2015–2016 - · PDF fileCertification Workshop with Professor Kurt Sassmanshaus. Considered one of today’s preeminent violin pedagogues, violinist Kurt Sassmanshaus holds

1

STRINGENDO

Official Publicationof

American String Teachers Association

MD/DC Chapter

stringendo

SPRING 2014 Volume XXX No. 3

Autumn 2015 Volume XXXII

No. 1

2015–2016 Chapter

Handbook


American String Teachers AssociationMD/DC Chapter



MD/DC Chapter

stringendo


ASTA MD/DC CHAPTEREXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President: Matthew Tifford 301-770-4377 [email protected]

President-Elect: Julianna Chitwood 301-424-4824 [email protected]

Past President: Daniel Levitov 410-601-0274 [email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer: Sachi Murasugi 410-219-9211 [email protected]

Print/Digital Media Editor: Lorraine Combs 410-987-2707 [email protected]

Membership Chair: Dorée Huneven 301-649-3170 [email protected]

Mentorship Coordinator: Lenelle Morse 260-402-5075 [email protected]

Scholarship Committee Chair / Solo Strings 301-927-5312 [email protected]: Jean Provine

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ASTACAP Co-Chair: Lya Stern301-320-2693, [email protected]

ASTACAP Co-Chair: Mark Pfannschmidt301-869-8592, [email protected]

Cello Event Chair: Vasily Popov202-243-0601, [email protected]

Salisbury University Student Chapter Rep: Jeffrey Schoyen410-219-9211, [email protected]

Towson University Student Chapter Rep: Jeffrey Howard410-988-5910, [email protected]

Liaison to Charles County Public Schools: Anne Marie Patterson301-374-6845, [email protected]

Liaison to Montgomery County Public Schools: Kristofer Sanz301-404-283, [email protected]

Strings Plus Festival Rep: Kelly Hsu301-610-7530, [email protected]

SAGWA Collaboration Chair: Marissa Murphy301-233-7960, [email protected]

www.asta.netStringendo ISSN 1546-606X

PUBLISHING FREQUENCY: 3 times per year. The Autumn issue, which is the Chapter Handbook for the coming year, is printed and mailed to all MD/DC members and advertisers. Winter and Spring issues are digital only. All back issues to 1998 are available as PDF files on our website.

ADVERTISING: Stringendo: Eighth Page—$75 per year; Quarter Page—$150 per year; Half Page—$300 per year; Full Page—$600 per year. (Classified ads, for MD/DC Chapter members only, are accepted at the cost of $25. Maximum 30 words.)

WEBSITE: $100 per year for ASTA members; $125 per year for non- ASTA members.

Inquiries can be sent to: ASTA MD/DC Chapter, Julianna Chitwood, 301-424-4824, [email protected]

EDITORIAL: Stringendo welcomes letters and articles from its readers. Submit as e-mail attachments to the Editor: Lorraine Combs, [email protected]

DEADLINES: Autumn—July 1; Winter—November 1; Spring—March 1.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS, PHONE, or EMAIL: Send to ASTA National Office, 4155 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-279-2113 Fax: 703-279-2114 E-mail: [email protected]



MD/DC Chapter

stringendo


Autumn 2015 Volume XXXII No. 1STRINGENDO

The President’s Solo 2 by Matthew Tifford

ASTA MD/DC Chapter Annual Membership Meeting 5 Levine School of Music | MD/DC ASTA Mini-Conference Stringendo Goes Digital 5

Member Directory 7

Members By Instrument 21

Towson University Student Chapter 22

2015–2016 ASTA MD/DC Chapter Studio Teachers Meetings 23

Master Class with The Kelemen String Quartet 25

Presentation and Workshop with James Stern 27

Spring Festival: Solo String Instruments 30 by Jean Provine

The Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival 33

National Philharmonic Summer String Institutes 34

Strings Plus Festival 35 by Judith Silverman

East County After-school Strings 37

ASTACAP Exams 38

MD/DC Area Youth Orchestras 40

Too Much Information 44 by James Stern

Sassmanshaus Tradition Workshop 48

Professional Piano Accompanists 53

ASTA Membership Application Form Inside Back Cover

Inside This Issue...

Brobst Violin Shop 8Candlelight Concert Society 28College Park Youth Orchestra 28Connolly Music 46John B. Farrell 28The Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra 47Gailes’ Violin Shop 24Germantown Violin Company 6Violin House of Weave 45Johansen International Competition 53Lashof Violins 35 Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras 29 Menchey Music 18

Advertisers indexMetropolitan Orchestra 28Music & Arts 13National Philharmonic 53Ellen Paul Violin Bow Rehair & Repair 36Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University 18Perrin & Associates Fine Violins 46Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra 28The Potter Violin Company 26Rapkievian File Violins 36 Barenreiter’s Sassmanshaus Tradition 49Shar Music 3Yamaha 54

The days are getting shorter,

the weather cooler, and backpack-laden children are sadly trudging off to school. What does it all mean? Naturally, it

means another season of ASTA events and programs is under way.

Kelemen String Quartet Chamber muSiC maSterClaSS

In October, ASTA MD/DC teams up with the Candlelight Concert Society for a second year to bring you a chamber music masterclass with the Kelemen String Quartet. If you are not familiar with them, the Kelemen Quartet, founded in Budapest in 2010, has rapidly gained a reputation as one of the most exciting young string quartets. The quartet is the first prize winner of the prestigious Premio Borciani 2014. It was described by the Ensemble magazine in 2011 that they “… lit a firework of emotions, wrestling with the emotion in the music” and praised as “… perhaps one of the greatest discoveries of this competition.” Four student ensembles will perform in what is sure to be a fun and educational event.

SaSSmannShauS tradition teaCher CertifiCation WorKShop

Just a week later, we are proud to bring you the acclaimed Sassmannshaus Tradition Teacher Certification Workshop with Professor Kurt Sassmanshaus. Considered one of today’s preeminent violin pedagogues, violinist Kurt Sassmanshaus holds the distinguished Dorothy Richard Starling Chair for Classical Violin at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. The popular Sassmanshaus Tradition method features large print and teaches note reading from the first lesson. It focuses on early position playing and introduces advanced left hand and bow technique with familiar musical material. We have arranged a $25 registration discount for our members, along with some free Sassmannshaus Tradition violin books for the first fifteen chapter members who enroll.

aSta md/dC Chapter/levine muSiC Winter Cellobration

In January we are planning another Cellobration event though as of this printing our clinician(s) have not been confirmed. Last year we were joined by Zuill Bailey, and we are working on another great guest or two. Stay tuned as we firm up details for this years event.

JameS Stern WorKShop

Also in January we host violinist James Stern, a multi-faceted musician whose violin playing has been cited by the Washington Post for “virtuosity and penetrating intelligence.” Professor Stern is well known in our area for his frequent performances as well as his faculty position at the University of Maryland. He has taught masterclasses throughout North America and in China, Norway and Italy, and was a featured presenter at the 2015 Starling-DeLay Symposium for Violin Studies. In what is sure to be a set of deeply fascinating lectures, Professor Stern’s topics will be “Interpreting Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto” and “Developing the Inner Performance: The Process of Gaining Extraordinary Ability.”

eaSt County after-SChool StringS

With plans to launch in Winter 2016, ASTA MD/DC joins MCYO of Strathmore, Montgomery County Department of Parks & Recreation and Montgomery County Public Schools in the creation of a new after-school program to support underserved string programs in three to four eastern Montgomery County middle schools. Group classes will be offered multiple times a week for a period of about 5 to 6 weeks, culminating in a joint gala concert. There will be multiple paid positions for qualified string teachers, with employment in the program restricted to ASTA members. Look for more information in the coming months.

2016 Chapter mini-ConferenCe

Fueled by the success of last years Noa Kageyama workshop, plans for yet another great Mini-Conference presenter are in the works. Please mark

The PresidenT’s soloA Message From The President

STRINGENDO Autumn 2015 Volume XXXII No. 12

Continued on page 4...

3STRINGENDO Autumn 2015 Volume XXXII No. 1

4

April 17th on your calendar! We’ll be at Strathmore again, and the event will run in the 5 to 9 p.m.time frame. Watch for updates via postcard, the Winter Stringendo, www.asta.net, and of course our weekly Enewsletter.

Studio teaCher meetingS

Our chapter Teacher Meetings are a great way to keep inspired and motivated throughout the year. We kick things off in late September with “Lesser Known Gems” hosted by Board member Mark Pfannschmidt. Mark and attendees will share their favorite lesser-known teaching pieces. All are encouraged to bring instruments to read through pieces.

In November we welcome CPA Carl Desmarais, from O’Connor & Desmarais, who will talk about tax issues specific to both freelance musicians and studio teachers.

Then in May, I will be joined by President-Elect Julianna Chitwood in a walk through of Noa Kageyama’s “Beyond Practicing” online course developed to help musicians learn to overcome performance anxiety.

SSi and iimif SCholarShipS

This year, we are proud to announce new $250 ASTA MD/DC Chapter scholarships for both the National Philharmonic Summer String Institutes and the Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival. These scholarships are reserved solely for students of ASTA MD/DC members. Two $250 scholarships will be awarded for each of these programs.

regular Chapter eventS As always, we continue to offer our popular annual events including the Winter and Spring ASTACAP exams as well as our two MSMTA partnership events, Spring Festival: Solo String Instruments and the Strings Plus Festival. These fun and motivating events can be a valuable part of any string studio calendar.

toWSon Student Chapter

Our new Towson Student Chapter is fully up and running and brewing up event ideas of their own. We’ll be promoting their activities through our postcards and digital publications as well. You can also see what they are up to at towsonasta.wix.com/-towson-asta.

From all of us here at ASTA MD/DC Chapter, we wish you an invigorating and fulfilling year of string teaching, and hope to see you soon!

Matthew TiffordPresident


ASTA MD/DC Chapter Annual Membership Meeting

& Levine School of Music /

ASTA MD/DC Chapter Mini-Conference

The Annual Membership Meeting and Mini-Conference will take place on Sunday, April 17, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Strathmore Hall, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852.

• FreeforASTAmembers.Guests ofmembersarewelcome. Plentyoffreefood!• Freeparking:Currently,parkingin theMetroGarageisfreeon weekends• Mini-ConferencewithPresenters andTopics• Shortbusinessmeetingfrom5:00 to5:30• Presentationofawardsfor TeacheroftheYearandServiceto Strings

To access the Music Center from the Grosvenor Strathmore Metro garage, walk across the glass-enclosed sky bridge located on the 4th level

STRINGENDOSpring 2014 Volume XXX No.3

InsIde thIs Issue:

2 Message from the President 3 Upcoming Events 4 Violin Boot Camp: Coming This Fall! 8 Folk Music from Armenia Joins the Cello Repertoire by Vasily Popov 10 Music in Our Schools by Scott Herman 11 Lessons I Learned From My Classroom by Lenelle Morse 12 Getting Your Child to Practice by Ellen Troyer 14 Arts Advocacy for the Private Studio Teacher by Paul Scimonelli 16 The Tent is Alive With the Sound of Music by Claire Evans 17 Stewart’s Stellar Strings Scale and Sight Reading Camp by Cathy Stewart 18 Practice Personalities: What’s Your Type? by Thornton Cline 20 Report on Roy Sonne Master Classes by Lorraine Combs18 Index to Advertisers 27 The Lighter Side 28 ASTA Membership Application

StringendoGoesDigitalOne of the biggest changes this past year was the move to digital publication for our Winter and Spring issues of Stringendo, our chapter newsletter. We made this change for the same reasons so many organizations have. In order to best serve our members’ needs, our all-volunteer organization has to take care that no dollar is wasted. Digital delivery is environmentally friendly, and going digital for two out of three newsletters not only saves the chapter a substantial amount of money that could be used to finance more events, but also frees up more of our most limited and precious resource: volunteer time and effort.

We are also excited about the considerable positives of the digital format. We are now able to create attractive full-color issues at no additional cost, deliver each issue the moment it is complete, and enjoy the conveniences of embedded web and email links.

However, we do recognize that for various reasons members may have difficulty accessing a digital publication. So, if you are unable to access the Winter and Spring issues please let us know so we can provide assistance. You can reach us via the chapter hotline: 240-389-2782, or you can contact Matt Tifford directly by any of the contact means listed on the inside front cover of this issue.



&

Levine School of Music l MD/DC ASTA Mini‐Conference

The Annual Membership Meeting and Mini‐Conference will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Strathmore Hall, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852.

Free to all. Guests of members are welcome. Plenty of free food! Free parking: Currently, parking in the Metro Garage is free on weekends Mini‐Conference with Presenters and Topics Short business meeting from 5:30 to 6:00 Door prizes Presentation of awards for Teacher of the Year and Service to Strings Students of ASTA members will perform short selections

To access the Music Center from the Grosvenor Strathmore Metro garage, walk across the glass‐enclosed sky bridge located on the 4th level

ASTA MD/DC Chapter

For more information please contact:

Germantown Violin Company, LLC301-977-5637 www.germantownviolincompany.com

Give your students the best start at learning a stringed instrument

with Gafiano violins and violas from Germantown Violin Company.

Gafiano violins and violas have a smooth warm tone and excellent

projection. Beautiful instruments with remarkable sound make this

the perfect choice to begin their musical journey.

Great Beginnings

6 STRINGENDO Autumn 2015 Volume XXXII No. 1


DR. JEFF AARon2606 Hershfield CourtSilver Spring, MD 20904-7153(301) 890-1588(301) [email protected] Bass

RUTH R. ALbRiGHT3609 Dunlop St.Chevy Chase, MD 20815-5926(301) [email protected]

AnDREA ALDRiCH8544 Pine Run Ct.Ellicott City, MD 21043(410) [email protected]

EVA AnDERSon8831 Hub GarthJessup, MD 20794-3955(301) 490-0166Cello

TiM AnDERSon1426 Hillside Rd.Stevenson, MD 21153(410) 580-0074(443) [email protected]

TAnyA AniSiMoVA18700 Walker’s Choice RoadApt. 802Montgomery Village, MD 20886(434) [email protected]

ASHLEy ASHMAn8893 Flowerstock RowApt. 103Columbia, MD 21045(410) 884-9698(410) 718-8285

AnnA bAbCoCK5406 Lakeford Ln.Bowie, MD 20720(301) 464-0024(240) [email protected]

CECyLiA bARCzyK5415 Tramore Rd.Baltimore, MD 21214(410) [email protected]

zoLA bARnES3110 Chestnut Ave.Baltimore, MD 21211(410) [email protected]

LoRi A. bARnET223 W Montgomery Ave.Rockville, MD 20850(301) 279-7444Cello

SHARon bARTLEy2439 Copper Mountain Ter.Silver Spring, MD 20906-6229(240) 242-3976(202) [email protected]

niCHoLAS bAUER4817 36th Street NWApt. 211Washington, DC 20008(510) [email protected]

THEoDoRE bAUMGoLD6910 Rannoch Rd.Bethesda, MD 20817-5475(203) 322-4767Violin

ALiSon E. bAzALA KiM1946 Dundee Rd.Rockville, MD 20850(301) [email protected]

JoDi bEDER4213 34th St.Mount Rainier, MD 20712-1737(301) 864-4508(301) [email protected]

ELizAbETH bEER SHiLLinG1414 Regester Ave.Baltimore, MD 21239(410) [email protected]

MEGAn bEiCHLER2066A Nelson Mill RoadJarrettsville, MD 21084(443) [email protected]

Libby bELLAMy5615 Boxhill LaneBaltimore, MD 21210(410) [email protected]

DAPHnE bEniCHoU3027 Iona TerraceBaltimore, MD 21214(410) [email protected]

ALiCE bERMAnJohansen Competition3115 Homewood ParkwayKensington, MD 20895(301) [email protected]

JESSE bERnS-ziEVE2410 W. Rogers Ave.Baltimore, MD 21209(410) [email protected]

CATHERinE biSHoP4943 6th St. NEWashington, DC [email protected]

Membership Directory ASTA MD/DC Chapter 2014-2015


www.brobstviolins.com 703-256-0566

5584 General Washington DriveAlexandria, VA 22312

Extensive collection of professional instruments. New and vintage instruments for students and advancing players. In-home trial and time-payment plans. Full value trade-in on upgrades. Rental/purchase plan for violins, violas, cellos and basses. Professional repairs, restorations and bow rehairing. Courteous and knowledgeable staff. Strings, cases and accessories at competitive prices. Over 7,000 titles of string music and books in stock. Appraisals, consignments and acquisitions.

BrobstViolin Shop

Fine Violins,Violas, Cellos, Basses and Bows

CELESTE bLASE9860 Softwater WayColumbia, MD 21046(301) 490-8448Violin

CHERyL bLoCKLAnD12106 Homespun Ln.Lusby, MD 20657-5927(410) 326-4397(410) [email protected]

JoAn bob6602 Shelrick Pl.Baltimore, MD 21209(410) [email protected]

GRACE boERinGER1311 Noyes Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20919-2720(301) [email protected]

EMMAnUEL boRoWSKy5415 Tramore Rd.Baltimore, MD 21214(410) [email protected]

FRAnCES boRoWSKy5415 Tramore Rd.Baltimore, MD 21214(443) [email protected]

SUSAn boWER10648 Montrose Ave.Apt. 103Bethesda, MD 20814-4230(301) [email protected]

KAREn bREDbERGP.O. Box 296Hyattsville, MD 20781(914) [email protected]

KARoLyn A. bREDbERGP.O. Box 296Hyattsville, MD 20781(914) [email protected]

DEbRA bREWin-WiLSon10303 Croom Rd.Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-8225(301) [email protected]

bARbARA bRoWn512 Gilmoure Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20901(301) [email protected]

DEboRAH bRoWn966 Hungerford Dr. #27Rockville, MD 20850(301) [email protected]

KARin bRoWn4613 Roland Ave.Baltimore, MD 21210(410) 601-0274(410) [email protected]

KATHERinE bUDnER15005 Fort TrailAccokeek, MD 20607(301) 203-0448(301) [email protected]

SUzAnnE L. bUxbAUM3471 Campus DriveUrbana High SchoolIjamsville, MD 21754(301) [email protected]

EMiLy CAMPbELL9808 McMillan Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20910(301) 588-5388(240) [email protected]

CynTHiA C. CARMiCHAEL10102 Carillon Dr.Ellicott City, MD 21042-6210(410) [email protected]

CARoLinE CASTLETon10209 Douglas Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20902(253) [email protected]

SETH THoMAS CASTLETon10209 Douglas Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20902(253) [email protected]

SHy-LUEn CHEn532 W. Montgomery Ave.Rockville, MD 20850(301) [email protected]

JAMiE CHiMCHiRiAn9104 Rhode Island Ave.College Park, MD 20740(484) [email protected]

APRiL CHiSHoLM STUDEny8643 Ellen Ct.Parkville, MD 21234(410) [email protected]

JULiAnnA C. CHiTWooD403 Denham Rd.Rockville, MD 20851-1304(301) [email protected]

yoon-MEE CHonG1132 Fairbanks Dr.Lutherville, MD 21093(410) 812-1214(410) [email protected]


CLAUDiA CHUDACoFF4611 Fordham RoadCollege Park, MD 20740(301) [email protected]

EMiL CHUDnoVSKy252 13th Street, NEWashington, DC 20002(202) 652-1728(410) [email protected]

LoRRAinE CoMbS8241 Chalet Ct.Millersville, MD 21108-1306(410) [email protected]

Ann MiRAnDA CooTER2702 Ross Rd.Chevy Chase, MD 20815-38333015881098(301) [email protected]

SARAH CoTTERiLL9624 Evergreen StreetSilver Spring, MD 20901(301) [email protected]

DEVin n. CRAiG5704 Radnor Ct.Bethesda, MD 20817-6323(301) 263-9292(202) [email protected]

SARAH D’AnGELo3912 Lantern Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20902(410) [email protected]

ELizAbETH DAViS9657 Basket Ring Road #1Columbia, MD 21045(443) [email protected]

JAMES DEAn587 Riverside Dr.Pasadena, MD 21122-5063(410) 437-0463Double Bass

REbECCA M. DESTEFAniS1828 Brisbane Ct.Silver Spring, MD 20902-4018(301) [email protected]

MARy DiCKERSon2614 Spencer Rd.Chevy Chase, MD 20815(316) 295-3114(316) [email protected]

JiAn (KEn) DinG29 Stoney Point Ct.Germantown, MD 20876(571) [email protected]

LiSA EHREnSPECK15509 Williston Rd.Silver Spring, MD 20905(301) [email protected]

EVELyn L. ELSinG711 Northwest Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20900(301) [email protected]

ninA FALK7303 Cedar AvenueTakoma Park, MD 20912(301) [email protected]

MiTCH FAnninG9824 Rosensteel Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20910-1151(301) 565-3657(703) [email protected]

MARy b. FinDLEy3915 Fulton St. NWWashington, DC 20007-1376(202) 337-7101(202) [email protected]

GERALD F. FiSCHbACH7611 Lake Glen Dr.Glenn Dale, MD 20769-2004(301) [email protected]

PAULA FiSHMAn1032 Welsh Dr.Rockville, MD 20852(210) [email protected]

MARy FiTzGERALD2806 Buxmont Ln.Bowie, MD 20715-2470(301) [email protected]

KiRSTEn FiTzSiMMonS1200 Constantine CourtBel Air, MD 21014(443) [email protected]

Lynn FLEMinG9909 Founders WayDamascus, MD 20872-2900(301) 972-4296(301) [email protected] Bass

DiAnA FLESnER2202 Colston Drive #101Silver Spring, MD 20910(202) [email protected]

WALLACE HERbERT FoRD, JR.12011 Tralee Rd #502Timonium, MD 21093-3847(410) 561-9928(410) 235-2294 [email protected]


WiLLiAM L. FoSTER7717 14th St. NWWashington, DC 20012-1403(202) [email protected]

MoRGAn FREEMAn6313 Grimsby Ct.Bowie, MD 20720(301) [email protected]

PHyLLiS FREEMAn4126 Larson LaneMount Airy, MD 21771-4512(301) 471-5060(301) [email protected]

HoLLy SMiTH FUSSELL733 Lumbee Ct.Millersville, MD 21108(410) [email protected]

JoDy GATWooD6473 Onward TrailClarksville, MD 21029(240) [email protected]

GRETCHEn GETTES1300 Weldon Ave.Baltimore, MD 21211(410) [email protected]

H. KEVin GiLLiS5203 Palco PlaceCollege Park, MD 20740(301) 486-0925(301) [email protected]

JAViER GoDinEz10709 Glenhaven Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20902(301) 869-3613(240) [email protected]

iRA GoLD10014 Dallas Ave.Silver Spring, MD [email protected] Bass

DAnA M. GooDE2904 Montebello TerraceBaltimore, MD 21214-3130(410) 319-7517(443) [email protected]

JACKiE GREAnEy5441 Hildebrand Ct.Columbia, MD 21044-1938(410) [email protected]

MARGo C. WELLS GUiLLoRy9481 Gorman Rd.Laurel, MD 20723-5915(240) 786-7566(240) [email protected]

AnnELiSA GURiES714 Maplewood Ave. #2Takoma Park, MD 20912(585) [email protected]

ERiCA HAn3420 39th St. NW#707Washington, DC 20016(202) [email protected]

SARAH HART5511 44th Ave.Hyattsville, MD20781-1649(314) [email protected]

DonATUS HAyES13829 Old Annapolis Rd.Mount Airy, MD 21771-5800(301) [email protected]

PAT S. HEiMER12807 Bushey Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20906(301) [email protected]

CHRiSTinE HEinS9644 Bergamont Ct.Waldorf, MD 20603-5701(301) 705-8617(240) [email protected]

REbECCA E. HEnRy5063 Blacksmith Dr.Columbia, MD 21044(410) 997-2055(410) [email protected]

STEPHAniE HERDoizA12707 Two Farm DriveSilver Spring, MD [email protected]

SCoTT MiCHAEL HERMAn12614 Lloydminster Dr.Potomac, MD 20878(301) 926-4939(301) [email protected]

KATHRyn HiGGinS1 Lynfair CourtParkville, MD 21234(240) [email protected]

AMy HonES10200 Rocky Road PlaceWaldorf, MD 20603(301) [email protected]

AMy HoRMAn2102 Flagler PlaceWashington, DC 20001(301) [email protected]


MATTHEW HoRWiTz-LEE424 Westgate Rd.Baltimore, MD 21229(410) [email protected]

JEnniFER HoUCK706 Azalea Dr.Rockville, MD 20850(301) [email protected]

bETH HoUGH8006 Battersea PlaceSevern, MD [email protected]

JEFFREy HoWARD9308 Meadow Hill Rd.Ellicott City, MD 21042(410) [email protected]

MEGAn HoWELL9255 Sadie LaneLa Plata, MD 20646(301) [email protected]

KELLy S. HSU532 W. Montgomery Ave.Rockville, MD 20850(301) [email protected]

MELiSSA L. HULLMAn3724 Rexmere Rd.Baltimore, MD 21218(410) [email protected]

MAGGiE HUMMEL821 Euclid St. NWWashington, DC 20001(626) [email protected]

MELiA HUMPHREy1101 Whistling Duck DriveUpper Marlboro, MD 20774(301) [email protected]

DoRéE HUnEVEn1609 Ladd StreetSilver Spring, MD 20902-3520(301) 649-3170(301) [email protected]

HARRiETTE G. HURD3400 Canberra St.Silver Spring, MD 20904(301) [email protected]

SLAViCA iLiC5301 Westbard Cir. #236Bethesda, MD 20816-1430(301) 656-6157(202) [email protected]

MAy inG6410 Queens Chapel Rd.University Park, MD 20782(301) 277-8031(301) [email protected]

RUTH inGLEFiELD601 N. Eutaw St.Apt 220Baltimore, MD 21201(410) [email protected]

ELLEn JACobS2985 Bethany Ln.Ellicott City, MD 21042-2215(410) [email protected]

DoUGLAS JAMESon3724 Rexmere Rd.Baltimore, MD 21218-2010(410) 662-8507(240) [email protected]

JoyCELyn JoLLy-MAyS2401 Chelsea TerraceBaltimore, MD 21216(443) [email protected]

JonATHAn JonES1015 Varnum Street NEWashington, DC 20017-2148(202) 832-0164(703) 706-4500 [email protected]

CHERyL JUKES5301 Tuckerman Ln.North Bethesda, MD 20852(301) [email protected]

GLEnDA KAPSALiS223 Grant Ave.Takoma Park, MD 20912(301) [email protected]

LEonoRA KARASinA11906 Kings Bridge WayNorth Bethesda, MD 20852(301) [email protected]

CARoLyn KESSLER11940 Marmary Rd.Gaithersburg, MD 20878(301) [email protected]

HyEJin KiM7847 Snow Bird Ln.Laurel, MD 20723(443) [email protected]


You can rent the instrument, but you own the memories.

RENTALPROGRAM

Sharing music with families since1952

We are eager to help you and your child experience the best in music education.

*Coupon expires October 31, 2015. No minimum purchase. This offer does not apply to rental payments, lessons, taxes, shipping and handling charges or any similar processing charges. Offer available at Music & Arts locations and participating affiliate locations. Coupon valid in store and on in-stock purchases only. This coupon is non-transferable. No cash value. Not valid with other discounts or prior purchases. One coupon per customer per visit. Maximum discount $5.00.

This is a consumer rental-purchase agreement with no obligation to buy. Monthly payments after the initial trial period stay the same and generally vary between $15.99 and $59.99 a month. Length of contracts are generally 36 months or less. Depending on the instrument being rented, the total cost of rental, before any early purchase discount offers, ranges from $300.00 to $2,500.00. All payments must be made prior to acquiring ownership of the instrument. Rates advertised are valid for instruments received from 6/1/2015 to 10/31/2015. Instrument brand distribution based on our dealer agreements with manufacturers. Not all brands available at all locations. Available at participating locations.

Instruments | Lessons | Rentals | Repairs

Convenient shipping options availableRent Online and Shop 24/7 at MusicArts.com

WATCH OUR RENTAL VIDEO!at MusicArts.com/Rentals

Local, Affordable & Convenient• Hassle-free rental process—in store, in school, or online.

• All of your rental payments can be applied toward purchase.

• Convenient repair and maintenance plan from our expert technicians.

• Returns or exchanges on instruments available.

Local, Affordable & Convenient

$5 OFF AnyPurchase*

Bring this flyer to your neighborhood store and get

*208454*208454

Like us on Facebook


oSMAn KiVRAK6999 Barrys Hill Rd.Bryans Road, MD 20616-3288(301) 375-7109Viola

GERALD KLiCKSTEinPeabody Institute1 E. Mount Vernon Pl.Baltimore, MD 21202(336) 287-3255(410) [email protected]

JEFFREy L. KoCzELA4404 39th Street NWWashington, DC 20016-2204(202) [email protected] Bass

PAULA F. KURRUS10708 Lakespring WayCockeysville, MD 21030-2821(410) [email protected]

SWiAToSLAn KUzniK815 Hampton Ln.Towson, MD 21286(443) 854-1107(410) [email protected]

LAURiEn LAUFMAn10836 Brewer House Rd.Rockville, MD 20852(301) [email protected]

SALLy LAy14 N Main St.P.O. Box 153Smithsburg, MD 21783-0153(301) [email protected]

THERESA LAzAR6999 Barrys Hill Rd.Bryans Road, MD 20616-3288(301) 375-7109Violin

WyToLD LEbinG1313 Elson CourtTakoma Park, MD 20912(571) [email protected]

JEnniFER LEE5034 Cloister Dr.North Bethesda, MD 20852(818) [email protected]

SARAH LEE6024 Pure Sky PlaceClarksville, MD 21029(571) [email protected]

RoSEAnn MARKoW LESTER717 Wyngate Dr.Frederick, MD 21701(301) 639-9188(301) [email protected]

DAniEL JoSHUA LEViToV4613 Roland Ave.Baltimore, MD 21210(410) 601-0274(410) [email protected]

EDWARD J. LEWiS48 V St. NWWashington, DC 20001-1025(202) 387-6467(301) [email protected]

CHERyL A. LoGAn50 Nutwell Rd.Lothian, MD 20711-9709(410) 867-9131(410) [email protected]

DR. JAMES LyonS16908 Eckhart Cemetery Road SWFrostburg, MD 21532(301) [email protected]

SoFiA MACHT6140 Barroll Rd.Baltimore, MD [email protected]

zDEnKo MADRo4 E. Main BoulevardTimonium, MD [email protected]

Robin MASSiE5267 Candy Root Ct.Columbia, MD 21045-2311(410) [email protected]

SHELLEy J. MATHEWS9910 Hollow Glen Pl.Silver Spring, MD 20910(301) [email protected]

RAMonA H. MATTHEWS9214 Midwood Rd.Silver Spring, MD 20910(301) [email protected]

VALERiE H. MATTHEWS1008 Ashland Dr.Ashton, MD 20861(301) 580-8634(301) [email protected]

CynTHiA LEE MAUnEy707 Snider Ln.Silver Spring, MD 20905(301) [email protected]


KiMbERLy MCCoLLUM124 Near Brook Dr.Centreville, MD 21617(410) 224-0462(443) [email protected]

LAURiE MEEDER849 Harvest Moon DriveOdenton, MD 21113(603) 539-5654(603) [email protected]

VioLAinE MELAnçon838 Powers St.Baltimore, MD 21211(410) 367-0453(410) [email protected]

JAnET MELniCoFF-bRoWn6519 Beverly RoadBaltimore, MD 21239(410) 377-2877(410) [email protected]

CATHERinE MiKELSon7084 Melston Valley WayMarriottsville, MD 21104(410) [email protected]

GWEnDoLyn MiLLER SEAL900 Primrose Rd. #201Annapolis, MD 21403(608) [email protected]

ConSTAnCE K. MiLnER7205 Macarthur Blvd.Bethesda, MD 20816(301) 229-3380(301) [email protected]

SUnGAH Min10417 Overgate PlacePotomac, MD 20854(301) [email protected]

ToM MiTCHELL2810 Parkview Ter.Baltimore, MD 21214(410) [email protected]

MARiA MonTAno5409 Manorfield Rd.Rockville, MD 20853(301) [email protected]

HAnA MoRFoRD1333 W 40th St.Apt. 2Baltimore, MD 21211(410) [email protected]

LEnELLE D. MoRSE9509 Garwood St.Silver Spring, MD 20901(260) [email protected]

SACHi MURASUGi3960 Devonshire Dr.Salisbury, MD 21804(410) [email protected]

RonALD J. MUTCHniK4222 Club Ct.Ellicott City, MD 21042-5902(410) [email protected]

DEniSE nATHAnSon1819 Bay Ridge Ave.Suite 400Annapolis, MD 21403-2835(410) [email protected]

LESLiE nERo113 Melbourne Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20901(301) 588-6672(703) [email protected]

SHERRiE noRWiTz5723 Greenspring Ave.Baltimore, MD 21209-4341(410) [email protected]

TEREnCE o’nEiLL20509 Keeney Mill Rd.Freeland, MD 21053(410) 343-1108(410) [email protected]

ALAn R. oRESKy15620 Aitcheson Ln.Laurel, MD 20707-3031(301) [email protected]

JoRGE oRozCo5409 Manorfield Rd.Rockville, MD 20853(301) 460-0395(571) [email protected]

AnnE MARiE PATTERSon10617 Knollwood Ct.Waldorf, MD 20603-3234(301) [email protected]

JEAnA PAynE3429 Kemptown Church Rd.Monrovia, MD 21770(301) [email protected]

RonALD PEARL115 Brightside Ave.Baltimore, MD 21208(410) 484-5256(410) [email protected]


RACHEL PEREiRA5500 Friendship Blvd.N1706Chevy Chase, MD 20815(848) 333-2464(202) [email protected]

MARK PFAnnSCHMiDT8246 Castanea Ln.Derwood, MD 20855-2581(301) 869-8592(240) [email protected]

iRAiDA PobEREzHnAyA110 W 39th StreetApt. 503Baltimore, MD 21210-3122(905) [email protected]

HAnnAH PoCoCK3133 Connecticut Ave. NWApt. 810Washington, DC 20008-512(703) 836-5312(703) [email protected]

nAyiRi PooCHiKiAn7400 Arrowood Rd.Bethesda, MD 20817(240) [email protected]

DoUGLAS V. PoPLin8211 Flower Ave.Takoma Park, MD 20912-6858(703) [email protected]

VASiLy PoPoV9804 Marquette DriveWest Bethesda, MD 20817(202) 243-0601(202) 686-8000 ext. [email protected]

JESSiCA PoWELL EiG7408 Ridgewood Ave.Chevy Chase, MD 20815(646) [email protected] Bass

niCHoLAS PRoSzKoW113 Stonegate Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20905(248) 703-3550(240) [email protected]

JEAn PRoVinE4611 Beechwood Rd.College Park, MD 20740(301) [email protected]

LAUREn RAUSCH4 Upland Rd. #41Baltimore, MD 21210(614) [email protected]

LinDSAy REiSLER624 Foxwood Dr.Glen Burnie, MD 21060(410) [email protected]

HEiDi REMiCK10014 Dallas Ave.Silver Spring, MD [email protected]

JEnniFER REnDE39 Overbrook RoadCatonsville, MD 21228(410) [email protected]

bonniE RESniCK13122 Okinawa Ave.Rockville, MD 20851(301) 881-0207(202) [email protected]

GLoRiA RETzER511 Grant Pl.Frederick, MD 21702-4112(301) [email protected]

PERVinCA RiSTA110 W 39th St.Apt. 600Baltimore, MD 21210-3130(410) [email protected]

LACiE RiTTER408 South Rolling Rd.Catonsville, MD 21228(410) [email protected]

DAnA RoKoSny10216 Sundance Ct.Potomac, MD 20854(443) [email protected]

CinDy RoSEnbERG7437 Marriottsville Rd. 2Marriottsville, MD 21104(410) [email protected]

LAUREn RoSTEK97 Webb Ct.Frederick, MD 21702(301) [email protected] Bass

LUCinDA M. RoUSE3428 Woodberry Ave.Baltimore, MD 21211(410) [email protected]

CARoL J. RUSSELL18 Kintore Ct.Baltimore, MD 21234(410) [email protected]


LiSA E. SADoWSKi9309 Snyder LanePerry Hall, MD 21128(410) 529-1471(410) [email protected]

KRiSToFER SAnz1910 Gayfield Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20906(301) [email protected]

KiM SAToR819 Sheridan StreetHyattsville, MD 20783-3229(202) [email protected]

TALyA SCHEnK628 Muriel St.Rockville, MD 20852(240) [email protected]

ALESSAnDRA SCHnEiDER292 Halsey Rd.Annapolis, MD 21401(609) [email protected]

JEFFREy SCHoyEn3960 Devonshire Dr.Salisbury, MD 21804(410) [email protected]

PAUL SCiMonELLi5169 Orchard GreenColumbia, MD 21045(301) [email protected] Bass

bARbARA R. SEiDMAn5301 Westbard Circle #239Bethesda, MD 20816-1430(301) 656-4473Harp

SUSAn o. SELLA1345 Atwood RoadSilver Spring, MD 20906-2088(301) [email protected]

DAnA MARiE SEMoS600 Admiral Dr.#485Annapolis, MD 21401(443) [email protected]

JEnniFER S. SHAnnon6913 Oakridge Rd.University Park, MD20782(301) [email protected]

bARRy SHAPiRo1400 Lancaster StreetApt. 600Baltimore, MD 21231-3352(443) 708-1820Viola

JUDiTH bASCH SHAPiRo3913 Dunnel LaneKensington, MD20895-3510(301) [email protected]

HELEn GALE SHEHAn18 Mt. Pleasant Ave.Easton, MD 21601-3715(410) [email protected]

AMy SHooK730 Lake PathCrownsville, MD 21032(410) 923-6234(509) [email protected] Bass

EFFiE SHU2712 Navarre DriveChevy Chase, MD20815(301) [email protected]

KATHLEEn M. SiLK178 Tall Tree TrailArnold, MD 21012(410) [email protected]

JUDiTH S. SiLVERMAn14315 Bauer Dr.Rockville, MD 20853(301) [email protected]

LESLiE SMiLE12636 Grey Eagle Ct.Apt. 33Germantown MD 20874-5313(513) [email protected]

nAnCy Jo M. SniDER3041 O St. NWWashington, DC 20007(202) 234-1363(202) [email protected]

MARion SPAHn4901 Bluebonnet Ct.Rockville, MD 20853(301) 929-1141(301) [email protected]

JoAn SPiCKnALLP.O. Box 1284Columbia, MD 21044(410) [email protected]

WiLLiAM STAPP201 Catoctin Ave.Frederick, MD 21701(301) [email protected]

JAMES STERn2026 Forest Hill Dr.Silver Spring, MD 20903(301) [email protected]


phot

o: R

icha

rd A

nder

son

Peabody boasts a preeminent faculty, a collaborative learning environment, and the academic resources of one of the nation’s leading universities, Johns Hopkins.

peabody.jhu.edu/asta800-368-2521 410-234-4848

@george_peabodyLike us on Facebook

FACULTY ARTISTS

VIOLINVictor DanchenkoHerbert GreenbergViolaine MelançonKeng-Yuen Tseng

VIOLAChoong-Jin ChangVictoria ChiangRichard Field

VIOLONCELLOAmit PeledAlan Stepansky

DOUBLE BASSIra GoldPaul Johnson, ChairJeffrey Weisner


LyA STERn7012 Hopewood St.Bethesda, MD 20817(301) [email protected]

CATHERinE STEWART17500 Princess Anne Dr.Olney, MD 20832(301) [email protected]

SonJA STyMiEST6614 Cherry Hill Dr.Frederick, MD 21702-2348(301) [email protected]

JEAnnE SU27 Napa Valley RoadGaithersburg, MD 20878(301) 330-1911(301) [email protected]

CELiA R. SUCGAnG3037 Abell Ave.Baltimore, MD 21218(410) 889-7932Violin

CynTHiA SWiSS4403 Falls Rd.Baltimore, MD 21211-1225(410) 889-8325(443) [email protected]

JESSiCA TAi2304 McCormick Rd.Rockville, MD 20850(240) [email protected]

TzU-CHinG TAi6512 Bannockburn DriveBethesda MD 20817(240) [email protected]

VALEnCiA THEVEnin7814 Blue Stream DriveElkridge, MD [email protected]

FionA L. THoMPSon5006 Tulip Ave.Halethorpe, MD 21227-4951(410) [email protected]

MATTHEW TiFFoRD11235 Ashley DriveNorth Bethesda, MD 20852(301) [email protected]

CHRiSTiAn TREMbLAy2109 Northcliff Dr.Baltimore, MD 21209(443) [email protected]

PETER TRoPPER4715 Crescent St.Bethesda, MD 20816-1720(301) 229-7947(202) [email protected]

ALiCE TUnG2730 Urbana PikeIjamsville, MD 21754-8620(301) 831-8132(240) [email protected]

JAMES TUnG2730 Urbana PikeIjamsville, MD 21754(301) [email protected]

KRiSTin TURnER2303 Pot Spring Rd.Timonium, MD 21093-2727(443) [email protected]

MARTHA VAnCE9100 Louis Ave.Silver Spring, MD 20910(301) [email protected]

KERRy VAnLAAnEn13705 Loree LaneRockville, MD 20853-2928(301) 871-4117Cello

ALiCiA WARD2109 Northcliff Dr.Baltimore, MD 21209(703) [email protected]

JEFFREy WEiSnER5113 Wickett Ter.Bethesda, MD 20814-5716(202) 722-7704(202) [email protected] Bass

LinDA WHiTLoCK6005 Bradley Blvd.Bethesda, MD 20817(301) [email protected]

JEAn M. WiLSon13801 York Rd. M-2Cockeysville, MD 21030-1891(410) [email protected]

TEDD WiLSon7621 Labyrinth RoadPikesville, MD 21208(410) 838-2697(410) [email protected]

DoUGLAS R. WoLTERS9218 Manchester Rd.Silver Spring MD 20901-3341(301) [email protected]


ELEAnoR C. WooDS5456 Nebraska Ave NWWashington, DC 20015-1350(202) [email protected]

MARGARET WRiGHT4604 Stoneleigh Ct.Rockville, MD 20852(301) 770-1955(202) 686-8000 [email protected]

CHiEnMo WU11901 Bambi Ct.Gaithersburg, MD 20878(301) 869-0666(301) [email protected]

MEGAn yAniK1630 Rosedale Street NEApt. 1Washington, DC 20002(617) [email protected]

GAVRi-ToV yARES8508 16th St.Apt. 615Silver Spring, MD 20910(609) 213-3961(301) [email protected] Bass

ALiCE yoUnG118 E. Melrose AvenueBaltimore, MD 21212(410) [email protected]

MARy LEE yoUnGRedland Middle School6505 Muncaster Mill Rd.Rockville, MD 20855(301) 774-9306(301) [email protected]

SHinTARoH yUHKi2403 Noble Manor Ln.Frederick, MD 21702(301) 662-2938(301) [email protected]

PAUL A. yUTzy5723 Greenspring Ave.Baltimore, MD 21209-4341(410) 649-3337Guitar

* If you do not see your name, then you have checked the box on your ASTA membership form to be excluded from an online membership directory. If you wish to change this, contact the National Office.

Celebrating 25 years of musical excellence!

William J. Hollin Music Director

David LevinMusic Education Director

PVYO offers eight ensembles for students in grades 4 through 12.

Preparatory Orchestra Concert Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra • Philharmonia

Clarinet Choir • Flute Choir Concert Band • Wind Ensemble

Rehearsals in Potomac, MD

www.pvyo.org


Members By InstrumentVioLinRuth R. AlbrightZola BarnesSharon BartleyNicholas BauerTheodore BaumgoldLibby BellamyJesse Berns-ZieveCeleste BlaseGrace BoeringerEmmanuel BorowskySusan BowerKarolyn A. BredbergKatherine BudnerSuzanne L. BuxbaumEmily CampbellShy-Luen ChenJamie ChimchirianJulianna C. ChitwoodYoon-mee ChongClaudia ChudacoffEmil ChudnovskyLorraine CombsAnn Miranda CooterSarah D’AngeloRebecca M. DeStefanisLisa EhrenspeckNina FalkMitch FanningMary B. FindleyGerald F. FischbachKirsten FitzsimmonsPhyllis FreemanJody GatwoodH. Kevin GillisJavier GodinezDana M. GoodeMargo C. Wells GuilloryDonatus HayesPat S. HeimerChristine HeinsKathryn HigginsAmy HormanMatthew Horwitz-LeeJennifer HouckBeth HoughJeffrey HowardKelly S. HsuMelissa L. HullmanMelia HumphreyDorée HunevenHarriette G. HurdSlavica IlicMay IngEllen JacobsJoycelyn Jolly-MaysJonathan JonesGlenda KapsalisCarolyn KesslerPaula F. KurrusSwiatoslan KuznikTheresa LazarJennifer LeeSarah LeeSofia Macht

Roseann Markow LesterShelley J. MathewsRamona H. MatthewsCynthia Lee MauneyKimberly McCollumViolaine MelançonJanet Melnicoff-BrownConstance K. MilnerLenelle D. MorseSachi MurasugiRonald J. MutchnikLeslie NeroTerence O’NeillAlan R. OreskyJorge OrozcoAnne Marie PattersonJeana PayneHannah PocockNayiri PoochikianJean ProvineLauren RauschLindsay ReislerBonnie ResnickGloria RetzerPervinca RistaLacie RitterLucinda M. RouseLisa E. SadowskiAlessandra SchneiderJennifer S. ShannonJudith Basch ShapiroHelen Gale ShehanEffie ShuKathleen M. SilkLeslie SmileMarion SpahnWilliam StappJames SternLya SternCatherine StewartJeanne SuCelia R. SucgangCynthia SwissJessica TaiValencia TheveninChristian TremblayPeter TropperJames TungLinda WhitlockJean M. WilsonEleanor C. WoodsChienmo WuShintaroh Yuhki

VioLAAndrea AldrichDaphne BenichouAlice BermanCatherine BishopJoan BobKarin BrownCynthia C. CarmichaelCaroline CastletonPaula FishmanWilliam L. Foster

Morgan FreemanHolly Smith FussellAnnelisa GuriesSarah HartRebecca E. HenryStephanie HerdoizaLeonora KarasinaHyejin KimOsman KivrakEdward J. LewisCheryl A. LoganJames LyonsRobin MassieGwendolyn Miller SealSungah MinMaria MontanoHana MorfordSherrie NorwitzMark PfannschmidtHeidi RemickJennifer RendeDana RokosnyTalya SchenkDana Marie SemosBarry ShapiroJudith S. SilvermanAlice TungKristin TurnerAlice YoungMargaret WrightMegan Yanik

CELLoEva AndersonTim AndersonTanya AnisimovaCecylia BarczykLori A. BarnetAlison E. Bazala KimJodi BederMegan BeichlerFrances BorowskyKaren BredbergBarbara BrownSeth Thomas CastletonApril Chisholm StudenySarah CotterillDevin N. CraigElizabeth DavisJian (Ken) DingEvelyn L. ElsingDiana FlesnerGretchen GettesMaggie HummelDouglas JamesonLaurien LaufmanWytold LebingDaniel Joshua LevitovZdenko MadroValerie H. MatthewsLaurie MeederCatherine MikelsonDenise NathansonRachel PereiraDouglas V. Poplin

Vasily PopovCindy RosenbergCarol J. RussellJeffrey SchoyenElizabeth Beer ShillingNancy Jo M. SniderFiona L. ThompsonMatthew TiffordMartha VanceKerry VanLaanenAlicia WardDouglas R. Wolters

DoUbLE bASSJeff AaronJames DeanLynn FlemingIra GoldJeffrey L. KoczelaJessica Powell EigLauren RostekPaul ScimonelliAmy ShookJeffrey WeisnerGavri-Tov Yares

bRASSScott Michael HermanNicholas ProszkowTedd Wilson

GUiTARGerald KlicksteinTom MitchellRonald PearlPaul A. Yutzy

HARPAnna BabcockDebra Brewin-WilsonMary FitzgeraldWallace Herbert Ford, Jr.Erica HanRuth InglefieldSally LayIraida PoberezhnayaKim SatorBarbara R. SeidmanSusan O. SellaSonja Stymiest

PiAnoDeborah BrownJackie GreaneyJoan Spicknall

WooDWinDMegan HowellKristofer SanzMary Lee Young


This past semester was Towson University ASTA’s first active semester as a student ASTA chapter and they were very busy with service!

During the Spring 2015 semester, Towson ASTA members filled their schedules with volunteer work across Baltimore.

• On March 20, 2015, they helped out at the Howard County Candlelight Concert Society Series’ Rachel Barton Pine Master Class. At this service event they handed out programs, sold tickets, and ushered guests to their seats.

• On April 25, 2015, half of their members volunteered at Towson University’s Big Break Event where they were able to serve the Towson community by planting flowers and landscaping gardens.

• Also on April 25, 2015, half of their members served at the Baltimore City School’s String Festival as coordinators, ushers, and coaches.

• Throughout the course of the semester they attended local Baltimore County schools, such as Perry Hall Middle School where they coached violin sectionals in preparation for Baltimore County School’s annual String Assessments.

• A great number of the Towson ASTA members played in the Pit Orchestra for Towson University’s production of “Sweeney Todd.”

• They continued to share their musical talents throughout Easter performances.

This summer the Towson University ASTA chapter plans to give a concert at Oak Crest, the elderly independent living community. This concert will allow them to serve the community there while also practicing performance skills. The chapter will volunteer for Baltimore County Schools at the annual Baltimore County summer instrumental music camp in late June with a final performance July 1, 2015, at Oregon Ridge.

Please check out the chapter’s new website at http://towsonasta.wix.com/-towson-asta along with their “Involved at Towson University” page, Twitter, and Facebook page—featured on the website.

Lacie RitterFounder and President, Towson University ASTA

Towson University Student Chapter


2015–2016 ASTA MD/DC Chapter Studio Teacher Meetings

Studio Teacher Meetings are a chance for studio teachers to meet each other in a warm social setting, and learn how to hone their craft of running a studio and teaching strings through lectures,

demonstrations, and discussions. These events are free to members. Snacks and drinks are provided.

UPCoMinG MEETinGS:September 24, 2015 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

“Lesser Known Gems” An afternoon of sharing your favorite unusual teaching pieces

Emphasis on pre-concerto level works (ASTACAP Level 4 and below). Attendees encouraged to bring their favorites AND instruments!

Presenter: Mark PfannschmidtLocation: Home of Mark Pfannschmidt

november 6, 2015 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.“Taxes for Musicians”

How to take advantage of the tax code to reduce your taxesPresenters: Carl Desmarais, CPA

Location: Home of Julianna Chitwood

may 13, 2016 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.“Beyond Practicing”

Introduction to Dr. Noa Kageyama’s online course Presenter: Matthew Tifford & Julianna Chitwood

Location: Home of Matthew Tifford

To RSVP and for location details, contact us at (240) 389-2782 or [email protected]

www.asta.netIf you would like to make a presentation for a future meeting,

or if you have an idea of what you would like to discuss or hear about, please call or e-mail.We are delighted to hear from you!


Gailes’ Violin ShopBecause the right instrument can take

you wherever your dreams may lead.

10013 Rhode Island Ave.College Park, MD301.474.4300800.245.3167www.GailesViolin.com Now using 100% Wind Power


25

ASTA MD/DC & Candlelight Concert Society PRESENT A CHAMBER MUSIC MASTER CLASS WITH

The Kelemen String Quartet

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015, FROM 7:00 – 9:30 PM ATThe home of Ronald Mutchnik,

4222 Club Ct. Ellicott City, MD 21042

“first prize winner, Premio Borciani 2014”

“the most electrifying string-quartet concert in recent memory” - Dallas News

PERFORMANCEPart of CSS Chamber Music SeriesSaturday, October 17, 20158:00 PM Smith TheatreHorowitz Center10901 Little Patuxent ParkwayCost: Free Event



&





ASTA MD/DC Chapter

26

The Potter Violin Company Helping String Players Put Their Best Sound Forward

301.652.7070800.317.9452Also visit us atstore.pottersviolins.compottersviolins.comonlyviolas.com

4706 Highland AvenueBethesda, MD 20814

From renting my first 1/4 size violin to purchasing my current violin

and viola, the Potter Violin Company has been an important

partner in my musical journey. I want to thank my teachers,

my parents and Potter’s for helping me achieve my dreams.

— Emily Mansfieldformer student of the Peabody Preparatory and current student at Indiana University,

Jacobs School of Music

SHOPONLINE


27

ViolinisT James sTern PresenTaTion & WorkshoP

“ACCLAIMED PERFORMER AND PROFESSOR OF

VIOLIN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND”

sundayJanuary 10,

2016Location:

Home of Mark Pfannschmidt8246 Castanea Ln,

Derwood, MD 20855

ToPiCS: “Interpreting Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto” and

“Developing the Inner Performance: the Process of Gaining Extraordinary Ability.”Bring your instruments!

Fee: $20 for ASTA MD/DC members, $35 for non-ASTA members


&





Sponsored by Potter Violin Company

ASTA MD/DC Chapter


28

Candlelight Concert Society2015-2016 SEASON

Kelemen Quartet

Hermitage Piano Trio

Baroque Band

Brentano Quartet

Yekwon Sunwoo, piano

Quatuor Ebène

Deviant Septet

Harlem Quartet

Oct 17

Nov 21

Jan 9

Feb 6

Feb 27

Mar 12

Apr 9

May 14

20% DISCOUNT ($28) for ASTA Members for Nov, Jan, Feb and May only

Use code: STRINGENDO at checkout

www.candlelightconcerts.org410-997-2324

St. John Baptist Church, Columbia

Saturdays, 8:00 PM Smith Theatre

ORCHESTRAS@ Montgomery College

Metropolitan Orchestra and its ensembles serve Montgomery College and the community by bringing professional, amateur, and student musicians together to rehearse and perform under the direction of Professor and Conductor Pablo Saelzer.

We invite college, adult, and high school musicians to audition. High school students may earn college credits and service learning hours.

Please contact [email protected] for audition information.

For more information please visit:

metropolitanorchestramc.org

Montgomery CollegeDepartment of Music

51 Mannakee StRockville, MD

Montgomery College is an academic institution committed to equal opportunity.


Maryland ClassiC youth orChestrasof Strathmore

Philharmonic, Grades 10-12 • Chamber Ensemble, Grades 9-10Symphony, Grades 8-10 • Young Artists, Grades 6-8

Chamber Strings, Grades 4-6 • Preparatory Strings, Grades 3-5

Plus Chamber Groups, Flute and Clarinet Choirs, and Harp Ensemble

Listen!MCYO musicians in six outstanding ensembles from grades 3 to 12

will impress you with the sounds of a professional orchestra!

Prepare to be impressed.

Audition requirements and information on FREE Master Classes during the year can be found at

JOin!Musicians from Maryland, DC, and Virginia welcomed.

Online registration for auditions begin mid-June.

Annual auditions are held in late August at The Music Center at Strathmore.5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD

Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at The Music Center during the school year. Call to observe—301-581-5208. Concerts take place at The Music Center

and other fine local venues in December, March, and May.

M

MCYO’s70th Year!

special discounted tickets for music teachers!

www.mcyo.org

The Resident Youth Orchestra of StrathmoreArtistic Director, Jonathan Carney | Music Director, Kristofer Sanz

Arts

Lau

reat

e


Spring Festival: Solo String Instrumentsby Jean Provine

The Festival gives an opportunity to students of ASTA or MSMTA members to perform

a piece of their choice for an adjudicator and small audience of family and friends. It is open to any violinists, violists, cellists, bassists as well as guitarists and harpists age 6 –18. Applicants are divided first by instrument, then by age into groups of five to nine players. Most students choose to be competitive within their age group: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention ribbons are awarded at the end of each session. For competitors, memorization is required, but non-competitors are also welcome, and may use music. Both receive a written critique from the judge. This differs from the various Maryland county festivals where students play for one person, in that it is more like a small concert where the students, family and friends all get to hear the others play.

The 2016 Festival will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. Applications with a $25 fee per student will be due six weeks before the event, so watch the website and email for updates and further information.

As there are normally around 200 players, so the Festival relies on help from teachers of participating students who will be asked to monitor on the day, help with paperwork on another day or possibly adjudicate. This involves around an hour and can be a good way to meet other teachers and hear a variety of students from other studios. The Festival is supported jointly by ASTA MD/DC and MSMTA.

2016 Rockville Competition for Solo Piano and Solo Strings

Location: Montgomery College, Rockville, MD

Competition date: March 26, 2016. Winners recital: April 1, 2016

www.rockvillecompetition.com [email protected]

301-838-5594

Application deadline: February 26, 2016 Rockville Competition, 966 Hungerford Dr., #27, Rockville, MD 20850


Location: Montgomery College, Rockville, MDCompetition date: May 1, 2016 Winners recital: May 7, 2016

[email protected]

301-838-5594

Application deadline: April 1, 2016Rockville Competition, 966 Hungerford Dr., #27, Rockville, MD 20850

MSMTA / ASTA-MD DC

Spring Festival for Solo Strings

The Festival gives an opportunity to students of ASTA or MSMTA members to perform a piece

of their choice for an adjudicator and small audience of family and friends. It is open to any

violinists, violists, cellists, bassists as well as guitarists and harpists age 6-18. Applicants are

divided first by instrument, then by age into groups of five to nine players. Most students

choose to be competitive within their age group: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention

ribbons are awarded at the end of each session. For competitors, memorization is required, but

non-competitors are also welcome, and may use music. Both receive a written critique from

the judge. This differs from the various Maryland county festivals where students play for one

person, in that it is more like a small concert where the students, family and friends all get to

hear the others play. The 2015 Festival will be held at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of

Maryland, College Park. The date is yet to be set but is normally late March or early April.

Applications with a $25 fee per student will be due six weeks before the event, so watch the

website and email for updates and further information.

As there are normally around 200 players, so the Festival relies on help from teachers of

participating students who will be asked to monitor on the day, help with paperwork on

another day or possibly adjudicate. This involves around an hour and can be a good way to

meet other teachers and hear a variety of students from other studios. The Festival is

supported jointly by ASTA MD/DC and MSMTA.

Jean Provine Sarah Cotterill May Ing, co-chairs

The following rules apply to this festival. Failure to comply with any rule may result in disqualification.1. Teachers are not allowed to accompany their own students. (Parents may accompany)2. Competitive students must perform from memory, including sonatas. Non-competitors may play with music.3. Students who compete must bring an original copy of either the score (accompaniment) or solo part for the judge, and number the measures. -Non-competitors playing from music may, but are not required to provide a copy for the judge. No one should give the judge a photocopy.4. 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and possibly Honorable Mention will be awarded. Judge’s decisions are final.5. Teachers must be members of either MSMTA or ASTA and be available to help on the day or with paperwork before or after. Teachers will receive a comment sheet for each of their pupils.

The general rules governing MSMTA events also apply.Please read them carefully: www.msmta.org under Student Activities

Date: April 17, 2016Deadline: March 7, 2016

Location: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland

Rt. 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park, MDFee: $25.00 per entry

Teachers should send one check for all entries, made payable to MSMTA, to:

JEAN PROVINE, 4611 Beechwood Road, College Park MD 20740Eligibility: Students through 12th grade, age 6 and above, as of April 17, 2016.

First Place winners from last year may enter competitively

Spring FeStival: Solo String inStrumentS

Time Limits: Ages 6-8 4 minutesAges 9-10 6 minutesAges 11-12 7 minutesAges 13 & up 10 minutes

JEAn PRoVinE, co-chair, 301 927 5312 [email protected] MonTAno, co-chair [email protected]


application FormMSMTA / ASTA-MD DC Spring Festival Solo String Instruments

Sunday, April 17, 2016Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center,University of Maryland, College Park

Application Form

MSMTA / ASTA-MD DC Spring Festival Solo String Instruments Sunday, April 17, 2016

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park

This application should be filled out by an MSMTA or ASTA member teacher. Each teacher should send only one check for all entries, made payable to MSMTA, postmarked by March 7 , 2016 to JEAN PROVINE 4611 Beechwood Road, College Park MD 20740

Instrument: Violin Viola Cello Bass Guitar Harp

Competitive Noncompetitive (Last year’s winner may enter competitively)

Name of student: ______________________________________________ Birthdate _____________________ Email : ________________________________________________________Phone no. ___________________

Accompanist’s name _____________________________________________ phone: ________________________ Accompanist’s email ____________________________________________ If you need an accompanist the Festival can recommend one available for hire. Contact the chair for details.

For scheduling purposes, please list any time restrictions affecting you or your accompanist below.

Accompanist.___________________________________ Student ______________________________________

Compositions (either 1 or 2) to be performed

Title Movement Composer Performance Time 1.____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.____________________________________________________________________________________________ Teacher’s name______________________________________email_____________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ phone__________________

All teachers entering pupils must be available to help at the Festival.

Please circle the duties you would be willing to do and the times available.

1. I will be available to monitor and/or judge the morning and/or afternoon of April 17, 2016 2. I will not be available April 17th but am sending a substitute monitor who can tune violins / cellos. _______________________________________ _______________________________________ substitute’s name substitute’s phone or email I acknowledge that I have read and understand the rules governing this event and agree to abide by them. My students and/or parents have also been apprised of the rules. I understand that all participating teachers must be available to assist with the event. If I fail to fulfill my work obligation, I understand and agree that my students may be declared ineligible to participate. I am a current member of MSMTA ASTA Teacher’s signature:______________________________


The Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival (IIMIF) has been lauded as a truly unique program for personal and musical development. Founded by cellist Cecylia Barczyk and her husband Charles Borowsk in 2003, the supportive and yet intensely challenging atmosphere of the program, low student-faculty ratio, and variety of interdisciplinary exercises have served as a catalyst in the growth of young musicians from North America and around the world. IIMIF is offered for pianists and string players, typically ages 14-26 (exceptions considered). Participants grow through daily chamber music rehearsals and coaching sessions, four private lessons, recitals and masterclasses by acclaimed faculty and guest artists, and workshops on topics including performance psychology, instrument maintenance, stage presence, musical careers, improvisation, movement for musicians, injury prevention, and theatre. The program culminates in public solo and chamber ensemble performances. “IMIF will change your life, your music, your perspective, and your career. Experience the arts in a way that will unleash your full creative potential.” -2015 participant 2016 FACULTY AND GUEST ARTISTS: VIOLIN: Blanka Bednarz, Emmanuel Borowsky, Jonathan Carney. VIOLA: Sharon Eng. CELLO: Cecylia Barczyk, Frances Borowsky, Amit Peled. GUITAR: TBA. PIANO: Elizabeth Borowsky, Brian Ganz, Daniel Weiser.

IIMIF is proud to partner with

ASTA MD/DC Chapter

to provide two partial scholarships ($250 each) to

current students of ASTA members!

Applications accepted December 2015 through March 2016.

Tel. 443-377-3730 / E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.IMIF.us

July 15-24, 2016 at Mount St. Mary’s University

(just an hour from Baltimore/DC)

July 15-24, 2016at Mount St. Mary’s University

(just an hour from Baltimore/DC)

The Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival (IIMIF) has been lauded as a truly unique program for personal and musical development. Founded by cellist Cecylia Barczyk and her husband Charles Borowsky in 2003, the supportive and yet intensely challenging atmosphere of the program, low student-faculty ratio, and variety of interdisciplinary exercises have served as a catalyst in the growth of young musicians from North America and around the world. IIMIF is offered for pianists and string players, typically ages 14-26 (exceptions considered).

Participants grow through daily chamber music rehearsals and coaching sessions, four private lessons, recitals and masterclasses by acclaimed faculty and guest artists, and workshops on topics including performance psychology, instrument maintenance, stage presence, musical careers, improvisation, movement for musicians, injury prevention, and theatre. The program culminates in public solo and chamber ensemble performances.

“IMIF will change your life, your music, your perspective, and your career. Experience the arts in a way that will unleash your full creative potential.” -2015 participant

2016 FACULTy AnD GUEST ARTiSTS: VioLin: Blanka Bednarz, Emmanuel Borowsky, Jonathan Carney. VioLA: Sharon Eng. CELLo: Cecylia Barczyk, Frances Borowsky, Amit Peled. GUiTAR: TBA. PiAno: Elizabeth Borowsky, Brian Ganz, Daniel Weiser.

iiMiF is proud to partner with

ASTA MD/DC Chapter

to provide two partial scholarships ($250 each) tocurrent students of ASTA members!

Applications accepted December 2015 through March 2016.

Tel. 443-377-3730 / E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.iMiF.us



MD/DC Chapter

stringendo



sUmmer sTrinG insTiTUTes 2016at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD

High School Institute, August 1-5 Piotr Gajewski, Conductor Middle School Institute, August 8-12 Victoria Gau, Conductor

Join National Philharmonic principal players and other distinguished faculty for a challenging and exciting week of chamber and orchestral music, geared toward advanced students. Daily offerings include chamber music coachings and rehearsals, two orchestra rehearsals, and Rhythm and Movement class. Students receive two private lessons during the week. The institute culminates in chamber music and orchestra performances. While Summer String Institute students work on ambitious repertoire to develop true professionalism, they also enjoy camaraderie and the adventure of creating great music.

the national philharmonic is proud to partner with

aSta md/dC Chapter

to provide two partial scholarships ($250 each) tocurrent students of aSta members!

Repertoire, Sample schedule, faculty listings and application available in January 2016 at:nationalphilharmonic.org/education

Questions? Call 301-493-9283 x116 or e-mail: [email protected]



MD/DC Chapter

stringendo


SUMMER STRING INSTITUTES 2016

at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD

High School Institute, August 1-5 Piotr Gajewski, Conductor Middle School Institute, August 8-12 Victoria Gau, Conductor

Join National Philharmonic principal players and other distinguished faculty for a

challenging and exciting week of chamber and orchestral music, geared toward advanced students. Daily offerings include chamber music coachings and rehearsals, two orchestra rehearsals, and Rhythm and Movement class. Students receive two private lessons during the week. The institute culminates in chamber music and orchestra performances. While

Summer String Institute students work on ambitious repertoire to develop true professionalism, they also enjoy camaraderie and the adventure of creating great music.

The National Philharmonic is proud to partner with

ASTA MD/DC Chapter

to provide two partial scholarships ($250 each) to

current students of ASTA members!

Repertoire, Sample schedule, faculty listings and application available in January, 2016 at:

nationalphilharmonic.org/education Questions? Call 301-493-9283 x116 or e-mail: [email protected]


Strings Plus Festivalby Judith Silverman

Strings Plus Festival, jointly run by ASTA MD/DC Chapter and MSMTA, will be held Sunday,

March 6, 2016, at the Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Strings Plus is a chamber music festival/competition that features string players (age 7–18) playing with other string players or with any other instruments —for instance strings and piano, strings and wind players or just strings together. Double or triple concertos with orchestral reduction piano are also performed, as are duets, trios, quartets, quintets, and sextets. Each year there are also some larger ensembles that perform—that is, students who perform without a conductor but with multiple people on a part. While we know this isn’t strictly chamber music, it is allowable. Occasionally ensembles with strings and flute and guitar have performed. All performers must be students except

for a piano reduction part of a concerto for multiple instruments. An adult may perform the piano reduction part.

Music ranges from elementary student duos, trios and quartets to more advanced works, including Kumer, Brahms, Mozart, Haydn, Borodin, and Beethoven quartets. Contemporary works such as those by Makris and others have also been performed. Younger children sometimes play arrangements of folk tunes.

The age range is from 7 through 18. Groups are arranged by the average age of the group and if possible by the kind of work (trios, quartets, etc). There is a judge in every room writing comments. All groups get a comment sheet mailed to the


teacher. Each student gets a certificate and ribbon if they win a prize that day at the festival. Ribbons are generously awarded, especially in the younger groups.Teachers often enter their own students and sometimes enter those combined with students from other studios. Some teachers ask their students if they have a friend they would like to perform with. Teachers report using lesson time for rehearsals or scheduling additional time. Prizes are awarded for first, second, third, and honorable mention. Ties are encouraged, especially if there are different kinds of ensembles in the same room. Children who win first place in a group may enter the following year. Comments and booklets of the program are mailed to each teacher entering students following the competition. Teachers are expected to be available to help the day of the competition.

This year the fee per child will be $15.

RapkievianFine Violins

David Chrapkiewicz Rapkievian

[email protected]

www.fineviolinsbydavid.com

301· 461·0690

Award Winning Violins and Violasfor the Professional Musician

andSerious Student

David’s violins and violas are featuredon many recordings.

Violin BowRehair

andRepair

@RapkievianFine Violins

Ellen Paul404 Brown Street

Washington Grove, MD 20880

301-613-1026

Drop off service is available in Silver Spring.Call for details.


T e a c h e r s , g e T i n v o lv e d !Paid teaching Positions

Exciting New Music Initiative coming to

East Montgomery County!Strathmore’s Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, Mont-gomery County Public Schools Instrumental Music, ASTA MD/DC, the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, and other groups are collaboratively planning a special program for after-school strings in three to four underserved East County middle schools. The program will be offered in participating middle schools for a five- to six-week term, which culminates in a Regional Gala Con-cert for all those participating. The program is to start in Winter 2016.

Experienced and committed string teachers will be needed for the program to ensure a successful experience for the students involved.

interested? Want to learn more or be on a mailing list about this initiative? Contact the ASTA MD/DC Chapter at [email protected] or 240-389-2782.

ASTA MD/DC


T E A C H E R S ! ASTACAP is a fantastic exam

resource for both you and your students, offering:

Preparation experience to help students get ready for auditions of any kind.

Incisive and helpful comments from a trained examiner.

A graded curriculum of study materials in 11 levels going from the beginning to the very advanced.

Proof of musical accomplishment that can be considered at any educational level, from elementary through university.

An excellent focus for any teacher’s yearly goals.

Announcing the 2016 AStAcAP exAmS

Sponsored by Potter Violin Company

WInTER EXAMS

February 21, 2016SPRInG EXAMS

June 5, 2016LOCATIOn

Temple Beth Ami14330 Travilah Rd Rockville, MD 20850

This program has been experiencing changes on the National level. For more information, please contact one

of our chapter’s ASTACAP administrators listed on the inside cover of this issue.


The ASTA Certificate Advancement ProgramPURPoSE The American String Teachers Association, through its Certificate Advancement Program, seeks to establish definite goals and awards for students of all levels through non-competitive examinations. Students are judged on technical and musical preparedness in one of eleven levels by an examiner of musical and pedagogical stature. Certificates of Achievement are awarded for each level successfully completed.

EASE oF USE• Teachers may select any etudes or solo repertoire for the examination so long as the selections are of similar difficulty to works of the same level listed in The ASTACAP Handbook.• Various editions in addition to those listed in The ASTACAP Handbook may be used.• Built-in program flexibility makes the ASTACAP attractive to different teaching and learning styles.• No cost to teachers; low cost to students

bEnEFiTS To TEACHERS • A handbook of scales, etudes, solo repertoire, and playing goals in eleven graded levels • Yearly feedback through an examiner’s comments on each participating student’s progress • Flexibility in choice of technical material and solo repertoire • Greater respect from students and parents who value national standards

bEnEFiTS To STUDEnTS • A Certificate of Achievement for each year of successful participation • Written documentation of one’s achievements that can be used when applying to youth

orchestras, summer music camps, and for college admission • Written standards that provide reasons to excel and persevere from year to year of study • Incentives to work on technical studies as well as solos • The opportunity to play prepared materials in a private, non-competitive setting • Greater success in recitals, festivals, competitions, and youth orchestra and college auditions • Uniformity of expectations from state to state if the student should move

bEnEFiTS To PAREnTS • Students practice more intently in preparation for the exams. • Scales and etudes, as well as solo pieces, are polished. • Their child is studying with a teacher who looks forward to outside validation of a job well

done. • Their child gains national recognition by ASTA through the awarding of its Certificate of

Achievement. • Universities, music schools, youth orchestras, and summer camps now have standards to

judge the level of advancement of their child.

“For our students who are learning an instrument … for the love of music making, successful ASTACAP exams confirm that they have mastered the skills for each level. These kids are getting a foundation that will ensure years of music making beyond lessons.” – Shelley M


MD/DC Area Youth OrchestrasAcademy of St. Cecilia’sASCYO

American Youth PhilharmonicAYPO

Chesapeake Youth SymphonyCYSO

College Park Youth OrchestraCPYO

Location: Damascus MD Annandale VA Annapolis MD College Park MDWeb address: www.ascyo.org www.aypo.org www.cysomusic.

orgwww.cpyo.net

Contact person: Lishia Murrayinfo@ascyo240 782 1650 ext. 100

Graham [email protected] 642 8051

Linda [email protected] 758 3157

Richard [email protected]@biffl.com301 927 8753

Ensembles that include strings:

1. Youth Orch.Grade 5-6 2. Chamber Grade 3-53. Prep-stringsGrade 1-2

1. Philharmonic2. Symphonic Or-chestra3. Concert Orches-tra4. String Ensemble5. Debut Orch.6. Chamber En-sembles

1. Symphony Grade 6+2. Concert Grade 4-53. String Grade 34. Prep Strings Grade 1-2

1. Primary StringsSuzuki Bk. 1-32. Intermediate StringsSuzuki Bk. 4-63. Chamber StringsSuzuki Bk. 6+

Rehearsal place / time:

Damascus MDTuesday nights

No. VA schoolsMon. nights

Bates Middle SchoolAnnapolis MDThursday nights

College Park MDalternate Sunday afternoons

Concerts: December, April, May

3-4 per yearSundays

December, March, May

December, March, June

Applicationdeadline:

None April None August 31

Audition date: Late August Early June May, early JuneNew members: late August

Early September

General audition requirements:

SoloScalesSight reading

SoloScalesOrch. excerptSight reading

SoloScalesSight reading

For Intermediate, Chamber only: Scales, Excerpt, Solo,Sight reading

Cost per year: $155 $775-$1200Scholarships available

$425 for String Ensemble$575 for Symphony & Concert

$300Scholarships available

md/dC area Youth orchestras


DC Youth Orchestra ProgramDCYOP

Frederick Regional Youth OrchestraFRYO

Baltimore SymphonyYouth Orchestra

Location: NE Washington DC Frederick MD Towson MDWeb address: www.dcyop.org www.fryo.org www.bsyomusic.orgContact person: Evan Solomon

[email protected] 698 0123 [email protected]

Peggy [email protected] 695-1187

Alicia [email protected]


1. Youth Orch. Gr 6+2. Youth Philharmonic3. Young Artist Orch.4. Repertoire Orch.5. Sinfonias, 2 Group classesChamber Ensembles

1. Philharmonic2. Symphonia3. Concert Strings

1. Youth Orch Gr 9-122. Concert Orch Gr 7-103. String Orch thru Gr 7 Chamber ensembles for all


Eastern Senior HS Capitol St DCSaturdays

Monday nights Towson MDSunday afternoons

Concerts: 2-6 / year for most students November, December, March, May

3-4 per year plusChamber recitals and spe-cial events

Application deadline:

None None Opens late March; open until filled, usually 2-3 weeks before audition

Audition date: YO: Late AugustOthers: by appointment

April and mid-AugustMembers: mid-August

Late May/early June

General audition requirements:

Advanced only:Scales, solo, excerpt,Sight readingOthers: any piece

Scales, Sight reading, Solo for upper levels

Scales, Solo Excerpt, Sight reading

Cost per year: 0-$225 / Semester0-$300 non DC res.Various aid plans

$275 YO and Concert $640String Orch $330Chamber Music $150Financial aid available


Landon SymphonetteMaryland Classic Youth OrchestrasMCYO

Maryland Youth SymphonyMYSO

Location: Bethesda MD North Bethesda MD Catonsville MDWeb address: landon.net/page.

cfm?p=4356www.mcyo.org www.myso.info

Contact person: Stephen [email protected](conductor)

Cheryl [email protected] 581 5208

Margaret [email protected] 442 5645


1. Symphonette2. Chamber OrchestraYoung players mixed with professionals. Members play as many concerts as they like. Two rehearsals before each performance.

1. Philharmonic2. Chamber Ensemble3. Symphony4. Young Artists5. Chamber Strings6. Prep. Strings7. Quartets, triosLevels decided by grade

One full orchestra: Maryland Youth Symphony OrchestraGrade 6+


Landon SchoolBethesda MD

Music Center at StrathmoreNorth Bethesda MDWed. evenings

CCBCCatonsville MDSaturdays 1:00-4:30

Concerts: About 5-8 yearusually on Saturday

December, March, May3-4 outreach performancesNational/International tours

November, February, May

Application deadline:

None Register onlineJune to mid Aug

n/a

Audition date: None Late August June, late AugustGeneral audition requirements:

By teacher recommendation.High standard expected.

Scales, Solo Excerpt, Sight reading

Scales, SoloSight reading

Cost per year: No fee $580-$775Scholarships available

$425


Potomac Valley Youth OrchestraPVYO

Peabody Youth Orchestras

Salisbury Youth Orchestra

Location: Potomac MD Baltimore MD Salisbury MDWeb address: www.pvyo.org www.peabody.jhu.edu/

preparatory/departments/youthorchestras

refer towww.salisbury.edu

Contact person: [email protected]

410 234 [email protected]

Dr. Jeffrey [email protected] 543 6381


1. Philharmonia2. Symphony3. Concert4. PreparatoryLevels assigned by school and playing grade

1. Youth Orchestra (Middle thru High school)2. Young Artists(Middle thru High school)3. String Ensemble to age 14

One full orchestraSchool Grades:3rd-High School


Potomac MDMon. or Tues. night,depending on ensemble

Peabody Institute, Baltimore MDSaturdays

Salisbury UniversityThursdays 7-9 pm

Concerts: December and May December and May December and MayApplication deadline:

Registration begins late July See website None

Audition date: Late August Late August Early SeptemberGeneral audition requirements:

Scales, sight reading. Solo or excerpt/etudedepending on ensemble

YO and YA: Scales, Solo, ExcerptSE: Scales, Solo, Sight-reading

Solo, sight reading

Cost per year: ~$450depending on ensemble

Per semester:Youth Orchestra: $453Young Artists: $392String Ensemble: $310

$75 / semester


TOO MUCH InFORMATIOn:The role of CoGniTion in PerformanCe sTress

by James Stern

We are all aware of the emotional and physical

changes we experience on stage, as well as the detrimental effects that these changes can have on control, concentration, memory, expressiveness and enjoyment of the occasion. On the other hand, we tend not to be aware of a certain cognitive change we undergo in performance, and may mistakenly ascribe its effects to those emotional changes. As a violinist who frequently gains, rather than loses, from the presence of an audience, I try to help my students understand what it is I do that is so effective. Three recent popular books have helped me to understand it better myself, and the slow realization that they were all converging on some important violinistic wisdom was exciting for me.

The first book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (New York: Vintage, 2003) is a work of fiction. Its author, Mark Haddon, who used to work with autistic children, creates a character named Christopher, an autistic fifteen-year-old boy who narrates the story in the first person. The second, Animals in Translation (New York: Scribner, 2005) is written by an actual autistic person, Temple Grandin. She is a university professor who, in addition to creating innovative therapies for autistic people, has also revolutionized the handling of livestock worldwide. With the help of her co-author Catherine Johnson, she demonstrates how the affinities between animals and autistic people reveal important things about the normal human mind. A third book, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2005) observes how people make decisions when huge amounts of information are involved. Together the three books point to an ironic situation: that we can often be overwhelmed by information but that we respond to this circumstance by seeking even more.

We have no choice about the first part of this. The violin as an instrument tends to respond to our actions by giving us an overwhelming amount of information. In addition, the repertoire we play, especially if it has a lot of notes at a fast tempo, gives us a lot to process. On top of this, I believe that the pressure of performance alters our mental functioning so that our mind receives even more information than usual.

We do have a choice about the second part. We can cultivate information-reducing behaviors which have a triple benefit: they result in good technique; they put the performer in touch with the emotional content of the music; and they provide the thrill of putting a lot at stake in a performance while enjoying a sense of security, safety and relief from the unwanted physical and emotional changes.

the mind overWhelmS uS With information: introduCing ChriStopher

Let’s let Haddon’s character Christopher have the first word. “I see everything,” he begins, then goes on to explain:

…most people are lazy. They never look at everything. They do what is called glancing…And the information in their head is really simple. For example, if they are in the countryside, it might be

1. I am standing in a field that is full of grass.2. There are some cows in the fields.3. It is sunny with a few clouds.4. There are some flowers in the grass.5. There is a village in the distance.6. There is a fence at the edge of the field and it has a gate in it.

…But if I am standing in a field in the countryside I


notice everything. For example, I remember standing in a field on Wednesday, 15 June 1994…and I noticed these things1. There are 19 cows in the field, 15 of which are black and white and 4 of which are brown and white.2. There is a village in the distance which has 31 visible houses and a church with a square tower and not a spire.

[he lists five more items in similar detail]…And there are 31 more things in this list.…And it means that it is very tiring if I am in a new place because I see all these things, and if someone asked me afterward what the cows looked like, I could ask which one, and I could do a drawing of them at home and say that a particular cow had patterns on it like this…[p. 140–2]

Persuading you that there is something in your experience analogous to Christopher’s may not be an easy job. Unlike our bodies and our emotions, our cognition is a difficult thing for us to observe. Like water to the fish, it is the medium we move around in, so pervasive that we don’t know it’s there. However, I hope that through the course of this article, readers will experience a kind of mental flip—a realization that there is something familiar about his experience. He continues:

And when I am in a new place, because I see everything, it is like when a computer is doing too many things at the same time and the central processor unit is blocked up and there isn’t any space left to think about other things. And . . . sometimes when I am in a new place and there are lots of people there it is like a computer crashing and I have to close my eyes and put my hands over my ears and groan, which is like pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL and shutting down programs and turning the computer off and rebooting so that I can remember what I am doing and where I am meant to be going.[p. 143–4]

So Christopher is overwhelmed by information, this is uncomfortable for him (in the first quotation he described it as tiring; in the second it is disorienting, possibly frightening) and he has a defensive strategy. Now consider this list of experiences people have either backstage or onstage:

1) the sound or the feel of tone production is suddenly unfamiliar;2) the tone sounds irregular or blemished; it has a lot of texture that you don’t normally notice;3) the neck of the violin feels unfamiliar and you are no longer sure of where the notes are;4) the violin no longer feels secure

The Violin House of WeaverSince 1898,we have been

Washington’s choicefor antique English, Frenchand Italian instruments.

vv

4706 Highland AvenueBethesda, Maryland 20814

www.weaversviolins.com


shoulder and chin; you feel the urge to constantly adjust it while performing;5) you become aware of clothing contacting the body and a desire to adjust it constantly;6) you’re distracted by an image of rapid motion as though, for example, someone was waving their hand in front your face while you play;7) you have a strong desire to check things that you normally take for granted, like the position of your hand for the first note, or the tightness of your bow.

I have come to believe that these are our versions of Christopher’s experience; that each of them results from suddenly noticing vastly more detail than one normally does, coming through visual, auditory or feeling channels. It is as though you see the world through a different brain.

there are three of you in there: introduCing temple grandin

Grandin is a real-life Christopher whose work with animals has helped her understand her own predicament:

Rodger Perrin517 North Charles Street

Second floorBaltimore, MD 21202

(410) 539 - 0043

[email protected]

PERRIN &ASSOCIATES

FINE VIOLINS

Hou

rs: M

onda

y –

Fri

day,

10 a

m to

5 p

m. S

atur

day

by a

ppoi

ntm

ent.


…That’s the big difference between animals and people, and also between autistic people and nonautistic people. Animals and autistic people don’t see their ideas of things; they see the actual things themselves. We see the details that make up the world, while normal people blur all those details together into their general concept of the world. [p. 30–31]

This difference in experience is the reason many feedlot workers finding the behavior of the animals they are tending inexplicable. They cannot understand why an animal is suddenly scared or suddenly refusing to go where it is supposed to go.

…one time I went to a plant where they had a yellow metal ladder on a wall inside a building. The cattle had to go by it when they walked through a narrow alley. Those cattle just would not walk by that ladder. They’d plant their feet on the ground and refuse to move. Finally one of the yard people figured out the problem. He painted the ladder gray, and everything was fine. [p. 19]

Grandin provides feedlot owners with a checklist of eighteen “tiny details that scare animals.” Her special talent is that she is able to see the world the way the animals see it.

What is it that autistic people and animals have in common that makes them see the world the same way? What does this have to do with the way normal people experience the world? Each of us really has three brains, as Grandin explains:

…each one built on top of the previous at three different times in evolutionary history. And here’s the really interesting part: each one of those brains has its own kind of intelligence, its own sense of time and space, its own memory, and its own subjectivity. It’s almost as if we have three different identities inside our heads, not just one.

…roughly speaking, the reptilian brain corresponds to that in lizards and performs basic life support functions like breathing; the paleomammalian brain corresponds to that in mammals and handles emotion; and the neomammalian brain corresponds to that in primates—especially people—and handles reason and language. [p. 54]

The neomammalian brain is also responsible for generalizing, interpreting and associating different ideas with one another—the kinds of activities involved in writing this article for example. In doing these things it leaves you unaware of the mountains of detail that animals and autistic people notice. Although Grandin asserts that it is not in control of the other two brains, she does describe the frontal lobes (an important part of the neomammalian brain) as “the final destination for all the information that’s floating around your brain,” and this makes them particularly vulnerable to malfunctioning. Even if they are structurally sound, there are so many other parts of the brain that could be giving them faulty input. Grandin lists such diverse causes as traumatic head injury, stroke, developmental disability, old age and lack of sleep as factors that could affect the frontal lobes, either directly or indirectly. (Is it possible, I wonder, that the stress of performance could be added to this list?) All people, says Grandin, “are like animals, especially when their frontal lobes aren’t working up to par. The animal brain is the default position for people.”


Continued on page 50...

48

Teacher Certification Workshop in Maryland October 24-25, 2015

The Sassmannshaus Tradition method has been Europe's best selling

beginning violin method for over 30 years. It is now available in English, and the translator and co-author Prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus is offering this teacher training seminar to show how the unique aspects of this method can be taught. The method is groundbreaking in its approach for very young children. It features large print and teaches note reading from the first lesson. It focuses on early position playing and introduces advanced left hand and bow technique with familiar musical material. You can become a certified teacher by attending this intensive weekend workshop in Ellicott City presented by ASTA MD/DC.

• Sat. October 24, 2015 9:30-5:00 and Sun. October 25, 2015 10:00-12:00

• 4222 Club Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042 • The workshop will include lectures and demonstrations by Kurt

Sassmannshaus including the newly published Recital Albums for Violin • Tuition before Sept 30: $225 for ASTA MD/DC members, $250 for non-

members • Tuition after Sept 30: $250 for ASTA MD/DC members, $275 for non-

members • ASTA DC/MD will provide Sassmannshaus Tradition Early Start on

the Violin volumes 1-3 to the first 15 ASTA chapter members to enroll

Email [email protected] or call 513-227-6807 with questions and to sign up today!

The Sassmannshaus Tradition method has been Europe's best selling beginning violin method for over 30 years. It is now available in English, and the translator and co-author Prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus is offering this teacher training seminar to show how the unique aspects of this method can be taught. The method is groundbreaking in its approach for very young children. It features large print and teaches note reading from the first lesson. It focuses on early position playing and introduces advanced left hand and bow technique with familiar musical material. You can become a certified teacher by attending this intensive weekend workshop in Ellicott City presented by ASTA MD/DC.

•Sat.October24,20159:30-5:00andSun.October25,201510:00-12:00

•4222ClubCourt,EllicottCity,MD21042

•TheworkshopwillincludelecturesanddemonstrationsbyKurtSassmannshaus

including the newly published Recital Albums for Violin

•TuitionbeforeSept30:$225forASTAMD/DCmembers,$250fornon-members

•TuitionafterSept30:$250forASTAMD/DCmembers,$275fornon-members

•AstA DC/mD will provide sassmannshaus tradition early start on the Violin

volumes 1-3 to the first 15 AstA chapter members to enroll

Email [email protected] or call513-227-6807 with questions and to sign up today!


49

BÄRENREITERw w w.baerenreiter.com

Sassmannshaus

Alternately a second violin part allows duo playing with the teacher during lessons. This early introduction to chamber music brings joy and satisfaction to the young violinist and teaches the student to hear the music as a whole.

The two volumes are designed as companion publications to the Early Start on the Violin method. However, they work equally well as a supplement to any other violin method.

Videos of each piece in this album can be viewed on www.violinmasterclass.com

The Violin Method for Children 4 Years and Older

Early Start on the Violin

by Egon and Kurt Sassmannshaus

Violin Book 1 BA 9676 English edition BA 9664 English edition with Spanish text supplement

Violin Book 2 BA 9677 English edition BA 9665 English edition with Spanish text supplement

Violin Book 3: Elementary duets. Dances and other pieces in various keys BA 9678 English edition

Violin Book 4: Duet playing in all positions BA 9679 English edition

Large print notes and texts as well as many colorful illustrations are ideal for pre-school as well as school children.

Note reading is emphasized from the first lesson, encouraging ensemble playing from the very beginning.

Songs and scales in different positions are easily mastered within the first year of playing to ensure that children are not confined to first position playing.

Advanced string techniques such as varied bow strokes and shifting are introduced in a basic form.

Sassmannshaus Violin Recital AlbumFor Violin and Pianoor Two ViolinsEds. Kurt and Christoph Sassmannshaus, Melissa Lusk

Each volume with score and part, plus additional violin part for the duet versionBA 9668 Vol. 1 First PositionBA 9669 Vol. 2 First Position

Charming collections of easy pieces in first position.

Each violin part is supported by a piano accompaniment for student performances.

Music example from: Violin Recital Album, Volume 1 · BA 9668

The Violin Method for Children

4 Years and Older

These editions are available

from any good classical

music retailer in the US. Please also see

www.baerenreiter.com


50

poSitive and negative StreSS

It is important to remember that happy circumstances can be as stressful as unhappy ones in terms of disruption of one’s equilibrium. In performance, negative stress means that you have emotional issues that need to be sorted out. You really do doubt yourself; you may have a memory of perceived failure that you keep reliving; you may be overly self-critical; or you perhaps haven’t thought through “what’s the worst that could happen”. You may be in an actual panic on stage or be truly unprepared, or you haven’t recently considered that enjoying yourself might be a possibility. You have made survival your goal.

Positive stress, on the other hand, simply means that you have chosen to put a lot at stake. You have something very special to say, you are well prepared and know it, you are really looking forward to moving people, you realize that performing is inherently risky with unexpected outcomes and you’re willing to take on that risk.I believe that the physical changes we are all familiar with, and the cognitive change I am discussing here, do not distinguish between negative and positive stress. Therefore, one should investigate the possible sources of negative stress while remaining open to the possibility that what one is experiencing is in fact positive. One can only achieve in performance what one puts at stake, and such goals as “relief from affliction” and “getting through it without mishap” (or its high-strung cousin, “perfection”) are at best uninspiring and at worst self-defeating. We can choose to gain mastery over positive stress by controlling the way we receive information. The violin itself can either overwhelm us with information or, properly handled, actually act as a filter, helping us to focus and balance ourselves.

the violin overWhelmS uS With information

To get an idea of the special meaning of the word “information” I am using here, try the following exercises, which require a pencil and paper. Make a dot on either side of the page and label them “A” and “B.” We will try different ways of getting from A to B.

line 1: First, put the pencil point on point A and begin moving it slowly and carefully, in as straight a

line as possible in the direction of point B until you arrive there. Looking closely at this line, you can see all kinds of bumps, irregularities and corrections. A complete description of the line would be extremely long and tedious. A mathematician would not be able to describe this line with a simple equation and would probably have to resort to a very long list of pixels or locations that the line passes through. Christopher, who notices and remembers all the details, might feel burdened looking at this line. It contains a huge amount of meaningless information, which scientists call “noise,” and which contributes to our sense of it being imperfect.

line 2: Now make another pair of points, A and B. Again set the pencil point on point A. This time sweep your arm across the page with a sudden motion. Aim in the direction of point B but also aim beyond it. Either the line passed through point B or missed it. This fact, a choice between two possibilities, is the smallest quantity of information one can have; mathematicians call it a “bit.” The line itself contains much less information than the first line did; it is a graceful curve, free of blemishes and irregularities. A mathematician probably could write an equation that describes it.

Together the lines depict two different choices of behavior and two different kinds of sound. The first sound is careful, directionless, and characterized by “dead weight” crushing the string, countless irregularities, and opportunities for things to go wrong. The second is pure, expressive and capable of infinite nuance. The manner in which it was produced is analogous to the martelé stroke, a key building block of violin technique because it vitally filters out meaningless information.

the irony of the Situation

A bowed string instrument is probably more capable than any other of giving “too much information,” the sonic equivalent of Line 1. And yet such instruments actually seem to be withholding information from us. Where are all the notes, we wonder, on that fretless fingerboard? Because of this, we tend to behave in ways that increase the amount of “noise” or meaningless information coming from our instruments. I sometimes refer to these behaviors generically as “groping,” if they are used to seek information, and “hedging” if they are


used to intentionally reduce clarity, thereby avoiding commitment to something that might be wrong:

1) shifting to a note early to make sure it is correct before playing it2) starting each bow stroke with a wispy sound to test the feeling before fully committing to a full sound3) rushing4) playing sharp5) extraneous body movement (especially vertical)6) playing with a hunched-over, “examining” posture7) vibrato that is not musically motivated8) portamento shifting that is not musically motivated9) breaking up slurs with portato bowing

If any of these habits is allowed in practicing it tends to be amplified in performance. And if you are busy extracting information from the violin you are not using the violin to express yourself.We need a way to break out of this self-reinforcing pattern. The technique for doing this has been given a name by Malcolm Gladwell. He calls it “thin-slicing.” It refers to “the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience.” Gladwell cites situations where the stakes are high. An insurance company needs to know which doctors are more likely to be sued for malpractice. People want to know if their relationship with a potential spouse is destined to be long-lasting. We are accustomed to assuming that such questions require weighing a huge number of variables. But Gladwell cites a researcher who can listen to 10-second clips of doctor-patient conversations and predict which doctors will get sued; and a psychologist who, watching 1-hour videos of married couples, can predict with 95% accuracy, which marriages will last. Gladwell is quick to point out:

Thin-slicing is not an exotic gift. It is a central part of what it means to be human. We thin-slice whenever we meet a new person or have to make sense of something quickly or encounter a novel situation. We thin-slice because we have to, and we come to rely on that ability because there are lots of…situations where careful attention to the details of a very thin slice, even for no more than a second or two, can tell us an awful lot.

It is striking, for instance, how many different professions and disciplines have a word to describe the particular gift of reading deeply into the narrowest slivers of experience. p. 43–4]

Grandin has introduced her own kind of thin-slicing. She replaced the standard feedlot inspection check-list, which contained roughly a hundred items, with her own, containing only ten items. Hers has proved vastly more effective in protecting animal welfare.

So thin-slicing is both a natural part of being human and a schooled ability of the specialist. What is unique about the performing situation is that it can challenge our ability to thin-slice both by impairing our natural mechanism for thin-slicing and also by awakening our natural addiction to seeking information: where did that familiar feeling go? How can I find it again? Is this projecting enough? Is this the right bow-speed and pressure? Can everyone hear that surface noise or is it just me? What comes next? Will this next shift be accurate? Where is that note? And with all these questions, we lapse into information-seeking behaviors.

Since we are in fact specialists, we can observe what special thin-slicing tools are a traditional part of our violinistic tool-kit. If we cultivate these when we practice, they will be there for us in performance. Here are some that my students and I have found significant.

list of information-reducing behaviors

1. horizontal motion: This is the slow, circular motion made by the top of the head and the scroll along the horizontal plane. Musicians use this motion to feel a sense of forward direction in the music. It enhances our ability to group musical units together into a single thought or gesture. It should be contrasted with the vertical motions one so often sees (bobbing the scroll or chin up and down) and serves as an antidote to that destructive habit. Students should learn to do horizontal motion very slowly even when the music is going fast. If practicing an isolated chunk, they should begin the horizontal motion before starting to play, and have it still going when they finish.


2. thinking metrically: Thinking metrically means imagining each metric unit before playing it. The metric unit might be the measure, but it might also be the half-measure or multi-measure grouping. To train yourself to think metrically, you play with pauses between the units. When necessary, you isolate and repeat a unit until it becomes a single, instantaneous thought, like the image of line 2. It is helpful to anticipate the last note of a metric unit and aim for that note. I also recommend that each metric unit be played in a way that makes it sound complete and makes you feel physically balanced at the end. Metric practicing may seem un-musical since divisions of phrase and gesture usually do not occur on bar lines. However, it is actually deeply musical because it awakens awareness of, and emotional response to harmony, as well as ironing out rhythmic problems, making counting and subdividing unnecessary. All practicing involves dividing music into chunks, but it turns out that the work done on metric chunks really stays done when the chunks are put back together, and one isn’t left with an overload of warnings and instructions to remember.

3. using bow-strokes derived from martelé: We have already discussed the way martelé limits the information your violin can give back to you; but you may wonder where this leaves you when you are playing a cantabile line that does not call for martelé. The answer is that the little “click” sound at the beginning of a martelé stroke is actually the same sound that occurs between legato bow strokes when there is no change of speed or pressure. That click is vitally important to cantabile playing. It is felt equally by both hands and integrates the left-hand and right-hand experience into a single experience, giving the sound the beautiful focus and directedness of Line 2. Students may perceive the click sound as an unwanted accent that interrupts the musical line. Metric practicing with horizontal motion clears up this confusion, especially if one figures out the bowing pattern of the metric unit and practices it on a single pitch.

4. thinking in terms of left hand rhythm: Practicing with the left hand alone produces the most obvious information-reducing benefit since it deprives you of much of the information about pitch. Under these conditions, you very quickly realize the irrelevance of groping behavior and start paying

attention to the eloquence of the left hand rhythm. In fact most left-hand behaviors, including shifting, articulation, vibrato and finger patterns are more easily corrected when the “sound track” is turned off. Even pitch problems, once identified, are best corrected with the left hand alone, then adding the bow back in to check the result.

ConCluSion

Many questions will come up in the implementation of these practice techniques and, clearly, an entire article could have been devoted to them. However, I chose to have this article be about something else equally important: the story you carry on stage with you; the story about what kind of creature you are and what your choices are. To summarize that story:

Under the stress of performance, we receive much more information than usual, and more than we can handle, with the result that

1) familiar things seem unfamiliar, causing us to2) (ironically) seek even more information, but3) knowing this story, we can choose to hang on to the information-reducing behaviors we have practiced.

In doing so, we discard familiar comforts, taking it on faith that, in the end, we won’t miss them: Line 1 offers you a kind of certainty that Line 2 deprives you of; a martelé stroke doesn’t let you test the thin end of the sound before committing to the whole thing; an expressively rhythmic left hand doesn’t let you grope for pitches; a well-articulated slur requires you to feel all the notes in a single gesture, and doesn’t let you test each one as you go. When you use the thin-slicing techniques suggested here, there may be a little voice inside that says “but I wanted that information!” You must respond to that voice with compassion and say, “just trust me, you will like this.” Thin-slicing neither guarantees a successful performance, nor makes the stage as comfortable as the practice room, but it provides the opportunity for a thrilling experience when the performer chooses to put a lot at stake.

© 2006 by James Stern


Professional Piano Accompanists

Allen GreenberGVocal, Instrumental Accompanist

Piano TeacherIn studio digital audio and video recording for auditions, competitions, camps, and schools

2614 Washington AvenueChevy Chase MD 20815

301-589-3843allen.greenberg@verizon.netwww.pianistaccompanist.com

MArk PfAnnschMidt8246 Castanea Ln

Derwood MD 20855-2581301-869-8592 home240-654-7642 [email protected]

Johansen International Competitionand FMMC Foundation, Inc.

Proudly Present 2015 JIC Winners in ConcertSaturday, October 10, 2015, 8:00 pm

Prince George’s Philharmonic with Charles EllisHae Sue Lee, 1st prize viola • Walton Viola Concerto

The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715

l l l

JIC 2015 Winners’ RecitalSunday, October 18, 2015, 5:00 pm (Free)

Lara Boschkor 1st Prize Violin • Hae Sue Lee, 1st Prize Viola •Zlatomir Fung, 1st Prize Cello

World Premiere: Shades of Red by David FroomWith Frank Conlon, Collaborative Pianist

Church of the Annunciation, 3810 Mass Ave NW, DC

l l

Friday, February 5, 2016, 8:00 pm (Free)FMMC Avanti Orchestra, Pablo Saelzer, Conductor

Zlatomir Fung, Cello • Boccherini Concerto in B Flat Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St, NW, Wash, DC

[email protected] • 301-946-9531 • www.fmmc.org


You spend so much time practicing, you really

should enjoy it. That’s why Yamaha created the

SV-150 Silent Practice Plus violin. It feels, plays and

sounds like an acoustic violin but it’s got some

major advantages... The SV-150 comes

with a music player/controller that

can hold gigabytes of your favorite

songs and performance pieces.

Play along with them and

listen—in privacy—through

headphones. You can slow

down any song to

learn it, or speed it up for a challenge. n The SV-150’s

violin tone is rich and natural. Use the 24 included

digital effects to sweeten it up and create any sound

you want. n Last but not least, the SV-150 packs a

tuner and metronome in the controller; it’s everything

you need in one package. n Visit www.4wrd.it/svsgd2

to learn more about the SV-150

and to find a dealer near you.

Practice will never be dull again.

Look Forward To Practice!

Adjust the tempoof songs by up to

25% without affecting pitch to practice at

your own speed.

Save your favoriteMP3, WAV, AACand MIDI files onan SD disk, put itin the controller,then play along.

©2015 Yamaha Corporation of America. All rights reserved. Shoulder rest not included.

STR7355 SV150 Student Female SGD2.qxp 6/29/15 10:12 AM Page 1


52 | American String Teacher | May 2015

Membership ApplicationASTA

Use this application to join ASTA or apply online at www.astaweb.com.

To avoid delay in processing your application, please complete all sections of this form. Dues are nontransferable and nonrefundable. There is a $27 charge for all items returned from the bank. Submit applications to ASTA Membership Department, 4155 Chain Bridge Rd. • Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-279-2113, Fax 703-279-2114

ProfessionPrimary Secondary

Check only one primary profession.Check any secondaries that apply.

Higher Education

K-12 levels

High School

Middle/Jr. High School

Elementary School

School (Multilevel)

Private Studio

Performer

Conductor

Retired

Music Administrator

String Enthusiast

Student

InstrumentPrimary Secondary

Check only one primary instrument.Check any secondaries that apply.

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

Guitar

Harp

Brass

Piano

Percussion

Woodwind

Personal Information New Member Renewing Member

Name _________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip, Country ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Email _________________________________________________________________

Home Phone _________________________Work Phone ________________________

Cell _______________________________Date of Birth ________________________

Graduation Date (students only) _________School Name (students only) ____________

Job Title ____________________________Prof. Affiliation _______________________

Primary Musical Focus Classical Non-Classical

Membership Category Check only one. Dues paid annually. Rates current through June 30, 2015.

Professional ....................................... $111 Senior (age 62 or over) ............$81

Full-time Student*............................. $55 *proof of full-time undergraduate student status required

Dual** ........................................... $154 **please complete second form for other Dual member

Please exclude me from: Online Membership Directory Mailing Labels

ASTA Email Announcements All Mailings

Preferred method of contact: Email Fax Mail None

Do you participate or use the ASTACAP program ? Yes No

Dues Auto-Renewal Programo Yes! I want to enroll in the automatic

dues renewal program. I understand I may cancel participation in this program at any time.

Dues Installment PlanoYes! Please enroll me in the Dues

Installment Plan based on my preferences below. For more information on installment plan payment options, please visit astaweb.com, or call 703-279-2113. Note: Members taking advantage of this option also will be enrolled in the Auto-Renewal Program.

Annually QuarterlySemi-Annually Monthly

Voting OnlineI give my consent to participate in electronic voting and receive election materials via email.

Yes No String Research JournaloYes, I would like to receive a printed

copy of the String Research Journal at $24.95 per issue. The SRJ is printed once per year.

Totals/PaymentMembership Dues $ ______Foreign Postage ($5 Canada, $10 all others) $ ______Membership Lapel Pin, $7 $ ______Membership Certificate, $10 $ ______ASTA Contribution $ ______String Research Journal Subscription ($24.95) $ ______

GRAND TOTAL $ ______ Payment Informationo Check payable to ASTA Check No. __________________o Visa o MC o AMEX

Card No. ________________________

Exp. Date ________________________

Signature ________________________

2015-2016

ASTA MD/DC Chapter4613 Roland AvenueBaltimore, MD 21210

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSUBURBAN MD

PERMIT NO. 5486

Inside this issue:

Support Excellence in String TeachingJoin ASTA!

Upcoming Events in 2014:

ASTACAP Spring Exams, June 1

Violin Boot Camp, September 21

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

aSta md/dC Chapter11235 ashley drive, north bethesda md 20852

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Documents

2015–2016 - · PDF fileCertification Workshop with Professor Kurt Sassmanshaus. Considered one of today’s preeminent violin pedagogues, violinist Kurt Sassmanshaus holds