Colorado ASTA Newsletter November 2016 |
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From President Rebecca Jonas It’s November. The time of the year when we all remember to be grateful--at least on social media. This year, I know that many of us are looking forward to the end of a brutal election season that seems to have infiltrated media, culture, and even our workplaces, and relationships with family and friends. This got me thinking about how grateful I am that teaching music often means we’re teaching extramusical things. Sure, every day we teach persistence and dedication, teamwork, compromise, and cooperation. All the things we’re ready to say when someone questions the value of music in a child’s education. But I think we are lucky to teach deeper than that--when we take the time. The study of a musical instrument is so challenging. Yes, it requires focus, dedication, hours of practice, careful planning, and often sacrifice. But even more demanding are the emotional requirements. We ask our students to take big risks and put themselves in vulnerable situations. Often in front of strangers, and intimidating characters. And I was recently reminded why. It was great to be at Western States Honor Orchestra as a music teacher, ASTA member, and parent. I tried to look at the event through several lenses, and was moved by everything I saw and experienced. I enjoyed an early meeting with dedicated music educators who are excited to continue and develop our tradition of the CASTA Orchestra Festival. I had a great time at our General Membership meeting, seeing familiar faces, meeting new colleagues, and was so moved at the number of people who stepped forward with great ideas, and with interest in volunteering for our organization. I watched kids working hard in rehearsal, goofing around in the lobby, running to and from lunch, and saw them perform a wonderful concert. And, as I watched, I was thinking, “These are my people.” The quirky young orchadorks, who spend their school days, quiet, in the background of most of their classes, but who come alive when they walk in their Orchestra Room every day. The strong young leaders who push themselves to excel in everything they do, scoring high in their classes, participating in student government and after school activities, and turning to music for balance, and relaxation. The Orchestra teachers in the huge programs that teach hundreds of students each year, with several top notch orchestras that we look forward to hearing in concert and at festival, the one man/woman program who somehow juggles Band/Orchestra, or Orchestra/Choir, or some variation of that. The private teachers who spend countless hours putting in extra prep for auditions and recitals. The college faculty who work hard to help one group grow into the other… This is what I’m thankful for. Finding my people, my place, with each of my students, with each of you, and with the musical opportunities that bring us together. |
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Coming November 2017: String-Specific Professional Development at WSHOF We’re so glad to welcome you all to UNC each November for WSHOF and the ASTA meeting. While so many string folks are in one place, we would like to offer some string teaching rejuvenation. We’d like to plan one, or possibly two, professional development sessions to occur during WSHOF so that we string teachers can take advantage of being all together, and use the time to learn from one another. In an effort to make sure the sessions are practical for you, please submit requests/ideas for your most desired topics and presenters. We will use the coming year to plan a couple sessions and publicize them before WSHOF next year. (UNC course credit will be available for a fee. Details forthcoming.) Please contact Lindsay Fulcher (Lindsay.Fulcher@unco.edu) with your requests and ideas. We look forward to seeing you back at UNC in November 2017! |
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Updates on Colorado ASTA Board Colorado ASTA would like to thank Fred Jewell for many years of service on the CASTA board. Fred spent much of his career involved with ASTA leadership, serving as Newsletter Editor, coordinating new music reading sessions, hosting events such as the Large Group Festival, and most recently, working as Denver Area Representative. Fred recently stepped down from the board. Rob Stahly (previously Northern Area Representative) will be the new Denver Area Representative, and Leanne Griffey is the new Northern Area Representative. If you see Fred, please take a moment to thank him for his incredible contributions to the organization. Colorado ASTA would still like to find ways for YOU to get involved. If you're interested in serving on the board, helping with a committee, or sharing your talents in another way, please contact Colorado ASTA President Rebecca Jonas. |
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Register for the 2017 CMEA Clinic/Conference: January 25-28, 2017 The Colorado ASTA board is gearing up for a great 2017 CMEA Clinic/Conference! The conference will take place January 25-28, 2017 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, and registration is now open on the CMEA website. |
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This year's conference will feature string sessions by headliners Robert Gillespie and Christian Howes. Local presenters include David Saccardi and Daniel Smith, whose session will detail strategies for building a strong feeder program; Alison Mayes, who will present on warm-ups; and Jessica Chen and Codi Ng, who have a session titled "String Players As Athletes." Of course, other highlights will include the New Music Reading Session for string orchestra and our Colorado ASTA General Membership Meeting. A more detailed schedule of string sessions will be available soon on the Colorado ASTA website. This year's performing groups include: Bell Middle School (Barbara Casanova, Director), Lesher Middle School (Loni Obluda, Director), Coronado High School (Paul Jacobson, Director), Highlands Ranch High School (Ryan Woodworth and Kevin Larsen, Directors), Silver Creek High School (Paul Trapkus, Director), Colorado Christian University (Dr. Richard Niezen, Director), and the University of Northern Colorado (Dr. Russell Guyver, Director). |
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National ASTA Conference: March 1-4, 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA The 2017 National ASTA Conference will take place March 1-4 in Pittsburgh, PA. Please visit the National ASTA website for more information. We hope to see a large number of string teachers from Colorado in attendance. The Cherokee Trail High School orchestra, under the direction of Kyle Rupley, will be performing at the National Orchestra Festival, and Colorado ASTA President Rebecca Jonas will be presenting a session, just to name a few highlights. Teachers in their first five years of teaching can apply for a conference scholarship here. If you're going to the national conference and would like help finding a roommate, click on and complete this survey: National Conference Roommate Questionnaire |
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Plan a Trip with a String Specialist as Your Guide Greetings Fellow CASTA Members, Do your plans include travel this year or next? Contact America International Travel and Tours, and speak with Jim or Doug Dalton. Let them know you would like for Michelle Ewer to be your travel guide. No one knows Disney better than I. My experience in traveling with Strings will set your mind at ease. I would love to be your host. Call American International at 303-874-7137. Michelle Ewer Former CASTA President Former CMEA President CMEA Hall of Fame |
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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 hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org 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 (hsmith26@cherrycreekschools.org), Colorado ASTA webmaster and newsletter editor, with any questions. |
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