It's that time of year when the question is asked the most; from colleague to colleague, from administrator to music educator, from parent to string teacher - "What are you doing this year?" or more specifically, "What pieces are you performing this year? What trip are you taking? What composers are you studying?" These are common questions that we all need to have an answer for as we plan the music education of our string students. Allow me to challenge you with another question: "What are you doing for YOURSELF this year?" As most of you know, and as I have learned by personal experience, if I do not take time to grow myself, there is far less that I am able to give in teaching my students.
Here are some thoughts to grow yourself on.
 Get tickets to a local symphony concert. [The CSO, Colorado Springs Symphony, any University Symphony Concert, visiting artists, youth symphonies, chamber groups]
 Listen to some really good music.
 Sleep an extra 30 minutes.
 Plan to attend a conference or a convention. [Like CMEA at the Broadmoor, the National ASTA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia in March.]
 Go to lunch or dinner with some other String Educator colleagues and talk about what is best about your teaching, your students, your school, and your music-making.
 Take some time to explore some of the incredible resources on your colo-asta.org website. [My student teacher is working through Vivaldi's Autumn which we downloaded and printed for free from one of the free music resources that is on our website.]
 Order your favorite pie, ice cream, or any dessert and stop to really "Savor" the taste.
 Explore some of the resources on the National ASTA (astaweb.com) website and see if any of them are for you.
Take 10 minutes to think "outside-of-the-box" and dream about possibilities for you and your string players. What have you not done yet that intrigues you the most? Why not try it? As music educators, it is easy to try and operate on the verge of burnout because of how much we desire to do for our students. But a "burned-out" me does not function in the best interest of my students. Only a healthy me can really contribute and enjoy working with my students. So plan ahead not only for them, but also for you. Plan on joining us at the next CASTA General membership meeting at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley on Saturday, November 8th at 10am. Plan on sticking around that day to hear great music from the Western States Honor Orchestra weekend activities or just to have lunch with some of your colleagues. Make sure that you give and get as much music as you can.
Finally, if at all possible, make the big plans to not only rejuvenate, reinvigorate, and re-energize yourself at one of our three conventions throughout the year (CMEA in January, National ASTA in March and CASTA w/CBA in Summer), but to also challenge yourself to dream bigger for you and your string students. See you soon and I look forward to hearing from you on your plans for you and your music program this year.

Don Emmons, Instrumental Music Director

Littleton High School

CASTA President-Elect