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FALL 2003 ISSUE
President's Message
Dear Fellow String Teachers,
I hope you're having a wonderful school year and making lots of beautiful music! We
have several things coming up next month, specifically at NMEA.
Remember the Awards Luncheon I mentioned in the summer newsletter? Well
it's still going to happen, and we've actually had a few awards nominations!
You still have until November 1st to nominate someone for the School Educator
Award and the Studio Teacher Award. The luncheon is being modeled after the
Awards Luncheons that the national organization used to have. It will be Saturday,
November 22, 11:30-12:30. Please see the reservation information inside this
issue.
A heads up: the luncheon will take place during the All-State Orchestra dress
rehearsal, so please plan accordingly. After exploring various options for
a luncheon time, this was really the only option that would actually work.
Also at NMEA is our Annual Membership Meeting. It will take place at 8:00 AM
in Westbrook room 9. The board wants and needs your input in making plans
for our state chapter. Please bring another string teacher with you, even
if he/she isn't yet a member of ASTA with NSOA!
Lastly, the NMEA conference affords a number of string activities. In addition
to the ASTA with NSOA activities already mentioned, and the All-State Orchestra,
the conference consists of a number of orchestra performances and two string-specific
clinics. Bob Phillips, co-author of several string books, including Fiddler's
Philharmonic, Jazz Philharmonic, and String Explorer, will be giving two
sessions on Friday-one at 8:00 AM and the other at 1:00 PM. In addition to
all this, there are many other wonderful sessions to attend. And you won't
want to miss Bob Duke's Keynote Address on Friday morning, November 21. Bob
is an outstanding speaker and music educator. In fact, I would have to say
he is the most dynamic speaker I've every heard!
Don't forget to make your reservation for the Awards Luncheon! And plan on
coming to the membership meeting earlier that morning.
See you at NMEA!
Sincerely,
Karen Becker
SCHOOLHOUSE FIDDLING BEE RESULTS
The Seventh Annual Schoolhouse Fiddling Bee was enjoyed by over a hundred fiddle enthusiasts on Sunday afternoon in The Old Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska. Several of the winners are students of NEASTA members.
In the Open Division, the winners were:
- First Place - Megan Poppe, Blue Rapids, Kansas;
- Second Place - Billy Welter, Crescent, Iowa (student of Mike Godfrey and Deborah Greenblatt);
- Third Place - Sophie Lange, Ord, Nebraska (student of Mischa Johnson and Deborah Greenblatt).
In the Singing Fiddler Division, the winners were:
- First Place - Jim Patterson, Omaha, Nebraska;
- Second Place - Dolores Goldapp, Murray, Nebraska (student of Deborah Greenblatt);
- Third Place - Olivia Clymens, Talmage, Nebraska (viola student
of Deborah Greenblatt).
In the Fee-Fi-Faux Division, the winners were:
- First Place - Megan Poppe, Blue Rapids, Kansas, with the mandolin;
- Second Place - Olivia Clymens, Talmage, Nebraska, with the soprano recorder;
- Third Place - Barbie Lange, Ord, Nebraska, with the mandolin.
In the Hocus Pocus Division, the winners were:
- First Place - Megan Poppe, Blue Rapids, Kansas;
- Second Place - Barbie Lange, Ord, Nebraska (student of Mischa Johnson and Deborah Greenblatt);
- Third Place - Sophie Lange, Ord, Nebraska.
In the Twin Fiddling Division, the winners were:
- First Place - Elizabeth Poppe and Megan Poppe, sisters, Bue Rapids, Kansas;
- Second Place - Ryan Segur and Nancy Crews, son and mother, Pacific Junction, Iowa (students of Mike Godfrey and Deborah Greenblatt);
- Third Place - Barbie Lang and Sophie Lang, sisters, Ord, Nebraska.
The judges were Teri Cambron, string specialist with the Omaha Public Schools
and violinist with The Metropolitan String Quartet; Cindy Brosman, private
violin and viola teacher from Phillips and violinist with the Hastings Symphony;
and Jim Nipper, owner of Acoustic Music Plus in Lincoln.
Next year, the Eighth Annual Schoolhouse Fiddling Bee will be held on Sunday,
October 10, 2004, so you all have a lot of time to practice.
For more information, contact:
Greenblatt & Seay, g-s@alltel.net, http://www.mastercall.com/g-s/,
402-275-3221.
Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra *UNO's Symphony Orchestra) performs an exciting program of spooky music on Tuesday, October 28, 2003, at 7:30 PM in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall on the UNOmaha campus. tickets are $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for students and seniors.
The program, entitled "Hauntcert," will feature ghastly compositions
by Mussorgsky, Gounod, Saint-Saens, Berlioz, and Grieg. The orchestra,
conducted by Dr. Christopher Stanichar, will present the concert in costume
and the audience is invited to do the same.
Everyone is welcome to attend this family-friendly event. Please call
554-3427 for tickets and information.
A Fun Assessment Activity
by Dottie Ladman
Every year in December there seems to be a week or so of school left following our Winter Concert during which we still have music classes even though the students, and often teachers as well, are mentally looking forward to the upcoming vacation. It is not an optimal time to dig into new literature or musical concepts! For several years I have used it as an assessment time, though I doubt my students are even aware that is what is going on.
Following the Winter Concert my beginning and second/third year string classes
go "caroling" around the school. Each class comes in as usual,
three to six students every half hour. We tune and warm-up as usual,
then I have them sight read some simple three to five part holiday music
from one or two of the popular easy ensemble books available. We choose
one or two of the pieces that sound the best, assign parts for good balance,
and then take our pieces "on the road". We walk to other
classrooms or areas of the school and play our selections. I always
clear it ahead of time with the classroom teachers and administration to
make sure we are welcome, and often teachers will suggest a preferred time
frame for their particular class to be visited. Since I have classes
all day long it is usually easy to accommodate most everyone. Over
the lunch period we make it a point to play in the lunchroom for the larger
audience there. It usually takes only a minute or two to play our short
performance, after which we move to another area of the building and repeat
the performance. In a half hour class we are able to do our preparation
and visit three to five areas before we have to be back in the music room
to dismiss and begin again with the next class. Over the course of
several days every area of the building is visited, and I make sure the classes
from which I will be recruiting next year's students are given a little extra
priority. The few string classes which are not quite ready for performing
for others simply stay in the music room during their class and play the
holiday music for ourselves for fun.
So what are the students learning when we take on this activity? When I thought
about it I was surprised at all the skills these beginning students are learning
that are often taken for granted. They are learning things like how to carry
a Manhasset music stand that is as big as they are in one hand and their
instrument in the other. They are learning cooperation--who carries
the stand, who carries the music, sharing music. They are learning
compromise--not everyone can play the melody if we want the music to sound
the best it can, and it's only fair to let everyone have a turn playing the
melody. They are learning to make musical decisions for the good of
the group--do they try to play a part which is too difficult for them to
play accurately, or do they choose or accept the assignment of an easier
part they can play well and make the group sound better. They are learning
appropriate acknowledgment of applause (which we always get wherever we perform),
accepted ways to bow and behave no matter how well or poorly we feel we have
performed. They are learning the importance of continuing to play after
making a mistake, how to recover from a mistake, and that while we try not
to make mistakes, the world does not come to an end if we do. And the
students experience the pleasure of having people openly appreciate their
playing, which helps make them feel successful.
And what do I learn from the experience? Because we are sight reading at the beginning I get to assess the students' music reading skills, and they are not all nervous because it isn't a "test". I can also step back and assess their playing position, intonation, tone quality, and all that other stuff in a short time. The added bonus is that I get to find out who is a great performer, who is just really comfortable in front of an audience, and who is not so comfortable in that role. Some students play better than I have ever heard them when they are in front of an audience! I also get to see how the pieces we play improve over the half hour we work with them, and how after playing them several times in close succession they get better and better. The students sometimes comment about that, and I reply, "Do you know what we call that? Practice!" I remind them that practice doesn't always make things perfect, but it sure does make them better!
There are other perks to the caroling assessment experience as well. Teachers
and staff in the buildings have told me how much they appreciate seeing their
students in a different setting and displaying different strengths and talents
which they otherwise don't get to observe. My administrators
are enthusiastic and supportive of the activity and are the best of audiences
for the students. And of course the whole thing is a superb recruiting
tool as we play for younger students who look up to the string players and
begin forming their own ideas about playing when they get into fourth grade.
In the end, I have an enjoyable week before the Winter Break, and I finish
classes with a better understanding of each student's playing and performance
abilities.
Books I use for caroling/assessment activities:
(I have a small set of these books which I keep in my library and only use in class. If students want to have the music to practice I encourage them to purchase their own books at a local music store.)
- Christmas Kaleidoscope and Christmas Kaleidoscope II--arr. Robert S. Frost, pub. Kjos
- Christmas and Chanukah Ensembles--John O'Reilly, pub. Highland Etling
- Strictly Strings books 1 and 2--there are a couple holiday ensemble pieces in these--pub. Highland Etling
- Play a Song of Christmas--Ruth L. Zimmerman, pub. Theodore Presser (a bit more difficult, but nice arrangements)
- Yamaha Christmas Ensembles--John O'Reilly and John Kinyon, pub. Alfred (this is a band series, but the alto sax book has the pieces written mostly in sharp keys and works pretty well for violin classes)
Greenblatt & Seay announce three Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps for next summer. Camp 1, June 21 - 25, is for teachers and teachers wannabees. Camp 2, July 19 - 23, is for folks who consider themselves beginners. Camp 3, August 2 - 6, is for folks who consider themselves intermediate or advanced. The Camp day runs from 9 AM - 1 PM. Enrollment is limited to 10 fiddlers, and the fee is $150.00 per fiddler. Registrations are accepted on line at
http://www.mastercall.com/g-s/workshops/schoolhouse_fiddle_camp.htm.
NEBRASKA ASTA WITH NSOA
STRING TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Each year the Nebraska Unit of the American String Teachers Association recognizes two outstanding string/orchestra teachers in Nebraska by presenting an award to one school orchestra director and one private studio teacher. Below are forms to be used for nominations. We urge you to consider submitting the name of a person whom you believe to represent outstanding teaching in one or both areas. Send nominations to: Deborah Greenblatt, The Old Schoolhouse, PO Box 671, Avoca, NE, or e-mail g-s@alltel.net. The deadline for nominations for the next awards is November 1, 2003. A decision has been made by the Executive Board of Nebraska ASTA that past winners will not be eligible until ten years after their last award.
PAST WINNERS: 1990 - Bettelee Lewis; 1991- Larry Maupin; 1992 - no
awards given; 1993 - Carol Work (private) and Christa Speed (school); 1994
- Morris Collier (private) and Patty Ritchie (school); 1995 - Carol Work
(private) and Alice Johnson (school); 1996 - Valerie Knowles (private) and
Del Whitman (school); 1997 - David Low (private) and Molly Moriarty (school);
1999 - no awards given; 2000 - Gerald Feese (private) and Dave Klein (school); 2001-
Mischa Johnson (private) and Maribeth Lynn (school); 2002 - no awards given
NE-ASTA/NSOA AWARDS LUNCHEON
Luncheon Location: Holiday Inn Downtown (on the corner of 9th & P
Streets)
Luncheon Date & Time: Saturday, November 22, 11:30-12:30
Luncheon Cost: $11.00 per person (this includes all costs)
E-Mail Karen Becker (kbecker2@unl.edu) with your reservation. Let her know if you require a vegetarian meal. Make the check out to "NE-ASTA with NSOA", and mail to Karen Becker, School of Music, P.O. Box 880100, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0100.
LOOKING FOR VIOLISTS !
The California Music Festival announces early auditions. The Festival will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, July 26-August 8, 2004, and is for college/conservatory students and young professionals, ages 18 and older.
Musicians will experience An intensive, performance-oriented program, featuring
the music of Schumann, and much more. Special consideration given to
those who apply early.
Auditions live in New York City. Auditions by tape/CD also welcome.
For applications and complete information, please visit our website:
www.californiamusicfestival.org,
and/or E-mail: californiamusicfestival@yahoo.com.
SECOND ANNUAL NEBRASKA ASTA
FIDDLE TUNE COMPOSITION CONTEST!
FIRST PLACE: $100.00
SECOND PLACE: $50.00
THIRD PLACE: $25.00
The winners will be announced on May 29, 2004,during the Monumental Fiddling Championship held at the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, Nebraska. The winning compositions will be performed at the Monumental Fiddling Championship, and printed in Stringing Along, the journal of the Nebraska Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Direct your questions to: Deborah Greenblatt, The Old Schoolhouse, PO Box 671, Avoca, Nebraska, 68307-0671, or by e-mail to g-s@alltel.net.
The 2004 Contest Rules and Guidelines
1. Each submission should be an original composition which must be unpublished
and composed after May 24, 2003.
2. Composers may submit more than one tune, but only one prize will be awarded
to any one composer.
3. The music must be submitted via computer generated sheet music, or hand-written
sheet music.
4. The composer should include their name, address, phone number, e-mail address,
and the title of the piece.
5. The entry fee of $20.00 should be sent in at the time of submission. Checks
should be payable to Nebraska ASTA.
6. If you wish to receive written evaluation of your tune by the judges,
include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your entry.
7. Nebraska ASTA assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to works
submitted.
8. Entries must be postmarked by March 22, 2004.
9. Send your entry to Deborah Greenblatt, The Old Schoolhouse, PO Box 671,
Avoca, Nebraska, 68307-0671. The composer is responsible for keeping
a copy of their work, as well as for coyrighting their tune.
10. The composer understands that if their tune is one of the winners,
Nebraska ASTA has permission to have the piece performed on May 22, 2004, in
Beatrice, Nebraska, as well as permission to reprint the tune in Stringing
Along, the quarterly newsletter of Nebraska ASTA.
Sponsors of the 2003 Nebraska ASTA Fiddle Tune Composition Contest
- Acoustic Music Plus, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Greenblatt & Seay Publications, Avoca, Nebraska
- London String Instrument Repair, Lincoln, Nebraska
- The Metropolitan String Quartet, Omaha, Nebraska
- Nielsen's Violin Shop, Omaha, Nebraska,
- Shar, Michigan
- SouthWest Strings, Arizona
Hello Nebraska ASTA Members. Warwick's National High School Orchestra Festival has had a very enthusiastic response from 2002 and 2003 students, teachers, clinicians, volunteers, parents and hotel personnel.
Each year we have added events to our schedule, so that the April 23, 24, 25,
2004 festivities include:
- 3 divisions - String Orchestra, Full Orchestra and Youth Orchestra - each division offering a prize to the top scorer of $1000. Groups also have the option of participating for Rating Only.
- Adjudications followed by Clinics
- Workshops for strings in Fiddlin'
- Workshops for winds & percussion in Jazz Improvisation
- Technique Classes for each section of the orchestra
- Master Classes on any instrument with 3 performers
- Faculty Recital
- Tour of Providence, including renowned State House, Riverwalk, Providence Place Mall, Brown University and 1st. Baptist Church of America.
- Awards Banquet with Entertainment, including appearance and performance by Miss R.I., Harvard Graduate and Violinist
- 4-Star Crowne Plaza Hotel
- An intimate festival where your individual needs are catered to
For info, refer to our website: www.warwickmusicfestval.org, and/or e-mail Carol Pellegrino, Executive Director at CPMus@aol.com, and/or phone her at 401-884-8172.
ASTA WITH NSOA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Applications for the next round of the "String Industry Council Grant Program" are available. Grants of $100 to $1,000 are awarded to support start-up initiatives that create new string players in a community.
CodaBows for America will donate approximately $5,000 worth of Aspire bows
annually to studios or schools that show particular need of fine bows for
their students. Deadline is March 1.
Classics for Kids Foundation will make instruments available to deserving
kids who apply by March 1.
The "Potter's Violins Instrument Awards" will donate Rudolf Doetsch
instruments to financially needy students after each application deadline
of April 1.
The Merle J. Isaac Composition Contest is accepting compositions for full
orchestra by April 1. Winners receive $1500 and aid in the publication
of the work.
The Urban Outreach Program Grants, which award up to $2,000 to support string
programs in urban areas, are available through the national office.
To learn more about these items, contact the National Office at www.astaweb.com.
©2005 ASTA with NSOA, Nebraska Unit, C. Ellenwood, Webmaster