Nebraska ASTA
Officers & Membership
Private String Teachers
Forms/Applications
NationaNational
SUMMER 2004 ISSUE
STRICTLY STRINGS IN NOVEMBER
Mark your calendars......"Strictly Strings" Middle School Orchestra Festival will be held on Saturday, November 6. For further information, please contact Christa Speed at 308-381-0664, or at cspeed@gips.org.
Christa Speed
Grand Island Senior High
Orchestra Director
2124 N. Lafayette
Grand Island, NE 68803
308-385-5950
cspeed@gips.org
NEASTA WITH NSOA AWARDS LUNCHEON
The NEASTA with NSOA Awards Luncheon will be Saturday, November 20, 2004, 11:30-1:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Downtown (Lincoln), in the University Room. The cost will be $11.00 per person, and the menu will be Turkey Club Croissant with fresh fruit and coffee or tea. For more information, contact Dottie Ladman (dladman@lps.org).
2005 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONORS ORCHESTRA
Check out the national website at: www.astaweb.com for information
about the National High School Honors Orchestra. Repertoire requirements
for individual instruments, application materials, and all other necessary
information can be downloaded from the website. Please consider having
your students (who will be a Junior or Senior in 2004-05) audition
for the NHSHO. It would be wonderful to have a strong Nebraska presence
in Reno! Remember, this opportunity won’t present itself again
until the year 2007. Kristin Simpson, Lincoln
Public School String Specialist, has agreed to be the State NHSHO Chair. If
you still have questions about requirements for the NHSHO, after looking at
the website, please contact Kristin at: ksimpso@lps.org.
Applications must be postmarked by August 25, 2004. Late applications will
not be considered. Please include all required materials (as explained on
the ASTA website) to the following address:
Kristin Simpson, NHSHO STATE CHAIR, 4523 Cleveland Ave., Lincoln, NE 68504
E-mail: ksimpso@lps.org (H) 402-325-6854
by Dottie Ladman
Out of Fiddle, Out of My.... Comfort Zone!
A few years ago Debby Greenblatt, esteemed fiddler and composer of fiddle tunes, and then president of NE-ASTA, published a delightful little piece titled "Out of Fiddle, Out of My Mind". It was a piece decrying the trials of a violinist trying to play the viola, and it represented well the feeling of being out of one's comfort zone. I find myself in a position of being out of my comfort zone lately more often than I would have ever imagined.
I am totally humbled by the faith NE-ASTA members have put in me by placing me in the position of President for the next two years, a position which is not something I consider my forte. I am much more a follower than a leader, though I am learning from my predecessors, and I promise to do my very best for this organization at the state and national levels. This will include traveling to the National Convention in Reno next February, at which I hope to see many of my fellow NE-ASTA members. I am a bit of a white knuckle traveler, and not very at ease going to places which are new to me. I like to know where I will be, when, how I will get there, and all the details in advance, which is not always possible when traveling, as you know if you have flown anywhere in the post 9/11 era.
A new and intimidating experience for me this fall will be having a group perform at the Nebraska Music Educators Conference/Clinic in November in Lincoln. It will be my first ever experience with that sort of thing. It is a total leap of faith sending in a recording of an elementary string ensemble knowing that if they are accepted to perform the students doing the performing will not be those who made the recording (they will have gone on to middle school), but the next class, who may or may not be playing strings next year due to the option of switching to a band instrument, and who are untested as an ensemble and must put together a program in ten rehearsals. I hope to see many ASTA members there for the orchestral performances, for the NE-ASTA membership meeting on Saturday, November 20, 2004, at 8 am at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and for the NE-ASTA awards luncheon the same day at 11:30 at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Lincoln. Look for registration information for the luncheon in the upcoming issue of this newsletter.
I also find myself in the position of playing a recital this summer, the first I've done since 1973 when I was a college senior! Clark Potter had been encouraging me to play a recital for several years, and I have declined the invitation because of fear, trepidation, and the desire to keep my life as stress-free as possible. Then my parent volunteer at school mentioned that one of her dreams was to someday play a recital just to have the experience, and I suggested in a moment of weakness that perhaps we should do one together since we are both students of the same teacher. A plan was hatched, and by the time you receive this publication we will have played the recital, and I will likely not have died of a heart attack as a result.
Stepping outside one's comfort zone, while frightening, is also rewarding. I
find I am stretched by doing new things, and I learn and grow and become
a better musician, teacher and person by having
done what I would prefer to have avoided. I was reminded of that just
last week at the Sixth Annual Monumental Fiddling Championship at the Homestead
National Monument in Beatrice. I attended and participated last year
kind of out of a sense of duty as President-elect, since ASTA is one of the
sponsors of the event. This year I attended and participated because I found
last year that it really was a lot of fun, and a definite growing experience
for me. And this year I was a better performer, although not a "real" fiddler
by any stretch of the imagination. I am getting better at performing
memorized tunes, playing in front of a microphone, and increasing my repertoire
from the requisite three tunes. And I had FUN!!! So much fun that
I plan to take in a Fiddle Camp this summer with my daughter to learn more
about how to teach fiddling to my students.
Now comes the part where I encourage all of you to do something outside
your own comfort zone. If you have not attended a National Convention
then next spring is the time! If you are not active in NE-ASTA
and would like to be, this is the time to let me or another board member
know you want to participate more actively. If you don't usually
attend NMEA sessions and performances, that opportunity
will be there November 19 and 20. Be sure to attend the ASTA with NSOA
Regional Workshop at the University of Nebraska-Omaha on September 11-12, 2004,
where you will meet Doris Gazda and have a chance to work with fiddler Debby
Greenblatt (bring your instruments!) Take a bold step and invite/encourage
colleagues who are not members of ASTA to join our organization. And
by all means, take in a fiddle contest! Find out how rewarding (and even
FUN) stepping out of the ordinary can be!
Please plan on attending . . .
CENTRAL STATES WORKSHOP
Saturday and Sunday, September 11 - 12, 2004
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter Of ASTA with NSOA
Saturday & Sunday: sessions with guest clinicians Doris Gazda and
Nebraska fiddling champion Deborah Greenblatt.
A proponent of new music for student musicians, Doris Gazda composes for
string and full orchestras. She is author of High Tech for Strings, technical
studies for middle and senior high school orchestras, and co-author of
the beginning method, Spotlight on Strings. Her music augments the string
orchestra repertoire with melodic and richly harmonized pieces that appeal
to both young people and teachers.
SCHEDULE
Saturday
-
8:00 - 8:30 Check in
-
8:30 - 9:00 Membership meeting
-
9:15 - 10:15 Deborah Greenblatt: The Dance, even "if your Mama don't dance and your Daddy don't rock & roll", AKA, Comfortable Shoes, or "boots made for walkin'"
-
10:30-12:00 Doris Gazda: Beginning Techniques (reading, improvisation, etc.)
-
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
-
1:15 - 2:45 Doris Gazda: Rehearsal Techniques & Conducting
-
3:00 - 4:00 Panel Discussion of strategies for establishing a successful private string studio. Panelists will consist of teachers from several states, including Nebraska. Moderator: Lisa Myers, NEASTA Private Studio Teacher Member-at-Large
-
4:15 - 5:30: Reading Session: recently published works for string orchestra, conducted by Aviva Segall, Music director of the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra. Music provided by Music Teachers Supply.
-
5:45 Dinner (on UNO campus)
-
7:30 - 9:00 Informal Reading Session of obscure and/or rarely programmed string orchestra pieces.
Sunday
-
8:30 - 10:00 Deborah Greenblatt: Fiddle Tunes Every Fiddler Should Know, AKA "Bring your tape recorders and batteries, 'cause I'm only gonna play these once!"
-
10:15 - 12:00 Doris Gazda: "Teaching musicianship through a program of building technique frombeginning to advanced levels."
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12:00 NE-ASTA Board Meeting Luncheon (location TBA) NE-ASTA Board Meeting Luncheon (location TBA)
WORKSHOP LODGING
Comfort Inn
Rates: $60 per night
Phone: 402/343-1000
Contact person: Michelle
Rooms must be reserved by September 6 in order to receive this rate.
For information about taking this workshop
for credit, contact
Dr. Christopher Stanichar
Director of Orchestral Activities
University of Nebraska at Omaha
W. (402) 554-2768
E-mail: cstanichar@mail.unomaha.edu
COMMISSIONING MUSIC/USA
INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT OF NEW MUSICAL WORKS
Deadline: November 12, 2004
A partnership between Meet The Composer (http://www.meetthecomposer.org/ )
and the National Endowment for the Arts, Commissioning Music/USA provides
major national support for the commissioning and multiple performances of
new musical works.
Commissioning Music/USA supports not-for-profit performing and presenting organizations that wish to commission new works by providing financial support for composer and librettist commissioning fees, copying costs, as well as a range of support services.
Applications are accepted on a rotating basis by project
category. Awards for the 2005 round of Commissioning Music/USA will
be for projects in the following categories only: chamber ensemble,
jazz ensemble, new music ensemble, orchestra, chorus, concert band,
and
instrumental/vocal soloist.
Applicant organizations must be U.S.-based, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Organizations
and ensembles that are not incorporated may apply tothe program, but must
have fiscal sponsorship from a not-for-profit arts organization that meets
all eligibility requirements. The following types of organizations are
eligible to apply, as long as the proposed project fits one of the eligible
project categories: chamber ensemble, new music ensemble, jazz ensemble,
orchestra, chorus, concert band, dance company, opera company, theater
company, arts presenter/festival, public broadcaster (radio and television),
Internet producer, and instrumental/vocal soloist. A group of organizations
may also apply as a consortium.
See the Meet The Composer Web site for complete guidelines, eligibility information, and application procedures.
THIRD ANNUAL NEBRASKA ASTA
FIDDLE TUNE COMPOSITION CONTEST!
FIRST PLACE: $100.00 SECOND PLACE: $50.00 THIRD PLACE: $25.00
The first 15 entries received will get a special prize, courtesy of our sponsors.
The winners will be announced on May 28, 2005, 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 2005 Contest Rules and Guidelines
- Each submission should be an original composition which must be unpublished and composed after May 29, 2004.
- Composers may submit more than one tune, but only one prize will be awarded to any one composer.
- Four copies of the music must be submitted via computer generated sheet music, or hand written sheet music.
- The composer should include their name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and the title of the piece.
- The entry fee of $20.00 should be sent in at the time of submission. Checks should be payable to Nebraska ASTA.
- If you wish to receive written evaluation of your tune by the judges, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your entry.
- Nebraska ASTA assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to works submitted.
- Entries must be postmarked by March 22, 2005.
- 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.
- The composer understands that if their tune is one of the winners,
Nebraska ASTA has permission to have the piece performed on May 29,
2005, in Beatrice, Nebraska, as well as permission to reprint the
tune in Stringing Along, the quarterly newsletter of Nebraska
ASTA.
Sponsors of the 2004 Nebraska ASTA Fiddle Tune Composition Contest:
- Greenblatt & Seay Publications, Avoca, Nebraska
- The Metropolitan String Quartet, Omaha, Nebraska
- Nielsen's Violin Shop, Omaha, Nebraska
- Shar, Michigan
- SouthWest Strings, Arizona
Third Place Winner in the
Second Annual Nebraska ASTA Fiddle Tune Composition Contest:
" Dungeon Water", by Nissa Evenson,
from Omaha, Nebraska
Third Place Winner in the
Second Annual Nebraska ASTA Fiddle Tune Composition Contest:
" Dungeon Water", by Nissa Evenson,
from Omaha, Nebraska
Nissa Evenson was born in Huron, SD on November 22 of 1980. She grew
up in Huron and moved to Nebraska in 1999. She received a degree in
music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May of 2003. Currently,
she plays fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and sings with
the country band, Cactus Hill. Nissa also has a private violin studio in Lincoln,
NE. Here's what she says about her prize winning tune, " Dungeon
Water".
" On a hot evening in July of 2003, I was in the mood to do some old-time fiddling. I tuned my E string down one whole step (to a D) and started to play. This tune is full and lush, containing many open-string drones. A drone is when you are playing something on one string and use a near-by string to keep a note "droning" along side of the melody. Sections A and C are very rhythmic and use the bow to help drive the tune forward. This is contrasted with a more melodic Section B. The tune pulls one quickly from D major to d minor and then back again!"
" There are some old tunes and songs about "dungeons" which actually refer to mines. This title crossed my mind when I was drinking home-made watermelon water."
" Whenever you use an alternative tuning, your violin's resonation changes! Most people are accustomed to hearing the violin ring and resonate to its decided open-string pitches: GDAE. When you alter this, the violin's resonation is altered and the color changes. In my tune, "Dungeon Water," instead of hearing the open e-string ringing, another open d-string rings in the background when not being played. It creates a second open d-string for ease of creating a drone or double-stop when playing on the A string. If a tune calls for a change in tuning, the fiddler should read the melody as if his violin was in standard tuning."
" Today's standard violin tuning is GDAE. In the world of fiddle, this is called "natural flat" tuning, to be used when playing in the key of C ("natural") or in keys with flats ("flat"). The second type of tuning is "A minor" tuning, tuned AEAE (the G and D are tuned up a whole step). The last type of tuning is referred to as "cross keying (tuning)" or "discord." These are tunings that are not "natural flat" or "a minor." This is the category that "Dungeon Water" falls into; the e-string is tuned down one whole step to a D." " It is sometimes difficult for a student to get the handle of regular tuning. What happens when they want to learn a tune with a different tuning? It is best if the student already knows how to "tune." Fortunately, most alternative tunings re-tune a string to the same pitch of another open string, allowing the student to match pitches. It will make"regular" tuning seem easy, and it is a good way for astudent to practice turning the pegs!"
" Put lots of energy and drive into it. I recommend using a shuffle bowing in the B section (slur the first 2 sixteenth notes and separate the second 2, placing an accent on the third note) .Do not be afraid to tune down; it is fun and it will not hurt your instrument (unless you break a string!). A recording of this tune is available. Please contact: dungeonwater@violin-studio.com
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;
2003- Arnold Schatz (private) and Carol Ellenwood (school)
ASTA 2ND NATIONAL STRING CONFERENCE
ASTA is busy planning the 2nd National String
Conference, which will be held in Reno, Nevada, February 24 - 26,
2005. Reno, a center of commerce and culture in northern Nevada is
a high desert valley on the eastern side of the Sierra Mountains.
The conference will be held at John Ascuaga's Nugget Resort and Conference
Center. The Conference Center will house all events except the National
High School Honors Orchestra Concert and the headliner recital, which
will be held at the Pioneer Center. The conference will celebrate
all aspects of teaching and performing string instruments. It will
be a time for alternative styles enthusiasts, performers from any
string related genre, private teachers, K-12 school teachers, and
university educators from the applied and education areas to gather
in one location to enhance skills and knowledge. If you attended
the 2003 Conference, "All Together Now" at Ohio State,
you know about the phenomenal atmosphere and excitement generated
among theparticipants. The 2005 conference, unlike the 2004 Forums,
will be a broader conference with a balance of sessions for our diverse
membership. Session topics will include traditional pedagogy, issues
for school string and orchestra teachers, injury prevention, classical and
non-traditional performance, university-level training of future string players
and educators, and alternative styles techniques to name a few. Poster sessions
will also be available.
There will be master classes available for all instruments.
New for 2005 will be two different levels of master classes-some
geared for the typical string student and others for the more advanced
musician. We will have the pleasure of seeing Midori work with very
talented violinists. Other performances will include groups selected
from the tapes sent in to the performance committee and will include
but not be limited to orchestras, chamber groups, and alternative
styles groups. One solo recital will be featured. The Alternative
Styles committee will be involved with a form of a competition that
will foster growth in a positive environment that will encourage
young musicians. Watch the journal and the website for more information
about this exciting venture as it becomes available. The music
industry will sponsor showcases and will have a totally string-related
exhibit hall. The exhibit hall in 2003 included over
100 string booths and it was a bustling hubbub of activity. It was so gratifying
to see the exhibitors share their wares in a strings only venue.
The National High School Honors Orchestra will again
be featured at the conference. The conductor will be Mark Russell
Smith. Contact
information to apply is in this newsletter. Please download application materials
and requirements at <www.astaweb.com>. Social events are always
important to string performers and teachers. The Silent Auction will be held
again, but this time preview times will be available before the auction.
This successful event was a big hit in 2003 and promises to be even better
in 2005! Receptions will be available at various times during the conference.
The Student Chapters will have the traditional pizza party. It will be a
time to meet old friends, make many new ones and share unparalleled camaraderie. We
look forward to seeing you in Reno!
MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE OFFERS FUNDING FOR PERFORMANCES
BY ARTISTS
FROM MEXICO
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts,
the Mid-America Arts Alliance
( http://maaa.org/ ) has funding available
for presenters of stage performances by artists from Mexico in the six states
of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The subsidy
will be up to 50 percent of the artist's contract fee.
Applicant organizations must be located in one of the eligible states and must be legally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status or be a unit of state, local, or tribal government. In addition, the proposed project must take place between September 1, 2004, and August 31, 2005; present professional performing artists from Mexico; include at least one performance open to the general public; include at least one educational activity; and, through its public performance or educational activity, serve audiences that lack access to performing arts and other cultural activities due to geography, economic conditions, ethnic background, disability, age, or other factors.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning June 1, 2004. Early submission will increase the likelihood of funding. See the MAAAWeb site for complete program guidelines and application information.
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER WANTS YOUNG JAZZ ARTISTS
Deadline: December 17, 2004
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (http://kennedy-center.org/
) invites young jazz artists to apply for Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, the
Kennedy Center's annual jazz residency. Founded by jazz artist Betty Carter,
BCJA is part of the Kennedy Center Jazz Program.
BCJA identifies outstanding emerging jazz artists and brings them together for a music residency under the tutelage of experienced artist-instructors who coach and counsel them, helping to polish their performance, composing, and arranging skills. Residency participants will work with established jazz artists during the residency period (March 23-April 1, 2005) and will perform in concerts at the Kennedy Center.
Musicians under the age of thirty who are both jazz composers and performers are eligible to apply. The Kennedy Center will provide participants with housing, a stipend for travel to and from Washington, D.C., and a modest honorarium for meal expenses.
See the Kennedy Center Web site for more information and applications instructions.
©2005 ASTA with NSOA, Nebraska Unit, C. Ellenwood, Webmaster