Newsletter

Happy summer to all of you. You may be performing at a music festival, at home with young children, digging in the garden(me), visiting family, getting back to our instruments, or vacationing, but wherever you are, whatever you are doing, realize that you are a treasure! You are a treasure to Nebraska, to your community and to your students. Your musical expertise and love of teaching builds healtheir, happier people and communities. We have amazing string teachers in our state, who truly are rich resources.

With summer comes the chance to change the pace and scope of our routines. Isn't it great? For many of us, summer gives us the chance to focus on projects we deem important rather than spending precious time and energy on dictated responsibilities. Teaching is rewarding but also fatiguing. Planning, morivating, scheduoling, rehearsing, assessing, perfomring, communicating, and another ten verbs it takes to make spin a program, music studio or business often requires sustained, intense dedication to a wide variety of tasks. How xan we recharge ourselves throughout the year, while simultaneously expending energy?

ARFF-You saw correctly. ARFF stands for Achievement, Recognition, Fun and Freedom. The concept of keeping a healthy balance of four componenets comes from Dennis McGlouglin, who presents "High Trust" workshops for teachers all over the world. Of all the workshops I have attended in over 25 years, ARFF has stuck with me far better than most key ideas.

Yes, we need to "do", to achieve, to complete, to accomplish specific tasks and long range goals. Yes, we need to receive feedback from students, parents, fellow staff, symphony colleagues-recognition of our efforts. Yes, we need to have plain old fashioned fun, using our creativity and humor in the classrooms and studio. Yes, we need freedom-breaks from the rountine, permission be creative, and choose our own projects, to try something new.

Students need ARFF too-during the school day, at lessons and beyond their music endeavors. What kinds of opportunities do we include in our teaching to foster ARFF? Perhaps we need to ask our students?

Be good to yourself, take a few minutes to read the entire Stringing Along. We have many exciting projects with room to grow. Contact any board member wiht questions or suggestions. We are all here to serve you.

Twenty-nine fiddle players, two violists and ten acoustic bands from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa competed on Saturday, May 27 in the 8th Annual Monument Fiddling Championship in Beatrice, Nebraska, at the National Homestead Monument. The Homestead Monument, the Nebraska Arts Council, and the Nebraska American String Teachers Association co-sponsored this event and awarded cash prizes and trophies. For more information about next year's contest, contact the Homestead National Monument of america at 402.223.3514 or email Greenblatt & Seay

Junior Division: 1st Place-Zach Dull, Lincoln, Nebraska; 2nd Place-Sue Jennings (a fiddle student of NEASTA member Jenni Wallace-Grate), Omaha, Nebraska; 3rd Place-Ryan Segur (a fiddle student of NEASTA member, Deborah Greenblatt) Pacific Junction, Iowa

Senior Division: 1st Place-Jason Shaw, Lincoln, Nebraska; 2nd Place-John Shaw, Licnoln, Nebraska; 3rd Place-Sam Packard, Lincoln, Nebraska; Honorable Mention-Matthew Fincham, Marysville, Kansas.

Acoustic Band: 1st Place-Little Brown Jug, Lincoln, nebraska; 2nd Place-Chamber Music, Kansas City, Missouri, 3rd Place-Rivertown String Band, Omaha, Nebraska

Left Handed Fiddler: Contest resulted in a tie between two Lincoln, Nebraska fiddlers, Jessica Buhl and Kara Eide.

The Youngest Fiddlers: Ezra Fike, Willow Springs, Missouri and Truman Metz, Axtell, Kansas.

A complete fiddle outfit (fiddle, bow and case) was donated by the maker (Rohn) and won in a raffle by Sam Loken, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Fiddle Tune compostition Contest: 1st Place-Perporkin by Jim McKinney, Romulus, Michigan; 2nd Place-Rhiannon by Steve Lehr, Bellevue, Nebraska; 3rd Place-Fayette Park Jig by Roy A. Patchell, Lexington, Kentucky

Just before I was going to send in the Scalawag's March as my entry, i decided it would be a good march but is just wasn't a good enough fiddle tune. I decided to see if I could make up another one to send in that might sound more fiddle-y. I had been toying with the idea of a tune that went modal jor just a measure or two so i started noodling around and Perporkin just pooped out.

I decided to name it Perporkin after a word that my wife said in her sleep one night. My son was watching TV while my wife was sleeping. Tommy saw a toy that he wanted and asked Loretta if she would get it for him. My wife's response was, "I'll get you one of everything. I'll get you two of everything. Perporkin". I thought it was interesting and definitely unique so I decided to use it.

Fifth ANNUAL NEBRASKA ASTA
FIDDLE TUNE COMPOSITION CONTEST!

FIRST PLACE: $100.00 SECOND PLACE: $50.00 THIRD PLACE: $25.00

This even inspires fiddlers to compose their own tunes and supports the cause of string education throughtout the great State of Nebraska.

The winners will be announced on May 26, 2007, 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 2007 Contest Rules and Guidelines

1. Each submission should be an original composition which must be unpublished and composed after May 27, 2006.
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, 2007.
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 copyrighting 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 26, 2007, in Beatrice, Nebraska, as well as permission to reprint the tune in Stringing Along, the quarterly newsletter of Nebraska ASTA.

Previous Sponsors of the 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

SCHOOLHOUSE FIDDLE CAMPS, 2006

All camps are held in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, 504 Garfield St, Avoca, Nebraska

Monday, August 7 - Friday, August 11

9:00 am-1:00 pm-For folk who consider themselves intermediate or advanced, with Deborah Greenblatt, the first woman to win the Nebraska State Fiddle Championship. Pre-registration is required. $200.00 fee per camper due on the first day of camp

2:00-5:00 pm-For folk who consider themselves intermediate or advanced, with World Champion Fiddler, Randy Elmore. Pre-registration is required. $200.00 fee per camper due on the first day of camp

Friday, August 11, 7:30 pm. Randy Elmore, in Concert with Greenblatt & Seay, Adult $5, student/child $1

Saturday, August 12, 9:00-12:00 noon, Master Class with Randy Elmore,

$30 fee per participant for master class.

To register, log on to our website: www.mastercall.com/g-s/, or email us at g-s@alltel.net or call 402.275.3221

STUDIO MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Erin Cosby

I am very excited about serving on the board of NEASTA with such fun and knowledgeable people! I would like to express my thanks to Lisa Myers (past private studio member-at-large) for working so hard to start a database of all Nebraska string teachers.

As a member of the board, one of my goals is to improve communication within the string community here in Nebraska, regarless of whether you are a symphony player, public school string teacher, or private Suzuki instructor. I will be contacting many of you over the next few months so I can update our records. My hope is to give NEASTA an accurate list of member and non-member string teachers. This will allow NEASTA to contact members more efficiently. It will also help in reaching non-members about upcoming events. My hope is to increase the visibility of NEASTA so that all string enthusiasts across othe state will consider joining our organization. I am looking forward to meeting many of you in the months to come...

"WORD TO YOUR NEASTA" WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.......

Do you have:

A performance of interest for the state?
An idea for recruiting new members or for networking with the fantastic current members?
A teaching question to post for feedback?
A concern about arts advocacy?
Let us know-we care!

PRIVATE STUDIO TIPS

by Erin Cosby

I have always enjoyed the on-on-one dynamic of private teaching. It is amazing to have the opportunityto watch these kids trow up. I have been teaching some of my students for over seven years and always smile when I remember those first few lessons.

Being a musician, my least favorite part of teaching has always been administration. Organization does note come easily to me and I did not become a teacher to spend my time reminding people to pay me and balancing books. Over the years, I have observed some differenct techniques that I put to use in my own studio that help cut down on my non-teaching duties. Here are some of my favorites.

Parent Notebook-Instead of having to wate precious teaching time explaining about upcoming events or payments due, I type up all relevant informaiton at the beginning of the week and place in a three-ring binder. There is a calendar of upcoming events, congratulations on performances, and payment reminders. All my parents know to check the Parent Notebook at each lesson. i learned the hard way that the notebook should be brightly colored or parents are likely to accidentlally take it home!

Payment Box-when people would pay me during the lesson, sometimes checks ended up shut inside of books, on music stands or fallen behind the piano. I seemed to put them wherever I was standing at the time. Now that the parents put them directly in the box, I don't have to spend hours searching for checks I think I remember getting.

Lesson Exchange-When a student cna't make a lesson time, they have the option fo trading time with another student. All parents are given a copy of my teaching schedule with contact information. Once they make the swithc, they call to let me know. Since I don't teach make-up lessons. this provides parents with anothe option.

Quarterly Payments-The best thing I ever did. Parents only have to remember their checkbooks once a quarter and I don't have to liik up who has paid every month. Beware: that third month can be pretty scary until you get the hang of it.

Making these small changes minimized the non-musical time I had to spend on my studio and really free me to just teach.

If you have any great teaching tips to share. please email them to me at TEC3123@cox.net

OUT IN ANOTHER PASTURE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE...

by Ann Frame

Hello good colleagues and friends. I just wanted to say thanks for electing me to a term a sMember-at-Large. After recently completing a term as the NMEa Orchestra Chair, this pasture looks inviting to me. I hope to grow into the title,but not literally.

I still work for OPS and you may contact me with anything you need ad amframe@hotmail.com or us my school address, ann.frame@ops.org I check both with infrequency and if you send to both addresses. I will get it in some timely fashion!

Debbie Martinez, my predecessor, is enjoying family time with the newest Martinex, Miss Nina Samone. I owe Debbie hug thanks for organizing this position int a thorough three ring binder with a month by month planner! Also thanks to her, I am able to tell you the date has been set for next year's Young Orchestra Festival in Lincoln. Please save Saturday, May 5th on your calendar for this terrific opportunity for your 5th-9th grade orchestra students. Remember to include your solo/small ensemble students in this event, also!

I'm looking forward to having this opportunity to help keep strings alive in Nebraska. We have so much competition from so many other directions, yet still mamage to produce quality programs in our areas of the state. Kudos to you for all your efforts and dedication.

And speaking of dedication, don't forget to make your nominationsfor School Educator and Private Educator of the Year. Especially now while you have a little time to wrist soemthin up. Back in 2004, I had the privilege of receiving the Public School Educator award and can't even begin to tell you how much it measne to me. and probably only me (as all my pricipals had to ask what NEASTA stood for) bu maybe you know somebody that may not be blazing new trails across the state, but is taking care of their little corral next to the big pasture....

Enjoy the next few months. I hope they are lighter and rejuvenating for you-because in a couple more months, we're gong to need it!!!

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Frame

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 director of bands and current UNL Symphony conductor, Dr. Carolyn Barber; a technology update by NEASTA webmaster, Carol Ellenwood; and some music reading.

The Central States Workshop 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 information 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 students are eligible to apply for the orchestra. Students must apply for it 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. Applications for the National High School Honors Orchestra will be available on the ASTA website and in the ASTA journal in spring of 2007.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

"STRICTLY STRINGS' WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

This middle school orchestra event is for 7th and 8th grade string players and is held annually at Walnut Middle School in Grand Island. If you are interested in bringing students to this event, contact Christa Speed, cspeed@gips.org or at 308.381.0664 for further information.

DO YOU HAV A CONTENDER?

Consider entering a student in the National Solo Competition. Nebraska should be represented!

The Biennial National Solo Competition, which takes place during the national conference, has served as a springboard for many artists to go on to careers in orchestral playing, studio instruction, university teaching, and as international soloists. Open to violin, viola, cello, bass, harp and quiter, more the 2,000 studetns have participated! Participants must be members or student of members. Contact David Neely. our NEASTA chair.

The national ASTA website http://www.astaweb.com/2007/Solocomp.html has all the informaiton about htis competition including: eligibility, how to apply at the state level, required repertoire for the national competition, deadlines and a list of state contacts. Nebraska candidates advancing to the national semi-finals must be sent ot the national office no later than December 1, 2006. Finals of the National Solo Competition will take place at the 2007 National ASTA Convention, in Detroit, March 7-10.

BACH TO ROCK CONCERT WITH MARK WOOD

Mark Wood, rock violinist and graduate of Juilliard School of Music, will bring the Trans-Siberian Orchestra east to Omaha on May 9-12. The Omaha conservatory of Music will host a workshop and concert at the Orpheum on Saturday, May 12.

Mark Wood will be scheduled to work with Omaha Conservatory students and other area string programs who are interested in a mini-workshop on improvisation. Mark will travel with a keyboard player, electric bass, electric guitar, drummer, and vocal spedialist. Any string program that would like to participate should contact Ruth Meints at the Omaha Conservatory, 402.932.4978. One piece will be chosen for all string programs to prepare prior to Mark's visit. This piecewill be performed as the finale at the Orpheum concert on May 12. All students who have worked with Mark Wood during the workshops will be encouraged to join Mark on stage for the final number.

For students who have to travel from across the state, there will be a mini-workshop on Saturday afternoon. These students should also learn the finale number and participate in the Saturday night concert.

Mark's workshop hours are limited, so any interested program should contact Ruth Meints as soon as possible. The in-school workshop sessions will fillup quickly. Students who do not have a chance to work with Mark in the school setting can still come to the Saturday afternoon workshop.

Check Mark Wood's website for more information on his career and band. www.woodviolins.com

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 orchestra director and one private studio teacher. 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 teacher 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

Summer 2006
Volume 20, Number 2

FREE BROCHURES FOR RECRUITING NEXT FALL!

Why Strings? Brochures-Sponsored by Connolly and Co./Thomastik-Infeld Vienna, this advocacy brochure is available free to ASTA members (no more than 300 per person, please).

MORE GREAT RECRUITING MATERIALS!

Visit the Advocacy section of the ASTA website. The association cna also provide letters of support for schools that are trying to start new programs or save existing programs. To obtain a letter, write to tami@astaweb.com

ALL ON BOARD? IS YOUR NAME ON OUR LIST?

If you are a NEASTA member and want your name on the "Current Members List", or if you need to have information updated, please contact Erin Cosby. Erin will contact you and make the additions for the roster and website.

IT'S NEVER BEEN EASIER! A POWERFUL WAY TO PROMOTE THE ARTS! CAPWIZ WEBSITE: STRINGS ADVOCACY

In a message form our State Chapter and Membership Liason in Washington D.C,, Christina Champs writes....In a recent membership survey, advocacy was identified as a top priority by ASTA members. You can become an example of your commitment to string advocacy with the use of ASTA's program-CapWiz

CapWiz provides users with a wealth of information about their elected officials, important legislation that affect Strings advocates, and most of all the abiltiy to take action and have their voices heard in Washington and State Capitols across the country.

The Home page includes the following categories:

Action Alerts and Updates

Elected Officials-Includes: Search by your home zip code; bios; voting records; Links to their home pages

Issues and Legislations-Includes: Legislative Alerts and Updates; Current Legistlation; Key Votes; and Tips to help advocates communicate effectively.

Elections and Candidates-Includes information needed to register to vote: candidate and election searches.

Media Guide: Identifies various media outlets and contact information.

Stirng Advocacy Features-Action List Sign up; Mega vote; Tell-a Friend; Web Stickers; Congress Today

Write to your Senators and Representatives-it has never been easier! In your note, direct them our website www.astaweb.com

CapWiz is easy to use! Go to the ASTA website (www.astaweb.com) and under Advocacy, the CapWiz link is available (http://capwiz.com/astaweb/home/)

LET ASTA KEEP THE RECORDS! GET PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCES!

ROSIN PROJECT UPDATE-GET READY FOR ORCHESTRAS AND STRINGS IN NEBRASKA

Through the 2005-2006 ASTA Special Projects Grant, NEASTA is actively educating and advocating for new string programs.

A core committee of Debby Greenblatt, clark Potter, Alice Johnson, and Patty Ritchie worked together to:

Solicit the support of ROSIN sponsors from current string program strongholds across the state

Identify communities which might be looking for or in need of new string offerings

Order string program publications form MENC and ASTA, for loan

Create promotional brochures, and introduction/follow-up letters

Make personal contacts with interested parties

Design ROSIN sessions for the Central States Workshop, in September at UNO

The enthusiasm and practical support we give each other and interested"Wanna be's!" makes the difference between surviving and thriving in Nebraska!

There are dreams which need to become realities! We are all sources fo encouragement and huidance-whether the new program is a private studio, a fiddle club, or a public string group. if you would like some ROSIN brochures, please contact Patty Ritchie, at pritchie@tconl.com

GRAB YOUR CLAENDARS! NEASTA AND ASTA EVENTS

NMEA All-State Auditions---October 14, 2006

National High School solo competition---December 1, 2006 (See Article)

Central States Workshop---September 9-10, 2006 at UNO (See Article)

ASTA Convention, Detroit---March 7-10, 2007

NEASTA Festival for Young Orchestras---May 5, 2007 at UNL