Colorado ASTA Newsletter April 2016 |
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Happy April from Colorado ASTA President, Rebecca Jonas Welcome to April! We’re entering the final push of the year, and many of us are excitedly preparing for Orchestra Festivals, CCAP, Studio Recitals, and Final Concerts. This is my personal favorite time of the year to be a string teacher. As we head into this busy time of year, let's remember to keep the focus on our students and their successes. To celebrate their achievements at Orchestra Festivals, recitals, concerts, and contests. And let's make time to celebrate each other and our profession. Plan time to listen to other groups at Festival. Attend a colleague’s Spring Recital. Go to one of your feeder schools' performances. As string teachers we do great work everyday. Let’s enjoy this season of celebration, and recognize our students, colleagues, and ourselves for the hard work throughout the year that has gotten us to this point. Enjoy your upcoming performances! Thank you for all your hard and amazing work as string teachers! -RJ |
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Save the Date: The CASTA Summer Conference is Coming Back! Hello from California! I escaped the snowy cold of Colorado for a much needed vacation, and the breezy temperate climate here has me ready for spring weather back home. |
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As you embark on the next several busy weeks of concerts and contests, make sure you mark your calendar for the upcoming Colorado ASTA Summer Conference, July 11 and 12 at the King Center on the Auraria Campus in beautiful downtown Denver. I am SO EXCITED for everything to come together! This will be a great time for us to revitalize our teaching and re-energize our relationships with one another. If you are interested in proposing a session, the application is now online--please apply! We would like to have as many different sessions as possible. More conference information (schedule, directions, parking, hotel information, dining suggestions, silent auction) will be made available over the coming weeks. What better way to celebrate string teaching this summer than to enjoy a couple of fun-filled and informative days in the Mile High City?! I look forward to seeing you there and getting to know more of our chapter members. While I'll be in Denver, I'm leaving my heart in San Francisco... Alison Mayes President-Elect, Colorado ASTA |
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Highlights from the 2016 National ASTA Conference in Tampa Bay This past March 2nd-5th, string teachers from all over the globe made the trek to Tampa for the National ASTA Conference. While there, attendees had the opportunity to learn about string playing and teaching in a wide array of sessions, workshops, and masterclasses. String teachers were also treated to amazing and inspiring performances throughout the conference by renowned players Mike Block, Rachel Barton Pine, Darol Anger, the Florida State University Orchestra, Jeremy Kittel, and the talented school orchestras taking part in the National Orchestra Festival, including Colorado’s own Denver School Of The Arts and Legacy High School. Colorado was represented well with over twenty teachers in attendance. We hope you’ll enjoy some of their insights from the conference, as well as the pictures. It’s not too early to start planning on attending next year’s conference in Pittsburgh! |
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Above: Colorado ASTA members at the 2016 National ASTA Conference "The sharing of knowledge at the conference was truly wonderful. I especially enjoyed attending the sessions on improvisation, composition, rock, gypsy jazz, and fiddling. Attending was well worth the investment!" -Michael Linert, CASTA Member, Orchestra Teacher, Westminster High School |
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Above: Views from Tampa and the Tampa Convention Center, where the conference was held "The 2016 ASTA convention was my first convention, and it was a truly life-changing experience. My only regret was not being able to attend as many sessions as I wanted to. The presenters there are true masters of their fields and had so many wonderful and brilliant things to talk about, in education and performance as well. I found myself drawn to the demonstrations and workshops featuring eclectic styles, in particular: jazz, fiddle, improvisation, etc. Both my students and I can benefit greatly from these fun and extremely useful skills, which are crucuial to musical development. There is a revolution brewing in the way that music is taught. It's no longer a strictly "on the page" system. More instructors and performers are thinking of music from what they hear around them--what is created in the moment--and this only adds new and extraordinary layers to the foundation of high quality pedagogy and technique. I greatly look forward to attending conventions in future years." -Royston Hunget, UNC Music Education Student |
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Above: Collegiate members of Colorado ASTA representing our state at the 2016 National Conference |
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"Loved going to National ASTA--amazing, inspiring, diverse and with opportunities for every style and venue. I've been to every conference since Ohio State (except Reno)--fun, education, leadership, and valued experiences with exceptional camaraderie--enjoying people with same vested interests. Wonderful socializing with focus on friendship and professional networking! Highly recommend--exceeds expectations always!" -Andrea Meyers, CASTA Member, CASTA Past-President, 2008-2010 At Right: Andrea Meyers with Dr. Gail Barnes of the University of South Carolina |
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“I’ve been to all of the National ASTA conventions except one, and I really liked the Tampa Convention Center, as it was easy to navigate and made attending sessions and seeing the student performances easier by having everything in one building. The hotel was convenient and overlooked the water, as did the Convention Center. It was especially exciting for me, as I presented a session on composing and felt very happy with the way it went and the attendance. It was also special for me as the Denver School of the Arts performed one of my pieces, “Shores of Ireland” and took 1st place in their division at the competition. Dr. Enrique Lasansky and his DSA group performed beautifully, with Rachel Barton Pine as one of the judges! With 11 sessions going on at the same time every hour for 3 days, it was hard to choose what to attend, but really, for anyone teaching strings, the National ASTA Convention should be a priority to attend!” -Susan Day, CASTA Member, Colorado Composer |
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Above (left): Colorado composer Susan Day presenting at the 2016 National ASTA Conference Below (left): Susan Day with four other female string composers. From left to right: Gail Barnes, Susan Day, Lauren Bernofsky, Deborah Baker Monday, Carrie Lane Gruselle Below (right): The Denver School of the Arts Sinfonia performing at the 2016 National Orchestra Festival associated with the National ASTA Conference. This performance earned DSA the distinction of 1st place in the middle school division! |
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String Job Openings It's job application season! If there's a job opening you'd like to share with the Colorado ASTA membership, please email Hannah Smith at coloradoastawebmaster@gmail.com. We will post it on the Colorado ASTA website. Check back regularly for updates! |
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Lamont Summer Academy Application Deadline Extended to April 8th for Select Instruments There are still a few openings for the Lamont Summer Academy at the University of Denver. The application deadline has been extended to April 8th for select instruments. Application information can be found at du.edu/lamont/summeracademy. Students may also contact Mary Beth Shaffer directly either via email at marybeth.shaffer@du.edu, or cell phone 763-443-1558 (voicemail only) for more information. |
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Registration for CU-Boulder Summer Music Academy Now Open Dear Colorado String Teachers, I am writing to invite your students to be a part of the 2016 CU-Boulder Summer Music Academy. The High School camp will take place from June 12-17, 2016, followed by the Middle School camp from June 19-24, 2016. Both the middle and high school week-long camps offer a great ensemble experience plus master classes and sectionals by CU faculty. Each week culminates with a performance in Grusin Music Hall. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to connect with musicians from across the state and country. Here is a video showcasing what the week of camp looks like: youtube.com/watch?v=LWb-w3CsaC8 More information about student registration can be found on the website: colorado.edu/music/summer-college-music/summer-music-academy Follow this link for a flyer with more information to give to students! Students who were selected for the 2016 Colorado All State Orchestra will receive a $200 discount on the registration fee. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Matthew Dockendorf: musicacademy@colorado.edu or Julie Nelson: julie.nelson@colorado.edu. Best wishes for a successful rest of your year! Thanks, Julie Nelson CU Summer Music Academy Head Counselor Orchestra Director, Douglas County High School |
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Save the Date: Rocky Mountain String Bass Festival Dear Colorado Orchestra Directors, The 2015 Rocky Mountain String Bass Festival in September at the CU College of Music was another wonderful celebration for the 70+ bassists, 4th grade through professional, who participated in the day of bass. Monster Bass Ensemble, the string bass orchestra comprised of all festival participants, was the best ever! From the youngest to the professional players (principal basses of Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic), everyone put their hearts fully into the Monster Bass music in the three rehearsals and the concert. Congratulations to all of you who had bassists (and other musicians) at Colorado All State Orchestra this year. I attended the concerts at CSU and was impressed with all the bass players (and the entire orchestras!). Many orchestra directors have been asking me about the next bass festival. THANK YOU FOR MARKING YOU CALENDARS and ALERTING YOUR ORCHESTRAL AND JAZZ STRING BASS PLAYERS: The 14th Rocky Mountain Orchestral and Jazz String Bass Festival will be held all day (8:30 am – 6:00 pm) Sunday, October 2, 2016 in the CU College of Music in Boulder. The festival will include: 1) Technique classes 2) Master classes 3) Rehearsals and a concert with the popular Monster Bass Ensemble 4) Registration fees will be very low 5) Will include the pizza lunch for nice social time Thank you in advance for helping spread the word by sharing this information with other orchestra directors and bassists in your district orchestras and jazz ensembles at the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels. More information will be available in early September, including registration forms, and Monster Bass Ensemble music. Any of your interested bass players can get in touch with me this semester. If you are aware of any conflicts that would keep your bass players from being able to attend the October 2 Bass Festival, please let me know ASAP. Please let me know if you or your students have any questions. With best wishes! Paul Erhard Professor of Double Bass, CU College of Music 303-492-4918 paul.erhard@colorado.edu |
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Registration for Rolland Fiddle Camp Now Open The Rolland Fiddle Camp will be held June 27 - July 1, 2016 at Custer County School. Please visit the camp website for more information: peterrolland.com/Rolland_Fiddle_Camp.html Teachers & primary focus: Katie Glassman: swing fiddle & contest fiddle Giselle Lee: clawhammer banjo & novice fiddle Matt Rolland: old-time fiddle & mandolin Grace Rolland: cello & singing Michael Rolland: bluegrass fiddle, guitar & mandolin Peter Rolland (director): all fiddle styles, bass Gail Rolland (co-director): Folk Orchestra, beginning fiddle The 2016 camp fee is $360. Registration is now open. Inquiries to peterrolland@cox.net are always welcome. Email is preferred, but you can also call at 480-969-9744 before June 1 or at 602-618-6285 anytime. |
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Nomination Period for Exemplary Award Approaching It is time to consider nominating yourself for an Exemplary Award. Anyone can submit an application to receive this award, which will be presented at the 2016 summer conference. There are exemplary awards available for elementary, middle, and high school teachers, as well as university professors and private instructors. Please consider applying! The nomination period is May 1 through June 15. There is no election period since this is a self-nominated award. All documentation should be sent to Daryl Counsell (castasrep@aol.com) via email. Please visit the Colorado ASTA website for more information. |
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Do you have an article, announcement, or other information you'd like to share with the Colorado ASTA membership? If so, we'd love to include it in our monthly newsletter! Please send your newsletter submissions to coloradoastawebmaster@gmail.com by the 20th of each month, and we will be sure to add them the next newsletter, which is published at the beginning of each month. Contact Hannah Smith (coloradoastawebmaster@gmail.com), Colorado ASTA webmaster and newsletter editor, with any questions. |
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