Abstract
Plan now to attend the
The choice to participate in either a competitive or noncompetitive track evaluated by leading adjudicators and clinicians from across the nation (groups receive written and taped comments)
A private, hands-on clinic with a leading orchestra clinician
Packages include breakfast and lunch
The choice of single, double, triple, or quad accommodations at the top-rated hotel
Awards dinner banquet ticket (a package enhancement for festival only participants)
Participant trophy for each student and trophy for each orchestra
T-shirt and CD recording of performance for each student
Entrance to one NOF elective master class of student's choice
Times available to visit the ASTA exhibit hall, featuring the latest string and orchestra products and services (Thursday evening–Saturday afternoon)
National recognition for your group in ASTA eNEWS and the American String Teacher journal, as well as on the ASTA website
A complimentary director's package (single)
A commemorative banner for each orchestra
Free entrance to all NOF orchestra performances
Admission to the NOF Grand Champion winner's concert on Saturday
A group photograph for each orchestra
An abundance of educational opportunities
The NOF is an annual festival held in conjunction with the ASTA National Conference. The NOF brings together orchestras from around the country to a single location in order to provide an unparalleled opportunity to receive placement, ratings, comments, and valuable lessons from leading clinicians and adjudicators in the industry. Orchestras are selected to participate in the national festival based on their application and supporting materials. The festival encompasses Youth Orchestras, Middle School Orchestras, and High School Orchestras in their choice of Competition, Rating, and/or Comments categories. All festival groups receive feedback from adjudicators Steve Benham, Barbara Eads and Kory Katseanes. Each group also participates in an educational clinic directly after its performance from one of our two clinicians, David Littrell and Michael Alexander. Students will also take part in an elective master class of his/her choice. Past elective classes have included violin, viola, cello, bass, jazz, fiddle, and orchestral wind.
Competitive groups perform for placement within their own division: Youth Orchestra, Middle School, or High School. One orchestra will be selected from all competitive groups and named Grand Champion of the 2010 National Orchestra Festival®. The Grand Champion orchestra performs a winner's concert on Saturday, February 20, 2010. All NOF performances are open to other festival groups and conference attendees.
Call for Sessions, Research Poster, and Performance Proposals
Santa Clara Convention Center Santa Clara, California February 17-20, 2010
The ASTA Conference Planning Committee is seeking performance, research poster, and session proposals from the membership to be presented at the 2010 National Conference. We are seeking sessions related to any aspect of teaching or performance representing cello, double bass, guitar, harp, viola, violin, and the symphony orchestra. Commercial materials may be incorporated within the session but may not be promoted, orders taken or selling of any nature may not take place (see music industry showcase section for this type of session). Sessions will fall into the categories of general, alternative styles, chamber music, K-12, private studio, and university. Sessions are one hour in length.
Special Notes:
The committee will not accept solo performance proposals or sessions that promote individual commercial products.
Exhibitor Showcase applications (sessions promoting commercial products) are available through the exhibitor prospectus and must be reserved by the sponsoring company.
Recordings are to be submitted from non-professional performers only.
Applications, recordings, and supplemental materials will not be returned to applicants, regardless of acceptance status.
All applicants for performances and sessions must be current members of ASTA at the time of application and also at the time of conference.
All performance applications must be sent (postmarked) to the national office by April 1, 2009.
(Submission Deadline: October 2, 2009)
Research Poster sessions differ from the regular education sessions. A research poster session is a great place for students or professionals to present their research findings. There will be one day dedicated to research posters sessions, where you can leave your information on display all day for the conference attendees. There will be two dedicated one-hour time slots during this day, during which you are encouraged to be available to answer questions. ASTA will provide you with one skirted table and one easel to present your findings.
These sessions are for promotion of commercial products and services. These sessions give you the opportunity to launch new products, market directly to a focused group for a one-hour block, and provide increased visibility for your product or service. Showcases are available for purchase on a first come, first served basis and available to members of the String Industry Council. Members: please contact your company representative to have them reserve the showcase slot. Company representatives: please contact Beth Danner-Knight at
STEP is a 45-hour comprehensive professional development program with topics specific to string teaching. This program is to be completed within the timeframe of two conferences over a four year period. STEP is open to any string teacher interested in learning about vital topics in string education, nonstring playing teachers such as band diretors who are now teaching strings, and private lesson instructors now teaching in an adjunct position in schools. STEP fills in gaps in course-work, introduces new concepts in education, and reinforces knowledge areas. Once you have completed the program, a STEP certificate will be awarded and notification will be made to supervisors or administrators specified on the application that a certificate of completion has been received. You may also elect to receive college credits during this program issued by Shenandoah University, ASTA's university partner.
The following is a list of sample topics for sessions needed for the conference. All proposals will be considered and sent through an evaluation process.
Administrative Support (K-12)
Advocacy
Assessment (writing, documenting, reporting)
Alternative Styles
Chamber music
Classical performance
Community support
Conducting
Copyright issues
Guitar or Harp (classical as well as K-12 teaching)
Improvisation
Injury prevention
Marketing your school or studio program
Motivation
Choosing appropriate literature and repertoire
Practice Techniques
Recruiting and retention of string students
Rehearsal techniques
Research related to pedagogy and performance
String class pedagogy (elementary, middle level, sr. high)
String maintenance (basic)
Students with special needs
Teaching rhythm
Theory and composition
Traditional pedagogy
Training future string educators and performers
University level topics
Viola, violin, cello, double bass
Working with the full orchestra
To submit your proposal for an education session or research poster, please visit the conference section of the ASTA website (www.astaweb.com) and click on the 2010 Call for Sessions. You will access the online submission process from this link. The online submission process will be available to accept your session proposals from November through April 1, 2009. Research Poster session applications will be accepted until October 2, 2009.
All applications must be complete and include the correct items and in the quantities denoted on the application form to receive full consideration. Applications not meeting the guidelines will be rejected. Note: Application materials are not returned to applicants, regardless of acceptance status.
ASTA Performance Applications 4153 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Jan Davis 2010 Conference Committee Chair Email:
Performing group applications found online at astaweb.com.