Newsletter

As I am writing this in late January, I am already will into the planning of the Central States Regional Workshop to be held September 9-10, 2006, at UNO. I encourage all of you to reserve those dates on your calendars now and plan to attend. the Chiara String Quartet and fiddler, Cristina Seaborn have already agreed to be our quest clinicians and work is in progress for the many sessions and displays. i will be a great time to learn, get togehter with colleagues form all over the midwest, and get refreshed and rejuvenated at the beginning of the new school year.

The ASTA Nation Conference in Kansas City is nearly upon us and i know many Nebraska folks are already planning to attend. If last year's conference is any indication then we will be thoroughly bowled over with the number of participnats and the diversity of all thing string related. if you haven't made arrangements to attend, there is still time.

On May 6 we will hold our annual Young Orchestra Festival at UNL. This event is aimed at middle school orchestra, small ensembles, and soloists. Orchestras receive ratings and comments form an adjudicator, as do small ensembles and soloists. It is a great opportunity for youngsters to experience the music facilities a UNL, see a bit of the city if you choose to do lunch or other activities while in town, and listen to students from other schools as they perform. Many thanks to Debbie Mrtinez, who so ably organizes and carries out this event! Registration information

Our Fourth Annual Fiddle Tune Composition Contest is also in progress. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2006, and the awards will be presented at the monumental Fiddling Championship in Beatrice on May 27, 2006. winning tunes will be performed at that time and will be published throught the year in future issues of Stringing Along. Debby Greenblatt does a marvelous job with this event every year and we thnk her profusely! Se this issue for further information.

In know I usually writ a cutesy article of some sort for Stringing Along and I enjoy very much writing them. Some of you may even enjoy reading them and a couple other states have asked permission to reprint a couple of them. This month I have a very full plate of obligations and I have been getting over a month-long bout with bronchitis, so I apologize that I have no teaching tips ready to print. I wil try to get back on track for further issues.

ROSIN UPDATE
We need your suggestions for contacts.
By Patty Ritchie, President Elect

Our ROSIN project is well underway. As most of you know, our NEASTA chapter received a Special Projects Grant, in the amount of $850.00, to help promote new string programs in our state. An informational brochure was created, including national, state and local resources for growing string programs of all sizes and styles. Many of you volunteered to serve as ROSIN sponsors. Thank you!

The core committee, consisting of Clark Potter, alice Johnson, Debby Greenblatt and myself have now mailed out over 50 brochures wiht cover letters to colleges, universities, and public and private schools across the state. To finish our canvassin of possible interested communities, we would like to send brochures to parents whose children are undrserved (no string program). Do you know of any? Send names to pritchie@tconl.com or call 402.333.0853.

The third step to our ROSIN project is to include training and informational sessions at the Central States Workshop, September 9-10, 2006 at UNO.

Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for your enthusiasm for our string community.

All camps are held in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, 504 Garfield St, Avoca, Nebraska with Deborah Greenblatt, the first woman to win the Nebraska State Fiddle Championship.

Camp 1: Monday, June 5 - Friday, June 9, For teachers and future teachers
Camp 2: Monday; July 17 - Friday, July 21, For folk who consider themselves beginners
Camp 3: Monday, August 7 - Friday, August 11, For folk who consider themselves intermediate or advanced

The course of study during the Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps will be designed specifically for the campers, whoever you turn out to be. there is limited enrollment. Pre-registration is required. $200.00 fee per camper due on the first day of camp.

Fourth 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 27, 2006, 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 2006 Contest Rules and Guidelines

1. Each submission should be an original composition which must be unpublished and composed after May 28, 2005.
2. Composers may submit more than one tune, but only one prize will be awarded to any one composer.
3. Four copies of 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 31, 2006.
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 27, 2006, in Beatrice, Nebraska, as well as permission to reprint the tune in Stringing Along, the quarterly newsletter of Nebraska ASTA.

Sponsors of the 2005 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

CENTRAL STATES REGIONAL WORKSHOP
Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, 2006
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of ASTA

Our guest clinicians will be the Chiara String Quartet and fiddler extraordinaire, Cristina Seaborn.

Cristina Seaborn is violinist and fiddler with over thirty years of experience. In symphonies, quartets, jazz ensembles, and folk/rock bands, her musical background includes influences in classical, jazz, Celtic, bluegrass, and Texas swing fiddle.

The Chiara Quartet are winners of the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and prize winners at the 2005 Borciani International String Quartet Competition. They are in residence at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a 3 year appointment beginning in 2005 as Artists-in-Residence/Lecturers in the School of music in addition to their normal touring schedule.

Other session planned include "How to Audition Your Next Instrument"; "Running a Private Studio Successfully", by Anne Nagosky; chamber music; conducting, by UNL directo of bnad and current UNL Symphony conductor, Dr. Carolyn Barber; a technology update by NEASTA webmaster, Carol Ellenwood; and some music reading.

The Central States Worksho will run form 8:00 am to 9:00am on Saturday, September 9, and from 8:30 am to noon on Sunday, September 10, 2006. Sessions will be held in the Strauss Performing Arts Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus.

Registration Fee:
Active ASTA members: $65
Student members of ASTA: $35
Non-ASTA members: $75

registration fee is waived for first year teachers who join ASTA at the workshop (dinner and Chiara Quartet concert on Saturday are included in the registration fee)

Workshop Lodging:
Comfort Inn
8736 W. Dodge
Omaha, NE
402.343.1000

For informaiton about taking this workshop for credit, contact:
Dr. Christopher Stanichar
Director of Orchestral Activities
University of Nebraska at Omaha
402.554.2768
email: cstanichar@mail.unomaha.edu

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONORS ORCHESTA (NHSHO)
2006 APPLICATION

High school junior and senior studnets are eligible to apply for the orchestra. Students must apply forit through their ASTA state chapters. They submit an audition tape or CD of required literature and three minutes form literature of their own choosing. The students are required to be members of their school orchestra. Students must follow the application process as stated above to be considered by the national committee.

The next NHSHO will take place February 28 - March 1, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM. Appliecations for the National High School Honors Orchestra will be available on the ASTA website and in the ASTA journal in spring of 2007.

1ST PLACE FIDDLE TUNE COMPOSITION CONTEST WINNER
"EMPTYHEAD" BY JIM MCKINNEY

Available by contacting:
Jim McKinney
31001 Dolly Circle, Romulus, MI 48174-9714
734.753.8864 / stringtet@charter.net

For more information . or to inquire about next year's contest, contact Deborah Greenblatt, The Old Schoolhouse, PO Box 671, Avoca, Nebraska, 68307-0671, or by email to g-s@alltel.net

NEASTA YOUNG ORCHESTA FESTIVAL
By Debbie Martinez

this year, students who performed in the festival felt inspired by the outstanding performacnes and by thoughtful comments form experienced judges (This year Jennifer Boomgaarden of the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra coached lively sessions for orchestras and Alice Johnson of the UN-L String Project gave thoughtful and supportive comments to solos and ensembles).

Many also had the opportunity to hear other middle schoolers perform as large ensembles, small ensembles, and soloists. It is instructive for the studetns to have such "out of school" experiences, and is is neat for instructors to hear how others approach common problems like intonation, rhythm, balance, etc. Groups who attended receive judges' comments, a mini clinic with the ensemble/solos, and large ensembles receive a plaqaue with their rating engraved on it. It's fun, its reinforcing, andit's a field trip!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 6, 2006 at UNL's Kimball Hall! If you have questions or need further information, please contact Debbie Martinez, Millard North High School, 1010 S.144th St., Omaha, Ne 68154, 402.691.1513, dmartin@mpsomaha.org

What: NEASTA Young Orchestra Festival
When: Saturday, May 6, 2006, 8:00am - 12:00 pm
Where: UN-L
Who: Middle and Junior High (grades 6-9) string orchestra, full orchestra, solos and small ensembles are welcome.

Bring your students to a positive performance opportunity. The ASTA Festival for Young Orchestras will include qualified judges written comments and a short clinic following each performache. Solos and chamber music will also be critiqued by experienced judges, providing important feedback for personal musical growth.

The trip to the UN-L campus can be augmented by including a trip to the Capitol, or to a favorite restaurant. Get on your bus and get on board!

Plan now to attend the May 6th ASTA Festival for Young Orchestras Festival!

Applications are due April 15, 2006. Send to:
Debbie Martinez
Director Orchestras
Millard North High School, Millard North Middle School
1010 S. 144th St
Omaha, NE 68154

Questions? Email djmartin@mpsomaha.org or call 402.691.1513

NEBRASKA ASTA WITH NSOA STRING TEACHRS 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 orchstr director and one private studio teachr. We urge you to consider submitting the name of a person whom you believe to represent outstanding teaching in one of both areas. Send nominations to: Dottie Ladman, 3906 Pace Blvd, Lincoln, Ne 68502 or email dladman@lps.org Along with the nomination form, please submit a letter stating why you believe the teaher should receive the award, and several supporting letters form students, parents, administrators, etc.

The deadline for nominations for the nest award is November 1, 2006. 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.

Officers & Membership

Private String Teachers

Forms/Applications

Spring 2006
Volume 20, Number 1

Officers & Membership

Private String Teachers

Forms/Applications

Spring 2006 Volume 20, Number 1

Spring 2006
Volume 20, Number 1