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Purchase your online ASTA advertising by contacting Steve DiLauro
at 440/238-5577 or click
here. |
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2010 ASTA National Conference
February 17-20,
Santa Clara, California |
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30% Off New Edition of String Syllabus
ASTA String Syllabus, Volume 1, 2009 Edition made its
debut at the national conference. It was the top seller at the
bookstore and sold for just $20. Good news: This discounted
price is good until June 30.
The new version of String Syllabus was updated and
revised by David Littrell, ASTA past president, and new
material was added for Alternative Styles. Place an order by
going online to
astaweb.com and click on publications. You may
also call Sky Henderson, publications manager, at
703/271-2113 ext. 10.
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Journal of String Research Moves to ASTA
For eight years, the Journal of String Research (JSR)
has been published through the Institute for Innovation in
String Music Teaching at the University of Arizona-School of
Music. Beginning this fall, the JSR will become the official
juried, string research publication of ASTA and will be
renamed the String Research Journal.
"The publication remains the only juried journal dedicated
solely to string research," says Donald Hamann, editor of
JSR. "This is an exciting time for the JSR and ASTA. I am
pleased to be a part of the movement and witness the growth
of string research in our profession."
Under the auspices of ASTA, the newly named SRJ will be
published biannually. More information about the transition
and details on how to subscribe and cost will be released in
the August issue of American String Teacher and
will also appear on ASTA's website.
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ASTA Connects With Live From Lincoln Center
A new connection between ASTA and the
television series "Live From Lincoln Center" is in the making.
Jeffrey Solow, ASTA president, and Donna Hale, ASTA executive
director, met with "Live from Lincoln Center" executive
producer, John Goberman, producer, Clare Avery, and education
outreach specialist, Lila Ainsworth in the Lincoln Center
offices in Manhattan on May 17 to discuss this collaboration.
Look for detailed information in the August issue of the
American String Teacher.
The only live performing arts series on television, "Live From
Lincoln Center" brings the best of Lincoln Center to living
rooms throughout America. For more than three decades, this
Emmy Award winning, live public television program has
presented world class performances from artists including
Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax and Friends to the Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
We are confident that string students
and teachers will benefit from this collaboration between
ASTA and the "Live From Lincoln Center" national education
outreach initiative which is now in its formative stages.
Stay tuned.
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State Chapter Award Winners!
Congratulations to the winners of the State Chapter Awards.
- Biggest Membership Increase
- Georgia
- Best Newsletter Award
- Minnesota
- Website Award
- Michigan
- Most Improved Chapter
- Oklahoma
- Most Outstanding Chapter
- Texas
- State Chapter Leader
- Helen Fall, Virginia
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Wins
Outstanding Student Chapter Award
The University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign is the recipient of ASTA's 2009 Outstanding
Student Chapter award. The winner was revealed at the
association's national conference. The student chapter advisor
is Louis Bergonzi. He is a former ASTA with NSOA national
president from 1998-2001.
This award is given to a student chapter that is actively
involved in promoting strings at the university and community
level. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign exceeded
criteria by annually participating in meetings, outings,
clinics for high school students, fundraising, and mentoring.
The chapter also sponsored numerous events with guest speakers
including Marvin Rabin, Rodney Mueller, and Dmitri Tymoczko.
Other events were "Volunteer Saturday" at a local food
pantry-reaching beyond the school community, concerts,
workshops, panel discussions, and attendance at the Illinois
ASTA luncheon during the IMEA convention. These visible
gatherings left a lasting impression not only for music
education/string majors, but also nonmember string players and
local teachers, amateurs, and citizens.
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Five Steps to Make the Most of Your ASTA Membership
1. Verify your contact information.
Let the National office know if you have moved, changed your
phone number and/or have a new email address.
2. Get involved with your state
chapter of ASTA. Many chapters have events and
networking opportunities. Contact the National office for
more information about your state chapter.
3. Educate yourself. Take
advantage of ASTA's resources such as American String
Teacher, national conference, members-only section of
the website, eNEWS, advocacy tools, and more!
4. Become an industry leader.
Familiarize yourself with the current issues and hot topics
of the string industry.
5. Let your ASTA membership be known.
Share your involvement and experience with other string
professionals and encourage their participation in ASTA.
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Council Members: Show Off Your New Products and
Services
Would you like
to take advantage of showcasing your new product or service
in the American String Teacher (AST)? If so, please
send all releases, not more than 300 words, to maryjane@astaweb.com.
You may also include graphics
with a resolution of 300 dpi. This extraordinary benefit is
offered to String Industry Council members only. Don't let
this opportunity pass you by to advertise for free to a
targeted audience of potential buyers. Deadline for
submissions for the August AST is June 9. Showcase is also
featured on ASTA's webpage. Click
here for current AST Showcase.
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Sign ASTA's Petition Before June 30; 10,000 Signatures
Wanted!
As Congress considers reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, most recently labeled No Child Left
Behind (NCLB), and school boards examine their education
budgets for next year, now is the time to make sure your
voice is heard in support of string education. There are two
important steps that you can take.
1. Sign ASTA's National Petition for Strings to become part
of every music curriculum. We want to collect 10,000
signatures! We have already garnered a lot of support while
at the national conference where we collected hundreds of
signatures. It only takes a few minutes. ASTA will present
this petition to the chairs of key Congressional committees
that oversee education funding, to the Secretary of
Education, and also to the President.
2. Gather signatures for a local petition in your own
community! Go to the ASTA website to print off a petition.
Copies of local petitions should be mailed to the National
Office by June 30, 2009. Send them to Donna Hale, ASTA, 4153
Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. We also
encourage you to send copies to your senators and
congressmen.
Addresses for your local and state representative may be
found using our CapWiz link
here.
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Become a Free Member of the Arts Action Fund
As many of you know, ASTA has established a new partnership
with the Americans for the Arts Action Fund. As a benefit of
your ASTA membership, you can also become a free member of
the Arts Action Fund which will provide you with:
- Timely arts advocacy alerts
and news through E-Advocacy Center;
- Easy-to-use online tools to
instantly contact elected leaders at the federal, state, and
local levels as well as the media with customizable
messages;
- Congressional Arts Report Cards
to monitor how members of Congress are voting on the arts
and arts education;
- Quarterly newsletter that
keeps members informed and engaged as stakeholders in arts
advocacy;
- News from campaign trails
to engage, educate, and support political candidates running
for federal office; and
- Ability to contribute to
the only political action committee (PAC) in the country
representing the interests of all arts forms.
Please help ASTA work with other arts advocates to build one
million advocates for the arts by 2010 and advocate for arts
education and arts funding. Join the Arts Action Fund today
by clicking
here. |
Winners of the Merle J. Isaac Composition Contest
ASTA and its Merle J. Isaac Composition Contest Committee
are proud to announce the 2009 winners:
Under 18 Division - Zac
Lavender, Alpharetta, Ga., for Monadnoc (based on a poem by
Emerson)
Senior Division -
Roger Zare, Sarasota, Fla., for A
Midsummer's Daydream
ASTA thanks all 29 composers who entered the contest, which
encompassed a variety of styles and performance ability
levels. ASTA also extends special kudos to the contest
committee and its chairman, Ian Edlund. Look for additional
information about the winners and the contest in the August
issue of American String Teacher (AST).
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ASTA's National High School Honors Orchestra
The National High School Honors
Orchestra (NHSHO) takes place February 16-20, 2010, in
Santa Clara, California at the national conference. Please
be aware of the new deadline
for submitting applications. They must be received by your
state chairman on or before
June 15, 2009.
To apply for the string instruments category, students
must be in 11th and 12th grades during the 2009/2010
school year. Percussion and wind students must be in ninth
through 12th grade during the 2009/2010 school year. The
application, required repertoire, and costs associated
with NHSHO are on ASTA's website under competitions or
click
here.
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Potter's Violin Instrument Awards
Every spring and fall, Potter's
Violins of Bethesda, Maryland donates six Rudolf Doetsch
instruments annually to students in need. Three
instruments- violins, violas, or cello of any size are
awarded each round. Details and application materials are
available online here.
The postmark deadline is October 1.
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Summer Conference Calendar
June 12 - July 11
Illinois Summer Youth Music
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ASTA eNEWS is a free service and an official publication of
the American String Teachers Association. It is designed to
give you quick updates on what's happening within ASTA and
in the string music industry.
Americian String Teachers Association
4153
Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703/279-2113
Fax: 703/279-2114
NOTE: Constant Contact is a
service that ASTA uses to distribute eNEWS to its members.
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