I just put up a link to the discussions page at ASTAWeb. You need to be a member of ASTA to take part. Once you are signed in you can choose to receive emails of the board messages if you prefer that to visiting the site. We decided to use this larger resource rather than make our own forums. Have a great day,

Ken Culver MA-ASTA President

Hi All, I am looking to put together a more complete list of past awardees. If you have received an ASTA or NSOA award in the past or know someone who has please send me an email and I will add them to the web page. Thanks, Ken Culver MA-ASTA President

I just got the email below from Joan Ellersick regarding the MA-ASTA Solo Competition this past Sunday. Thanks to all students who participated and congratulations to the winners. I would also like to thank Joan for all her hard work in putting together and managing this event. Ken Culver MA-ASTA President Hi all, We had a very enjoyable day of music making today.  All went very smoothly, with special thanks to Jane Ezbicki, Andy Mark and our judges Michelle LaCourse and Steve Laven. Cheers, Joan SENIOR DIVISION The judges selected the following player to advance to the semifinal round: Francisco Vila, cello JUNIOR DIVISION The judges selected the following three players to advance to the semifinal round: Rachel Iba, violin Ruby Mercure, violin Sasha Scolnik-Brower, cello Each semifinalist will receive a $175 cash award.   Prizes are also awarded to: Rachel Iba, violin - bow rehair from Tom Dignan Ruby Mercure, violin - bow rehair from Tom Dignan Sasha Scolnik-Brower, cello - bow rehair from Rutman's Violins Elena Korableva, cello - Guy Laurent bow from Shar Products Thomas Hoffman, violin - new case from Rayburn Music Francisco Vila, cello - gift certificate from Italia Strings

Minutes from MA-ASTA board meetings can be found in the Home menu. (Home>Board Minutes). Please take a look at what we are planning and let us know what you think.

MA-ASTA Member Discount for the Theory Workshop

The Massachusetts chapter of the American String Teachers Association is happy to give its members a $5 discount for attending the Workshop for Music Theory Teachers. Private lesson and public school teachers can take advantage of this discount by showing their membership card at registration. Individuals who are not MA-ASTA members can also take advantage of this offer by applying for membership at the workshop.

Theory for the Practicing Musician: A Workshop for Music Theory Teachers

Theory for the Practicing Musician: A Workshop for Music Theory Teachers will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at St. Mark's School in Southborough. The Workshop will be led by members of the New England Conservatory Theory Department Deborah Stein, Katarina Miljkovic, and Roger Graybill. Read More...

I received the following email from Executive Director Robert Jesselson regarding National String Project Consortium Grants.
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Dear ASTA State President:

I would like to alert you and your state ASTA members to the next round of NSPC grants for new String Project sites. The deadline for grant applications will be November 17, 2008. Please go to our website at http://www.stringprojects.org/ for more information and for the application form. 

The NSPC now consists of 32 String Projects at universities around the country. These programs help to train string teachers by giving undergraduate students hands-on teaching experience during their college years. The NSPC provides $10,000 for the first year, and up to $25,000 over five years to help set up these String Projects. One of our goals is to have at least one such program in every state; so if your state does not yet have one, please encourage your colleges to consider this opportunity.

If you have any questions, please do contact me.

Best wishes for a good school year!

Bob Jesselson

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Collegiate members are encouraged to investigate and apply.

Sincerely,

Ken Culver
MA-ASTA President

The MA-ASTA board has voted to change the way that we communicate with our membership. In an effort to make our information more timely and convenient we are going to stop publishing our yearly paper newsletter The Bay State Bridge in favor of an updated web site and email bulletins which communicate upcoming events and board news.

-Ken Culver, MA-ASTA Editor

Paula Zeitlin taught us Jazz Improv skills in such a simple and comfortable way, that the following day, we had a ball playing with a professional Jazz Trio. Louis Bergonzi lit up our inspiration and energy to raise up our rehearsal techniques and communication with our players. Pamela Tellejohn Hayes shared basic teaching techniques to solve common technique problems with our young string players.

Congratulations to our ASTA award recipients Christopher Memoli and Andrew Marks.

At our annual meeting, we voted in Ken Culver as next year's President and Margot Reavey as the President-Elect.  Three points were announced that we all should be reminded about:  
1.  Encourage the studio teachers that you know to join ASTA.  (It qualifies them not only for workshops for teachers and students, but makes them eligible for awards)
2.  Ideas for workshops and student enrichment activities are always welcome. Just contact someone on the board.  Our state chapter is also willing to fund master classes, guest conductors or relevant string activities at your school.

Thank you to Johnson Strings for providing wonderful string instruments for us to play at our sessions, and for providing the food and refreshments at our annual meeting. FInally, thank you to Chris Memoli, for putting together wonderful sessions for us.

-Jane E. Ezbicki, MA-ASTA President

Greetings to all of the string and orchestra teachers of Massachusetts! Anyone is welcome at our dinner meetings held monthly in Waltham at the Green Papaya, to share ideas or help out with special events or just to see what is going on in our organization. Read More...