
CelloFest. This project is aimed at providing opportunities for
ASTA members to refine their teaching technique and obtain new
instructional ideas. The workshops should also provide an
opportunity for students of ASTA members to learn and grow, as well as
providing greater visibility for New York ASTA.
Fall Workshop 2009
ASTA Arizona
Janice McDivitt, Chapter President
ASTA Arizona’s
“Fall Workshop 2009” will feature no registration fee and a
half-price lunch fee for 20 participating student chapter members with
funding from this year’s Special Projects Grant. Through
this effort, the chapter hopes to encourage student chapter members and
young string teachers in the development of their careers. The
Fall Workshop will feature clinician Dr. Stephen Benham. An
additional spring 2010 master class/teaching seminar will be led by ASTA
President Jeff Solow.
PADESTA 2009-2010 Regional
Workshop Initiative
Pennsylvania-Delaware
String Teachers Association
Stephen Benham, Chapter President
This grant will support the
development of regular, annual workshops that focus specifically on the
needs of string teachers, reaching a broader base of teachers across the
Pennsylvania-Delaware area. The long-term goal is the
establishment of annual regional workshops in the three primary regions
of Pennsylvania – Western (Pittsburgh-Erie corridor), Center
(Harrisburg, Altoona, State College corridor), and Eastern
(Philadelphia-Scranton corridor). The chapter also hopes to
increase their visibility and membership through these increased
professional development opportunities.
Richard Meyer Commission for
the 7th and 8th Grade 2010 All-State
Orchestra
Florida ASTA
Nancy Beebe, Chapter President
Florida ASTA has contracted
with composer Richard Meyer for a Spanish Piece to be debuted by our
7th and 8th grade All-State String Orchestra
during the Florida Music Educators Association’s Conference in
2010. Through this sponsorship, the chapter hopes to increase their
visibility to teachers, students and guests at the Conference, as well
as provide young musicians the opportunity to hear and play new
music.
ASTA’s Special Project
Grants, through the ASTA Foundation, provide financial assistance to
projects designed at the state chapter level. Funding is available
to projects that advance the ASTA mission and increase the strength,
visibility and activities of a state chapter. Special thanks to
this year’s grant evaluation committee – Chair Kirk Moss,
and committee members Nancy Bargerstock and Barbara Eads. Deadline
for next year’s grants is June 1, 2010. See the ASTA website
for more information, or contact Deb Bissen, Foundation and Advocacy
Coordinator, at deb@astaweb.com.
Recipients 2008
Alaska Chapter
of ASTA: Operation Amy
The Kodiak Youth Orchestra (KYO) has searched for two years for
a string teacher who would live on Kodiak, a remote island, and teach
strings to students of any age. A bulletin was put out that garnered
three responses. That led to the wonderful Heidi Senungetuk coming to
Kodiak six times (700 miles round trip) to give lessons to our aspiring
string players. Unfortunately, she was not able to move to Kodiak and
commit full time. Another bulletin was posted and Amy Peterson of
Augusta, Maine came in September. She worked
with our musicians and is ready to relocate. A friend of KYO is
renting her house to Amy for half of what she would normally charge.
Kodiak families are signing up to chop and haul wood for Amy as she will
not be able to afford much fuel on a lesson salary. Even with the help
of generous Kodiak community, it will be a financial set back to move to
Kodiak. Having a private violin/viola teacher available for weekly
private and group lessons will greatly enhance the playing abilities of
the individual students as well as their musical experience in any
ensemble. Auditioning for the National High School Honors Orchestra
is now a goal for many of the KYO string players who traveled to
Albuquerque and performed in the
National Orchestra Festival. With a private teacher that dream will
become an accomplishment.
Alabama Chapter of
ASTA: Honor Strings Festival
The project will provide high quality musical experiences for our
students and professional growth for our 75 members. The benefits to
students are significant – many have never played in groups and
most have played only in small groups. They return home with new
motivation and share that excitement with others in their schools and
communities. Teachers have the opportunities to observe top
clinician/conductors and to present sessions to students themselves
(scales, sectionals, music games). Working together builds relationships
and encourages continued communication. Another goal is to
increase our membership. Prior to the 2007 Honor Strings Festival, we
gained three new members since they had to join ASTA to enter their
students. We are convinced that people want to join an association with
vibrant activities and our desire is to bring our festival to a higher
level this fall within our limited budget.
New
Jersey Chapter of ASTA: Certificate
Program for Strings Workshop
The goal is to increase interest and participation in ASTA/NJ CPS
examinations. Although ASTA/NJ hosts several examinations every
year, more teachers could become involved if they had an opportunity to
see how the program works. It is projected that a one day detailed
orientation to the program and a walk through demonstration of what goes
into preparing students for examinations will make participation more
likely. All components of the examinations will be covered. A
presenter expert in each instrument will go through the repertoire list
in detail pointing out the “backbone” works and making
suggestions for additional second and third pieces required at the upper
levels. The second goal is to enhance the experience of those already
participating in the program. Teachers will come away with fresh ideas
and new teaching material to try. We also recommend that experienced and
new CPS examiners attend in order to get a thorough overview of the
program.
Nebraska Chapter of
ASTA: ASTA BLASTA!
The project is slated to be a one-day statewide workshop designed for
public and private teachers, as well as college and high school
students. The workshop will feature sessions on learning to play a
secondary instrument more proficiently, conducting, and managing a
private studio. With double sessions running all day long, we hope to
engage the full spectrum of our membership with a special emphasis on
attracting new members. One of the exciting components of ASTA BLASTA is
teachers and students learning side-by-side. Participants have the
option to prepare two selections Levitation and J.D. Meets the Rhythm
Section and therefore having the opportunity to jam with Randy Sabien, a
well-respected jazz musician and clinician.
New
York Chapter of ASTA: Strings Off
And Running! (SOAR!)
SOAR! will provide a string program to students at a parochial school
where there is currently no string instrument instruction. In addition,
the school has agreed to serve as a lab school for junior string music
education teachers from Ithaca College. Student teachers will
spend three hours each week working with students under supervision from
Ithaca
College faculty.
They will ha eth opportunity to teach individual, small group, and
ensemble classes to students ages kindergarten through sixth grade.
Freshmen and sophomore students will be able to earn field experience
observation hours at the school. As Ithaca College adds a full-time string
music education line in the fall of 2009, the school will attract an
even larger number of string education majors who will benefit from the
lab school.
Texas Chapter of ASTA:
Alternative Styles Festival
The University of Texas
String Project will hold an Alternative
Styles Festival for local string students and teachers. Nationally known
artists in fiddling, mariachi, and tango will present clinics in their
respective styles. Teachers can attend workshops geared toward teaching
these styles and students will have the opportunity to perform in master
classes and clinic sessions for students. The festival will conclude
with a concert by clinicians as well as other successful performing
artists in the area, which will be open to the general public.
The Utah Chapter of ASTA:
Utah ASTA Fall Conference
It is hoped that this first annual Fall Conference will expand and
replace its smaller annual Fall Workshop. It will emulate the successful
model of the annual national ASTA conferences. The conference will be
multi-dimensional and will also provide a forum for the Utah ASTA State
Solo Competition. The day’s events will include a variety of
instructional sessions for public school and studio teachers
(traditional and alternative string style topics), a string orchestra
reading session, instruction sessions for collegiate string students,
student ensemble performances, local members of the string industry, at
least one national clinician, and State Solo Competition events.
Sessions will be conducted by local teachers (private, public school,
and collegiate level), Utah symphony members, and
out-of-state clinicians. The conference will end with an evening recital
performance by winners of the State Solo Competition.
The Virginia Chapter of ASTA: VASTA's Virginia
Cellobration
Cellobration is intended to instill a sense of pride and unification
in the cello world. It provides teachers and students with new ideas
about playing cello and serves as a tool for networking throughout the
state and advocating their programs to peers. The Virginia
Cellobration allows for cellists to enjoy a weekend of fun music and see
possibilities that extend throughout the state.
The South Carolina Chapter of
ASTA: South
Carolina Violin Workshop
This one day workshop in Greenville features master classes and
a violin choir. It is open to any level violin student that can read
music at the Suzuki Book Two level or
above. It is also open to any level violin teacher and public school
strings instructor. The workshop features clinician Brenda Brenner of
Indiana University with additional master classes by Sarah Johnson of
the North Carolina School of the Arts and Converse College, as well as
Deirdre Hutton of Furman University.
2007
Kentucky Chapter
of ASTA: L.O.V.E. Commissioned Composition
The students and
teachers of Lexington’s Only Viola Ensemble (L.O.V.E.) will commission a
multiple viola work by Elizabeth Stuen-Walker—an experienced
violist and composer of multiple viola ensemble pieces. This piece will
have parts for different skill levels and students at the local schools
wills be given the opportunity to perform with the ensemble, thus
encouraging viola performance and “state musical
camaraderie.”
Ohio Chapter of
ASTA: OSTA String Festival
This project will provide the opportunity for string teachers and
students to perform in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can share
their talent and growth. Each orchestra will perform for three certified
string teachers and receive verbal and written feedback on their
performance. A fourth string teacher will also listen to the performance
and spend 25-30 minutes in a clinic setting with the group.
Michigan Chapter
of ASTA: MASTA Camps DVD
The project
will create a DVD to promote MASTA Elementary and Junior High String
Camps to get the word out to young string players about summer string
music opportunities in Michigan.
Nebraska Chapter
of ASTA: Tri-City Youth Symphony/Tri-City Junior Youth Symphony
Retreat
This project aims to
bring together the students in central Nebraska
together for a weekend of music-making. Often these
students study privately and have no orchestra program available to
them. By bringing the students together for an intense weekend of music
making led by two conductors with additional assistance from sectional
coaches, the state chapter may offer students a unique musical
opportunity to play music at the highest level of
performance.
New Jersey ASTA:
Tenth Anniversary NJASTA Symposium
This
project will offer New
Jersey teachers and string
students a smaller scale experience of the ASTA National Conference. The
symposium will offer a full day of events, equally promoting both
traditional and alternative styles in string
performance/education.
North
Carolina Chapter of ASTA: String Pedagogy and Practice for the
Classroom and Private Studio
This project will
deliver specific knowledge of pedagogical skills to string music
education majors from three Schools of Music in North
Carolina and visiting
public and private school teachers.
Rhode Island Chapter
of ASTA: Professional Development for Music Educators who Teach Strings
in RI
This
project will offer a series of professional development days for all
public school music teachers who teach strings as part of their jobs
in Rhode
Island. The goal of the
presentations is to help music teachers acquire a deeper knowledge of
how to teach strings.
South Dakota Chapter
of ASTA: Workshops for Strings
This
project will present two string masterclass/workshops in
Aberdeen, South
Dakota. The presenters
will be Jaromir Krovacek and French Chamber Orchestra.
The workshop will provide an opportunity for
South
Dakota string students to
work with expert teachers/performers with special insights into
Sevcik’s methods and orchestral string playing.
Texas Chapter of
ASTA: Statewide Implementation of Certificate Program for
Strings
TexASTA will host two separate days of
Certificate Program for Strings Examiner training, in two different
locations in the state.
Virginia Chapter of
ASTA: Senior Regional Prep Days
The workshop will include masterclasses on each string instrument
(violin, viola, cello, and bass) to prepare area high school students
for the SRO Audition requirements.
2006
Utah
Chapter of ASTA: 2007 Utah
Chapter of ASTA Composition
Competition
To encourage works
by Utah ASTA composers by providing a financial incentive and potential
publicity as well as providing a vehicle for public performance of new
compositions to music educators.
Alabama Chapter of ASTA: Fiddle Fair
A project to provide
high quality in-service education for Alabama Chapter members. Susan
Kempter, clinician, will present four sessions designed to instruct and
inspire. Participants will bring their instruments and will be
encouraged to ask questions throughout. Kempter will lead a sharing
session in which each teacher brings a good teaching idea and
handout.
New Jersey Chapter of ASTA: New
Jersey String
Quartet Festival
New Jersey
String Quartet Festival will consist of a competition, a masterclass,
and a lecture/concert all presided over and presented by a world-class
ensemble, the Shanghai String Quartet. The project provides an opportunity for students to be educated
in the art of string quartet playing by encouraging them to prepare
music for performance. In addition, the lecture/performance given by the
Shanghai String Quartet in residence at Montclair
State
University, will enlighten students as well as audience members about
what a career in professional string quartet is like including the
artistic commitment, the hardships of travel, promotion and management,
and maintaining a high standard of performance.
2005
Utah Chapter of ASTA: 2006
Utah
Chapter of ASTA Composition
Competition
To encourage
works by Utah ASTA composers by providing a financial incentive and
potential publicity as well as providing a vehicle for public
performance of new compositions to music educators. The winning
composition, Chant-Formations
by Deborah Baker Monday, is a
Grade 3.5 work, approximately 4 minutes in length.
Wisconsin Chapter of ASTA: Orff Instrumentarium for Elementary
Orchestra Camp
The mission of the
camp is to motivate students in grades 4 thru 6 through skill building
and skill reinforcing. Elementary camp is designed for 1-2 year public
school students, although the camp typically has students each year who
are more experienced. The 3-day/2-night camp has classes in string
orchestra, small heterogeneous groups, movement and Orff. This is in
addition to regular summer camp activities. At the end of the session,
each student will play 3-4 string orchestra pieces in a concert for
parents. The grant will be used to help purchase instruments for the
camp.
Rhode Island Chapter
of ASTA: “RISTA String Festival
The
proposed festival will encourage fledgling string classes as well as
functioning orchestras to participate in workshops by outstanding ASTA
clinicians. Clinics will be created that will meet the needs of the
participants at whatever level they are playing.
Nebraska Chapter of ASTA: ROSIN
This project
is a bold, 3-5 year initiative to develop new string and orchestra
programs in Nebraska. Whether the project ignites interest in rural or urban
settings, or in community based or existing school systems, it is time
to share information and resources in a systematic, user friendly way.
The funding from the grant will cover mailing and phone calls, paper and
printing for trifolds, cover letters, and packets, publications for a
lending library, and advertising.
New
Jersey Chapter of ASTA: ASTA/NJ Chamber Music Institute
This project will
bring to teenagers the fine art of chamber music playing. Students will
be coached in small groups by some of the finest coaches in
New
Jersey. They will hear
excellent performances by their coaches as well. By using university
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