Sessions are Wednesday  12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. – unless otherwise noted
$59 for members/$79 for non-members* additional cost - not part of conference registraion fees

Solo Adjudication 101
This workshop is designed to prepare teachers to become ASTACAP examiners and solo festival adjudicators. ASTA members who complete this pre-conference session will have their photos, brief biographies, and contact information listed on a special adjudication page on the website for as long as they maintain their ASTA membership. This session will include: an overview of ASTACAP and the adjudication process; checklist for preparing for exams and adjudications; tips on providing constructive and meaningful comments to students; and a hands-on mock exam that demonstrates the adjudication process and includes small group discussions on assessment. The goal of this workshop is to prepare teachers to become effective examiners and solo adjudicators.

Alternative Styles
This five hour session will focus on Alternative Styles Curriculum, Alternative Styles Performing in Your Community and will end in a jam session! The afternoon will begin with the topic of Alternative Styles Curriculum. How can I include alternative styles in my lesson plans? I’m already overwhelmed with the basic methods! And why should I? Listen to a panel of teachers who have done this successfully and pick up some tips. This is a round table discussion and open to sharing ideas from all who attend. The discussion will then move to learning about Alternative Styles Programming in Your Community. Have you put together a group that focuses on alternative styles? Would you like to present your group beyond the school setting and into the community? A group of teachers who have done this will share their experiences on this topic. We’d like to hear your ideas, too! The day will wrap up with a Jam Session! Hey! Stop the chatter and get out your instrument. Didn’t we all get into music to play? Let’s rock!
Clinicians: Bob Phillips, Jonathan Glawe, Stephen Benham, Robert Gardner, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Judy Palac, Andrew Dabczynski, Mari Black, Jacob Szekely, Steven Vance, Elizabeth Barnes, Theresa Jenkins Russ, Blaise Kielar, Donna Hebert

Conducting Techniques for School Orchestra Conductors
This session is targeted to school orchestra conductors at all levels. It will provide teachers with the opportunity to conduct an ensemble of string players and receive feedback from a panel of university/professional conductors and teachers of conducting, all of whom perform internationally, train conductors and are leaders in the Conductors Guild.
Clinician: Sandra Dackow, Hershey Symphony Festival Strings

From Open Strings to Complete Musicianship: Teaching Technique and Artistry at All Levels
During this session, you will learn which techniques Master Teachers use to get optimal results from their students. Hear what works –and what does not– from four of the leading Master Teachers in the United States. Topics will include tone production, bow strokes, vibrato, shifting, intonation, practice techniques and memorization skills – relevant information for students and teachers alike!
Presenters: Lawrence Hurst, Hans Jorgen Jensen, Almita Vamos, Roland Vamos

Practical Procedures for Performance without Pain
Playing string instruments takes its toll on your muscles. Especially in today’s world of computer, TV and less active lifestyles, we all need ideas on how to help our students (and us!) to hold our bodies, instruments and bows in a way that will make beautiful music without pain and damage. A variety of strategies and equipment will be presented, with plenty of time to ask questions and try out ideas to see how they work for you.
Clinicians: Hillary Herndon, Amy Roisum Foley, Ross Harbaugh

Going Beyond the Ordinary---Make your Program Extraordinaire! (K-12) 
12:00-5:30 p.m. 
Recharge your teaching batteries with “Best of Practices” in recruiting and motivation, dynamic rehearsals and podium energy, assessment and curriculum for success, and getting the word out via community involvement and events planning. Add more tools to your teaching belt as master teachers share and challenge you to reach your maximum orchestra program potential. This session offers gold nuggets for all level school orchestra directors.
Clinicians: Ruth Kurtis, Amy Feldkamp-Marr, Loretta McNulty, Jean Montes, Denese Odegaard, Deborah Perkins, Roberta Warfield
*If participating in STEP, attend this session.

State Leadership Training Workshop (invitation only)
State presidents from around the country will join together for an informative and critical half-day training and networking session. This workshop will arm you with the tools to effectively lead your state chapter, give you the opportunity to form relationships with nearby state chapter officers, and hear the challenges and successes of running a state chapter unit. A great place to gather ideas for you state chapter, big or small, active or not so active. State Chapter Awards
for Membership Recruitment, Best Newsletter, Most Improved Chapter, Outstanding Chapter, State Chapter Leader, and Best Website will be presented.