Nebraska ASTA
Officers & Membership
Private String Teachers
Forms/Applications
NationaNational
SPRING 2001 ISSUE
Volume 15, Number 1
President's Message
Well, here I go again! This time I was inspired by my student,
Rachel (2nd grader who channels her ancestors), as she was trying
to understand her flute-playing mother's comments about slurs.
We had a lively discussion about the relationship between bowing
and breathing, and now I have this song to elegantly torture everyone
else. Proceed at your own risk.
Sincerely,
Debby-in-the-Schoolhouse
President Nebraska ASTA with NSOA
Practice, Practice, Practice
Copywrite 2001 by D. Greenblatt
Verse:
Oh, my Mom watches me practice all the time, which ain't
so bad.
It's the times she interrupts me, that makes me kind of mad.
Oh, she gives me lots of feedback, she gives me good advice.
And if I ever get a clue, that really would be nice. So I....
Chorus:
Practice, practice, practice, practice to improve
Practice, practice, practice, until I'm in the groove
Practice, practice, practice, and then the world will see!
Practice, practice, practice, for a better sounding me!
Practice, practice, practice, for a better sounding me!
Oh, my Dog wants me to practice, every single day
And I know that's what she's thinking when she looks at me
that way.
So, I just get out my fiddle and I start to play a song.
She dances on her hind legs, and then she sings along, when
I...
Oh, my teacher likes to teach me stuff that she thinks I
will need,
And we take it slow and steady, and soon we're up to Speed.
Then I notice my improvement, so I thank my teacher dear,
She says, "I'm not the only one who gets the credit here!" 'Cause
I...
ASTA WITH NSOA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
ASTA WITH NSOA offers members a number of benefits and services.
To learn more about these items, contact the National Office at
803-476-1316 or visit the association's web site at www.astaweb.com.
- Instrument Insurance discount
- Urban outreach Grants
- Summer workshops and conferences
- New Music reading folders
Visit the web site for a complete list of the member services
and benefits.
MILLARD STRING STUDENTS IN THE MOVIES
Twenty-one elementary students
from the Millard Public Schools will film a scene in the major
motion picture currently being filmed
in Omaha, entitled "About Schmidt", starring Jack Nicholson. The
intrepid students believe their teacher (Pattie Ritchie) can adequately
prepare them for the March 29 shoot. While the final production
may only include a few seconds of footage, the starry eyed orchestra
is practicing the green off of "Greensleeves", the selected composition
for the "Christmas program" scene.
CHAMBER MUSIC RESOURCE
Several members of the Amateur Chamber Music Players say that
the most convenient place in the US to look for chamber music is
the Philadelphia Free Library. With more than 27,000 titles, the
Free Library Chamber Music Collection is available to amateur and
professional musicians. Includes works for solo instruments and
vocal-instrumental combinations. All periods of music are represented,
from Baroque to Modern, and from trio sonatas to jazz ensembles.
The bulk of the collection is not on-line and can only be accessed
by mail, phone, or through e-mail queries.
Conditions of loan include a refundable deposit for each work
of music requested. For more information, or to inquire about holdings,
please contact the library at:
Chamber Music Collection, Music Department Free Library
of Philadelphia
19th and Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215/686-5316
E-mail: chambermusic@library.phila.gov
"COME SWING WITH THE STRINGS IN SAN ANTONIO!"
July 25-28, 2001
If you have ever thought about making the switch to teaching orchestra
or if you have suddenly found yourself standing in front of one,
we have a workshop specially designed for you!
ASTA/NSOA in conjunction with the Texas Orchestra
Directors 40th Annual Convention offers sessions for the experienced
string
teacher as well as the novice!
Sessions include:
- "String-a-Phobia!"
- "How to Sound Like a String Teacher"
- "Bowing Techniques"
- "Practical Applications for Stringed Instruments"
- "Sequencing Technical Skills with Literature"
- "Panel Discussion of Successful Orchestra
Directors from a
- Non-String Background"
- Music Reading Session of "Tried and True
Favorites"
- "Diagnosing Technique Problems in the String
Orchestra"
- "A Harp in Your Orchestra?"
- "Organizing your Orchestra"
- 3 New Music Reading Sessions
- Clinics on Conducting / Rehearsal techniques
- Social activities each evening
- Over 125 exhibitors
Nationally recognized clinicians include: Robert Gillespie, William
Jones, James Kjelland, and Marvin Rabin.
4TH AND 5TH GRADERS PLAY WORLD PREMIERE
A piece written by Nebraska ASTA
member Patty Ritchie for beginning string orchestra was premiered
Sunday, March 11th by 4th and 5th
graders in the Millard Schools. The title is "Merrifield Park" and
includes girls doing jump rope, hand-jive to "Miss Mary Mack" various
children's songs, a volleyball game complete with referee, and
the Ice Cream Man passing out real ice cream bars! Details about
possible publication will be forthcoming...........
STRING CLINICIANS ANNOUNCED FOR NMEA CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 15 - 17, 2001
Bill Roehrs, President-Elect of the Nebraska Music Educators Association
has announced that the following clinicians will present sessions
next November 15-17, 2001 at the NMEA All-State Conference:
Daryl Silberman is a nationally recognized improvisational blues,
jazz, and folk/rock recording artist. She is an educator with an
active private studio and on the faculty at the Colburn School
of Performing Arts at USC. Her topics will address alternate styles
of string playing in the school settings.
Aviva Segall is the Conductor of the Omaha Area Youth Symphony.
She will present a session on conducting techniques and other related
topics.
Margaret Carpenter, an Omaha based Suzuki teacher will discuss
string techniques. Margaret hopes to bring some students as a demonstration
group.
Gary Wolfmann, a former candidate
for MENC national president will discuss "The Changing Rehearsal and the National Standards",
and "Performance with Understanding: The Wisconsin Comprehensive
Musicianship Through Performance Project". What a great speaker
and bright educator!
The Annual ASTA business meeting will be held on Saturday morning
November 17, 2001 at Westbrook Music Building in Room 109 at 7
AM.
NMEA invites all ASTA members to join MENC, the world's largest
music teacher organization and attend the All-State Conference.
For more information contact fellow-Nebraska ASTA member, William
A. Roehrs, NMEA President-Elect, wroehrs@lps.org,
402-423-6784
ASTA WITH NSOA MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO STUDENTS
Do your students know about the student membership opportunity
available from ASTA with NSOA? For only $20 per year, any full-time
student can receive the American String Teacher, and student members
will also receive Stringing Along. Please give any interested student
an application blank. For more information, contact:
Christa Speed, Membership Chair
1625 Coventry Lane, Grand Island, NE, 68801,
H: (308) 381-0664
LENNOX YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
Sponsored by the Richardson Symphony
University of Texas at Dallas, January 12, 2002
The LENNOX Competition receives major funding through a generous
endowment from LENNOX International, Inc. The competition is open
to serious students of piano or string instruments ages 13-19 as
of March 9, 2002. Applicants may be studying privately at a college
or university, but may not be enrolled in a college degree program.
Competitors will perform from memory one movement of a standard
concerto written for his/her instrument. Audition tapes/CDs (not
to exceed 30 minutes) are required with the application; these
must include the concerto movement and may include another contrasting
solo work which will demonstrate the applicant's technical and
artistic abilities.
The award for 1st place in each
division is $1,000 plus the opportunity to perform with the Richardson
Symphony on the March 9, 2002 concert.
Second place winners receive an award of $500. Further information
may be obtained by calling the RSO office @ 972-234-4195 or the
Competition Chair, Thelma Ball, at 972-783-8180.E-mail address
is: bperry@richardsonsymphony.com.
Brochures may be obtained by request or by accessing the web site:
http://www.richardsonsymphony.com.
"TEACHING TEACHERS TO TEACH:
TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE UNIVERSITY CONFERENCES"
January 17-19,2002: "The String Project Concept"
January 18-20,2002: "Teaching the College String Methods Courses"
These two conferences, held at the University of South Carolina
School of Music, will focus on the training of future string teachers.
The first will explore the String Project concept: the creation
and administration of such programs, pedagogical concepts involved
in this service learning idea, including sessions on grant writing,
starting a program, training young teachers. The other part of
this conference will be for college faculty who teach string methods
and techniques classes, in order to help improve the teaching of
these courses.
Planning Committees:
- "String Project Concept" - Gail Barnes,
Chair; Karen Becker, Karrell Johnson,Daniel Mason, Jim Pryzgocki
-
"Teaching the College String methods Courses" -
Kathlene Goodrich,
Chair, Ken Sarch, Bob McCashin, Bob Gillespie, Gail Barnes
(sponsored by ASTA with NSOA, with the National String Project
Consortium and the Collegiate String Education Roundtable)
ASTA WITH NSOA PLANS 2003 CONFERENCE
For the first time in its history, ASTA WITH NSOA will hold a
stand-alone conference at The Ohio State University March 27 through
29, 2003 The gathering will recognize the wealth of our rich traditions
as well as offer members new horizons in teaching and performing
strings. Conscious of the diverse demographics of its constituency,
ASTA WITH NSOA will have clinics and performances that address
the needs of private studio teachers, elementary and secondary
string and orchestra teachers, university string teachers in both
applied and music education areas, string students, Suzuki teachers,
professional classical and non-classical performers, non-string
performers who teach strings in schools (band directors, choir
directors), and administrators.
Sessions will address the following areas: traditional pedagogy,
string and full orchestras, classical and alternative styles of
performance; university-level training of future string teachers;
non-string players who teach strings; use of technology as it applies
to playing and teaching strings; and the music industry. A call
for session proposals will be announced in Spring 2002.
Those attending the conference
will have the pleasure of hearing the NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONORS
ORCHESTRA, a new Alternative Styles
Performance Contest, solo recitals and chamber music performances
by well-known performers or groups, selected elementary through
high school string or full orchestras, and selected college or
university orchestras. Plan to join string teachers and players
from around the nation in the festivities.
SPRING 2001 ISSUE
President's Message
Well, here I go again! This time I was inspired by my student, Rachel (2nd grader who channels her ancestors), as she was trying to understand her flute-playing mother's comments about slurs. We had a lively discussion about the relationship between bowing and breathing, and now I have this song to elegantly torture everyone else. Proceed at your own risk.
Sincerely,
Debby-in-the-Schoolhouse
President Nebraska ASTA with NSOA
Copywrite 2001 by D. Greenblatt
Oh, my Mom watches me practice all the time, which ain't so bad.
It's the times she interrupts me, that makes me kind of mad.
Oh, she gives me lots of feedback, she gives me good advice.
And if I ever get a clue, that really would be nice. So I....
Chorus:
Practice, practice, practice, practice to improve
Practice, practice, practice, until I'm in the groove
Practice, practice, practice, and then the world will see!
Practice, practice, practice, for a better sounding me!
Practice, practice, practice, for a better sounding me!
Oh, my Dog wants me to practice, every single day
And I know that's what she's thinking when she looks at me that way.
So, I just get out my fiddle and I start to play a song.
She dances on her hind legs, and then she sings along, when I...
Oh, my teacher likes to teach me stuff that she thinks I will need,
And we take it slow and steady, and soon we're up to Speed.
Then I notice my improvement, so I thank my teacher dear,
She says, "I'm not the only one who gets the credit here!" 'Cause I...
ASTA WITH NSOA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
ASTA WITH NSOA offers members a number of benefits and services. To learn more about these items, contact the National Office at 803-476-1316 or visit the association's web site at www.astaweb.com.
- Instrument Insurance discount
- Urban outreach Grants
- Summer workshops and conferences
- New Music reading folders
Visit the web site for a complete list of the member services and benefits.
MILLARD STRING STUDENTS IN THE MOVIES
Twenty-one elementary students from the Millard Public Schools will film a scene in the major motion picture currently being filmed in Omaha, entitled "About Schmidt", starring Jack Nicholson. The intrepid students believe their teacher (Pattie Ritchie) can adequately prepare them for the March 29 shoot. While the final production may only include a few seconds of footage, the starry eyed orchestra is practicing the green off of "Greensleeves", the selected composition for the "Christmas program" scene.
CHAMBER MUSIC RESOURCE
Several members of the Amateur Chamber Music Players say that the most convenient place in the US to look for chamber music is the Philadelphia Free Library. With more than 27,000 titles, the Free Library Chamber Music Collection is available to amateur and professional musicians. Includes works for solo instruments and vocal-instrumental combinations. All periods of music are represented, from Baroque to Modern, and from trio sonatas to jazz ensembles. The bulk of the collection is not on-line and can only be accessed by mail, phone, or through e-mail queries.
Conditions of loan include a refundable deposit for each work of music requested. For more information, or to inquire about holdings, please contact the library at:
Chamber Music Collection, Music Department Free Library of Philadelphia19th and Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215/686-5316
E-mail: chambermusic@library.phila.gov
"COME SWING WITH THE STRINGS IN SAN ANTONIO!"
July 25-28, 2001
If you have ever thought about making the switch to teaching orchestra or if you have suddenly found yourself standing in front of one, we have a workshop specially designed for you!
ASTA/NSOA in conjunction with the Texas Orchestra Directors 40th Annual Convention offers sessions for the experienced string teacher as well as the novice!
Sessions include:
- "String-a-Phobia!"
- "How to Sound Like a String Teacher"
- "Bowing Techniques"
- "Practical Applications for Stringed Instruments"
- "Sequencing Technical Skills with Literature"
- "Panel Discussion of Successful Orchestra Directors from a
- Non-String Background"
- Music Reading Session of "Tried and True Favorites"
- "Diagnosing Technique Problems in the String Orchestra"
- "A Harp in Your Orchestra?"
- "Organizing your Orchestra"
- 3 New Music Reading Sessions
- Clinics on Conducting / Rehearsal techniques
- Social activities each evening
- Over 125 exhibitors
Nationally recognized clinicians include: Robert Gillespie, William Jones, James Kjelland, and Marvin Rabin.
4TH AND 5TH GRADERS PLAY WORLD PREMIERE
A piece written by Nebraska ASTA member Patty Ritchie for beginning string orchestra was premiered Sunday, March 11th by 4th and 5th graders in the Millard Schools. The title is "Merrifield Park" and includes girls doing jump rope, hand-jive to "Miss Mary Mack" various children's songs, a volleyball game complete with referee, and the Ice Cream Man passing out real ice cream bars! Details about possible publication will be forthcoming...........
STRING CLINICIANS ANNOUNCED FOR NMEA CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 15 - 17, 2001
Bill Roehrs, President-Elect of the Nebraska Music Educators Association has announced that the following clinicians will present sessions next November 15-17, 2001 at the NMEA All-State Conference:
Daryl Silberman is a nationally recognized improvisational blues, jazz, and folk/rock recording artist. She is an educator with an active private studio and on the faculty at the Colburn School of Performing Arts at USC. Her topics will address alternate styles of string playing in the school settings.
Aviva Segall is the Conductor of the Omaha Area Youth Symphony. She will present a session on conducting techniques and other related topics.
Margaret Carpenter, an Omaha based Suzuki teacher will discuss string techniques. Margaret hopes to bring some students as a demonstration group.
Gary Wolfmann, a former candidate for MENC national president will discuss "The Changing Rehearsal and the National Standards", and "Performance with Understanding: The Wisconsin Comprehensive Musicianship Through Performance Project". What a great speaker and bright educator!
The Annual ASTA business meeting will be held on Saturday morning November 17, 2001 at Westbrook Music Building in Room 109 at 7 AM.
NMEA invites all ASTA members to join MENC, the world's largest music teacher organization and attend the All-State Conference.
For more information contact fellow-Nebraska ASTA member, William A. Roehrs, NMEA President-Elect, wroehrs@lps.org, 402-423-6784
ASTA WITH NSOA MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO STUDENTS
Do your students know about the student membership opportunity available from ASTA with NSOA? For only $20 per year, any full-time student can receive the American String Teacher, and student members will also receive Stringing Along. Please give any interested student an application blank. For more information, contact:
Christa Speed, Membership Chair
1625 Coventry Lane, Grand Island, NE, 68801,
H: (308) 381-0664
LENNOX YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
Sponsored by the Richardson Symphony
University of Texas at Dallas, January 12, 2002
The LENNOX Competition receives major funding through a generous endowment from LENNOX International, Inc. The competition is open to serious students of piano or string instruments ages 13-19 as of March 9, 2002. Applicants may be studying privately at a college or university, but may not be enrolled in a college degree program.
Competitors will perform from memory one movement of a standard concerto written for his/her instrument. Audition tapes/CDs (not to exceed 30 minutes) are required with the application; these must include the concerto movement and may include another contrasting solo work which will demonstrate the applicant's technical and artistic abilities.
The award for 1st place in each division is $1,000 plus the opportunity to perform with the Richardson Symphony on the March 9, 2002 concert. Second place winners receive an award of $500. Further information may be obtained by calling the RSO office @ 972-234-4195 or the Competition Chair, Thelma Ball, at 972-783-8180.E-mail address is: bperry@richardsonsymphony.com. Brochures may be obtained by request or by accessing the web site: http://www.richardsonsymphony.com.
"TEACHING TEACHERS TO TEACH:
TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE UNIVERSITY CONFERENCES"
January 17-19,2002: "The String Project Concept"
January 17-19,2002: "The String Project Concept"
January 18-20,2002: "Teaching the College String Methods Courses"
These two conferences, held at the University of South Carolina School of Music, will focus on the training of future string teachers. The first will explore the String Project concept: the creation and administration of such programs, pedagogical concepts involved in this service learning idea, including sessions on grant writing, starting a program, training young teachers. The other part of this conference will be for college faculty who teach string methods and techniques classes, in order to help improve the teaching of these courses.
Planning Committees:
- "String Project Concept" - Gail Barnes,
Chair; Karen Becker, Karrell Johnson,Daniel Mason, Jim Pryzgocki
-
"Teaching the College String methods Courses" - Kathlene Goodrich,
Chair, Ken Sarch, Bob McCashin, Bob Gillespie, Gail Barnes
(sponsored by ASTA with NSOA, with the National String Project Consortium and the Collegiate String Education Roundtable)
ASTA WITH NSOA PLANS 2003 CONFERENCE
For the first time in its history, ASTA WITH NSOA will hold a stand-alone conference at The Ohio State University March 27 through 29, 2003 The gathering will recognize the wealth of our rich traditions as well as offer members new horizons in teaching and performing strings. Conscious of the diverse demographics of its constituency, ASTA WITH NSOA will have clinics and performances that address the needs of private studio teachers, elementary and secondary string and orchestra teachers, university string teachers in both applied and music education areas, string students, Suzuki teachers, professional classical and non-classical performers, non-string performers who teach strings in schools (band directors, choir directors), and administrators.
Sessions will address the following areas: traditional pedagogy, string and full orchestras, classical and alternative styles of performance; university-level training of future string teachers; non-string players who teach strings; use of technology as it applies to playing and teaching strings; and the music industry. A call for session proposals will be announced in Spring 2002.
Those attending the conference will have the pleasure of hearing the NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONORS ORCHESTRA, a new Alternative Styles Performance Contest, solo recitals and chamber music performances by well-known performers or groups, selected elementary through high school string or full orchestras, and selected college or university orchestras. Plan to join string teachers and players from around the nation in the festivities.
©2005 ASTA with NSOA, Nebraska Unit, C. Ellenwood, Webmaster