“I owe my career as a solo violinist to the Fairfax County strings program. Inside this Issue When I was I the fourth grade, I was reintroduced to the violin by the pro- gram offered at Sangster Elementary School.” — Ann Marie (Simpson) President’s Message 1 Calhoun (Sangster Elementary/Lake Braddock class of 1997) VASTA Board Members 2 To the Editor 2 Our struggling economy is affecting everyone in ways big and small. And The Violin Forum 3 while job lay-offs and home foreclosures are making headlines, shrinking From the Maker’s Bench 5 budgets are having a signifi cant impact in other areas that deserve our atten- Member Opportunities 6 tion, as well. Of concern to all of us are the cuts in statewide school string VASTA Recitals 7 programs. Student Outlook 8 Frautschi Master Class 9 The recent cuts to Hanover County’s elementary school strings program Meet the Professor 10 brought home the seriousness of the loss of funding for a comprehensive McLean Rocks Out 12 public school strings training for younger students. Deprived of the op- Tail Pieces 15 portunity to begin string training at the elementary school level, far fewer Submission Guidelines 19 students will volunteer be begin their string studies at the junior high or middle school level. Calendar The facts speak for themselves. Fairfax County schools have found that March 28 Student Recital 2 p.m. VCU with the introduction of 4th grade strings, participation in middle and senior March 28 Student Recital 2 p.m. ODU high school strings doubled. As professionals, and as citizens, can any of us April 26 Student Recital 2 p.m. Fairfax afford to put these programs in jeopardy? May 2 Chee-Yun Master Class GMU May 9 CAP Exam in Sterling Fortunately, VASTA members, students, and parents have responded to June 22-26 Rolland Workshop GMU our requests for public support. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will be holding hearings on March 30, 31, and April 1. At this juncture, no Sponsors cuts in school strings are being proposed. That’s why we are asking volun- teer speakers to ask the members of the Board of Supervisors to preserve a American Youth Philharmonic 17 school system that’s working and not risk making dramatic cuts to school Bellamy 17 staffi ng that can negatively impact the block scheduling that enables stu- Brobst Violin Shop 14 dents to benefi t from a broad based education. Daniel Foster 15 Donald M. Cohen 5 “If cuts are made to this vital program, it will deprive so may students of Eastman Strings 17 the opportunity that I was given. Even for students who never pursue music Ellen Paul 18 on a professional level, there is so much to gain from having participated Foxes Music 18 in the strings program. It almost seems too obvious to make reference to Gailes’ Violin Shop 4 the link between academics and music, to cite how musical expression can Gary Frisch Violins 5 boost mental health and self-confi dence in children, and to see it as a way James Madison University 16 Joshua Henry 14 to weave discipline and culture into a child’s life.” -- Ann Marie Calhoun Lashof Violins 14 Mercury String Shop 5 As Ann Marie so powerfully makes the case, we all need to do what we can Ohio State 7 to preserve this important investment in our children. Paul Rolland Workshop 5 Potters Violins 16 Sincerely, Rapkievian 6 Gary Frisch, President Violin House of Weaver 19 Virginia String Teachers Association VASTA Board Information President/Special Events Committee Chair Harp Advisor/Professional Musicians Advisor/ Gary Frisch College Advisor/Recital Series Chair [email protected] Elizabeth Blakeslee [email protected] Past-President Helen Fall Eastern Shore Area Representative [email protected] Deanna Kringel [email protected] President-elect/College Advisory Committee Chair Lucy Manning Lisa Maynard [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Webmaster Beth Reed Margaret Whiteside-Chen [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Newsletter Editor Timothy Gaffga Katie St. Pierre [email protected] [email protected] To the Editor: Plea to Fairfax County I regret that I will be unable to at- self, and excelling at music was a there is so much to gain from hav- tend the meting on January 9, 2009 way to feel confi dent with my peers. ing participated in the strings pro- to express my support for the Fairfax Learning the violin cultivated pa- gram. It almost seems too obvious to County Strings Program. I hope that tience, discipline, and a love of mu- make reference to the link between my testimony helps preserve a pro- sic that stayed with me throughout all academics and music, to cite how gram that means very much to me. of my formal education. musical expression can boost mental I owe my career as a solo violin- After graduating from the Univer- health and self confi dence in chil- ist to the Fairfax County strings pro- sity of Virginia with a Music Major, dren, and to see it as a way to weave gram. When I was in the fourth grade, I worked as a strings director myself discipline and culture into a child’s I was re-introduced to the violin by before advancing my solo career. I life. the program offered at Sangster El- have been blessed in my career to I urge the board to reconsider cuts ementary School. Having the strings tour internationally with incredible to the Strings Program. Even though program at my school inspired and bands and artists, including “Jethro budget cuts appear to be inevitable in motivated me to practice the violin, Tull”, “Steve Vai”, “Dave Matthew’s such dark economic times, we cannot an instrument that I had started learn- Band”, and “Ringo Starr”. I owe my afford to loose the positive benefi ts ing and had quit before the fourth success to my wonderful teachers and potential that the string program grade. and especially to the Fairfax County offers. In any economic situation, it I still remember my fi rst strings Strings Program. is always worthwhile to invest in our director — Amy Fielder. She opened If cuts are made to this vital pro- children. my ears to new types of music and gram, it will deprive so many stu- taught me to respect and appreciate dents of the opportunity that I was Ann Marie (Simpson) Calhoun classical music at a young age. She given. Even for students who never Sangster Elementary also encouraged me to express my- pursue music on a professional level, Lake Braddock Class of ‘97 2 www.vastaweb.org The Violin Forum Motivation in the Private Studio To come down hard on the person fi rst students positively that are loosely Part II: Choosing the Right Words thing only causes the student to crawl based on http://www.teachernet.gov. further inside himself. Because stu- uk/teachers/issue36/secondary/fea- By Lynne Denig dents are children who do not have the tures/Aheadofthegame/ : personal resources to completely un- 1. Use calm, relaxed facial expres- I once heard it said that missionar- derstand adults and why we react as we sions that break into a smile when ap- ies should only consider delivering the do, a child’s ego must be handled deli- propriate. These say you are in control. Gospel if the people they are minister- cately, yet honestly and fi rmly. So, of 2. Make eye contact with each stu- ing to have full tummies. The reason- fi rst importance is the person because it dent as they come into the room. This ing seemed to have been that it was is from a person’s sense of well being says you value the student as a person. hard to hear the message delivered if that creativity and musicality fl ow. 3. Lavish sincere praise on some- the tummy was rumbling. Of greater A student is also more likely to re- thing done well. Encouraging positives importance was that if the missionar- spond positively to our teaching if our breeds more positive behavior. ies cared enough to feed the people in comments are couched positively. This 4. Use the student’s name frequently. their charge, then the listeners were means that words such as “no, not, Personhood is encouraged. much more likely to consider being can’t, shouldn’t…” should be avoided. 5. Develop clear routines. Learning cared for spiritually. In fact, the last sentence is an example takes place best when children feel se- For the same reason, students are of how a suggestion can be made posi- cure. much more likely to hear fully what we tively. Rather than saying, “Don’t use 6. Be a physical presence. Stand have to say if we fi rst deliver a sincere negatives”, I turned it around and said whenever possible as this causes alert- compliment. The American thinker, it positively refl ecting what could be ness in the student. Arnold H. Glasgow said, “Praise does done instead. 7. Use inclusive language. For ex- wonders for our sense of hearing.” And even a positive can be made ample, say: “We are headed towards (From http://www.inspirationalquote- more positive! For instance, rather [name a goal]”. Our next perfor- s4u.com/glasgowquotes/index.html). than saying, “Instead of playing C#, mance…” This places the student The classic story about delivering a play C natural”, one could just as easily alongside you rather than making it compliment comes from a story about say, “Did you hear that C natural that “me and you over there”.