American String Teachers Association

The American String Teacher's Association (ASTA) is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers.[1]Its impact is enriching lives through universal access to fine string playing and teaching. Core values center around Community, Excellence, Teaching and Learning, Passion, Integrity and Diversity and Inclusion. ASTA serves teachers and students in all areas of bowed stringed instruments, from K12-collegiate level, private teachers, performers, institutions of higher learning and business partners serving all instruments, accessories, sheet music and more for the teachers, students and players of stringed instruments.

Another key goal of the association is providing learning opportunities to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and also aims to place those students into orchestras as they grow more proficient. Originally two separate groups, ASTA and NSOA (National School Orchestra Association),[2] the whole organization is now referred to as "ASTA". The organization is currently led by Dr. Brenda Brenner from Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music.[3] The immediate past president is cellist Stephen Benham from Duquesne University, Mary Pappert School of Music.

As aw robust association, it provides professional development, online and print resources for pedagogical content, scholarly publications, music advocate resources, student level competitions and evaluation programs, a career center, community connections through state chapters and much, much more.

ASTA String Curriculum

In 2011, ASTA published its first national model curriculum intended to be used as one of the standards and benchmarks for K–12 strings and orchestra programs. The curriculum is a road map to which teachers can be used as a reference and can be presented to administrators and parents. Although the curriculum is not a method book, but it also includes the teachings of Shinichi Suzuki, Paul Rolland, Kató Havas, and others. The curriculum is available in both print and electronic formats. Visit astastrings.org for more details and to obtain.[4]

National Awards

The following awards are given by ASTA:

ASTA National Conference

Each year, ASTA holds its national conference - the only national conference focused solely on strings and the string community. Join fellow teachers, performers and industry partners at the largest gathering of string professional in the United States. This is the place to connect with peers, rekindle old friendships and meet new friends during this 3-day event of education session, social gatherings, inspiring performances, try out new instruments and have a great time.

The winner of the Middle School division for the 2017 Festival is the Dodgen Middle School Chamber Orchestra. >"National Orchestra Festival". American String Teachers Association. Retrieved 20 December 2012. </ref>

National String Project Consortium

Since 1948, there had been a movement to run programs for string instrument instruction for young children in universities called the String Projects. The first project was started from a program at the University of Texas, and former ASTA President Robert Jesselson led the drive to expand to other universities, based on the model at the University of South Carolina, which included undergraduate students. These projects continued for decades and gained national attention. The National String Project Consortium (NSPC) was formed in 1998 to address the shortage in the stringed-instrument teachers for public schools in the United States.[5] NSPC grew and expanded to 24 sites to the point that it would need to be an independent organization from ASTA. In 2007 NSPC finally became independent. The organization currently has grown to include 35 string projects at universities around the United States.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hans Jørgen Jensen Receives 2010 Artist Teacher Award from American String Teachers Association". Northwestern University. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Jean G., Smith (December 1983). "Organizing Disciplines: The Development of ASTA and NSOA". Music Educators Journal. 70 (4): 56–57. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Associate Professor of Music". Lawrence University. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "ASTA Ups Alternative Offerings at Annual Conference". String Magazine. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "A crescendo of violins and cellos in the schools". 9 April 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Jim, Przygocki. "Addressing the String Teacher Shortage Around the Country" (PDF). The National String Project Consortium. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.