Professor Culver was presented with the ASTA Distinguished Award on Friday, February 19 at the ASTA conference, prior to the performance of the 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra. Read More...

Congratulations to all Michigan members of ASTA for their part in our award. The Outstanding Chapter Award is awarded based on criteria including new statewide activities, involvement in the ASTA Solo Competition, membership campaigns, website, and newsletter.

MASTA President Mark Kotchenruther accepted the award on our behalf on February 17 during the State Leadeship Workshop at the ASTA Conference in Santa Clara, CA. Read More...

The deadline for submissions for our spring issue is Monday, 15 February. If you have info you’d like to see in the newsletter, please send copy to Rick Dapprich, Editor, at mastanotes@me.com. Read More...

The 2010 Teacher of the Year for the American String Teachers Association, Michigan Unit, is Bruce Uchimura. The award was presented at the MASTA General Meeting and Luncheon held at the MMC Conference on January 23, 2010.





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The River Raisin Centre for the Arts in Monroe, MI has an opening for a string specialist to share teaching duties for the Arts Centre Orchestra. This person would be responsible for teaching a beginning string class and a training orchestra on Monday evenings in downtown Monroe. The salary for this position will be $100 per night of class. Classes meet from the middle of September through the beginning of May and include two performances.

Additionally, this person is expected to be available to teach lessons through the River Raisin Centre for the Arts School of Music once a week.

A music degree is preferred but students working toward a degree will certainly be considered.

Interested parties should contact Ann Felder for more information.

Free Recruiting Posters Available!

Having trouble recruiting students for orchestra? As part of the NAMM grant, Increasing Access to Strings, ASTA now has free posters available that target minority students.

Order today by emailing maryjane@astaweb.com.
You will receive 10 posters to display throughout your school community.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Teacher Training at Suzuki Royal Oak Book 4 Short Term Course

Every Child Can Course offered by Suzuki Royal Oak
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The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference congratulates the recipient of its 2008 Medal of Honor award: E. Daniel Long

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Steven L. Reed, our immediate Past-President, was named the recipient of the 2009 Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award at the National ASTA conference in Atlanta. The Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award is presented annually to a school string teacher with a current and distinguished career in a school orchestral setting. The award is given to one public school string teacher per year on the national level.

Mr. Reed has been teaching instrumental music in the St. Joseph Public Schools since 1977 and is now the Conductor of Orchestras and chairman of the Fine Arts Department. He also directs the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra program sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Reeds holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree, cum laude, from Western Michigan University with graduate work at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Indiana University and Andrews University. Mr. Reed was elected “Michigan Orchestra Teacher of the Year” in 1997 by the membership of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), and received the Michigan American String Teacher Association (MASTA) “Teacher of the Year” Award in 2004. He is recognized in the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”, and has served MSBOA as Vice-President of Orchestral Activities and as President of District VI for two terms.

Indiana ASTA cordially invites string players and teachers from neighboring states to join us for the regional Music Educator's Convention January 22-24, 2009, at the Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN. Indiana ASTA is co-sponsoring a terrific pre-conference session with jazz violinist Sara Caswell on Thursday, January 22. Ms. Caswell will also present a session as part of the regular Indiana Music Educator's Conference on Friday, January 23. You can register for the conference or pre-conference and find additional information about the conference here.

Additional information about Sara Caswell is available on her website.

Indiana ASTA looks forward to meeting you in January!

The Fall 2008 edition of MASTA Notes is available for viewing and/or download here; the newsletter is due to be in the mail to our membership soon.

This year’s Membership Directory was published in the Summer ’08 MASTA Notes. Omissions or changes throughout the year will be listed on our website as desired by affected members. Read More...

Oakland University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance artist-in-residence Regina Carter will offer two unique musical experiences for string teachers October 3 and 4. Read More...

Every Child Can (ECC) is a six-hour introduction to Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and its application to Suzuki education as created and implemented by the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA)
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To ensure your inclusion in the directory, with any updated contact info, you must contact the national ASTA office. Read More...

The MASTA Notes submission deadline for the Summer 2008 issue is 1 August. Read More...