AMERICAN STRING TEACHER February 2016 | Volume 66 | Number 1 l Guitar Forum: GarageBand Tutorial for Guitar Instructors l The Modern Harpist: Plays Well with Others l Want to Learn More About Fiddle Styles, Jazz Strings and Rock? plus: 2016 ASTA National Conference Preview Join us for friendship and fun in Tampa, Florida at the 2016 National Conference! www.astaweb.com | 3 4 | American String Teacher | February 2016 AMERICAN STRING TEACHER CONTENTS February 2016 | Volume 66 | Number 1 Features Music Degrees - Everything You Need to Know from 24 Application to Graduation Part 2 (of a 3-part series) – Auditions Navigating the college audition and admissions process is often fraught with anxiety for music students and their parents. by Hillary Herndon Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Participatory 28 Stratification in Public School Orchestras String music education in the United States is traditionally plagued by low student enrollment and high attrition rates. Exacerbating the crisis is a fundamental paradigm, which at best accepts inequality of opportunity, and at worst encourages it. by Angela Ammerman Guitar Forum: GarageBand Tutorial for Guitar Instructors 32 Contemporary guitar instructors can find musical assistance from their computers that will function well whether teaching privately or in a classroom. by Bill Purse The Modern Harpist: Plays Well with Others 36 Today’s harpists must be well-rounded and acquire proficiency in many areas of performing. by Gretchen Van Hoesen Want to Learn More About Fiddle Styles, Jazz Strings and Rock? Eclectic styles music in its many forms is taught at music camps throughout the USA and Canada during 40 the summer. It’s not too early to begin planning to learn a new style of music to teach your students. by Renata Bratt and contributors: Jason Anick, Edgar Gabriel, Sheronna McMahon, and Duane Padilla www.astaweb.com | 5 AMERICAN STRING TEACHER CONTENTS February 2016 | Volume 66 | Number 1 Columns Special Inspirations 44 American String Teacher (AST) Editorial 8 by Monika Schulz, CAE, CEO Committee 50 2016 Summer Workshops/Camps/Conferences Message from the President 12 by Stephen Benham 53 2016 National Conference Studio Teaching Tips 76 A Session with Paul Rolland by Susan S. Starrett Mission Statement To enrich lives through the joy of teaching and playing stringed instruments. K-12 Teaching Tips • Professional development and 76 So You Want to Commission a Work for Your research Orchestra, Now What? • Our future and the next generation • Building community by Cheryl Cooley • Advocacy and outreach • Sustainability American String Teacher (ISSN: 0003-1313) is published quarterly by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). 4155 Departments Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Periodicals postage paid at Fairfax, VA Association News and additional mailing offices.American String Teacher (AST) is available exclusively 18 Award and grant announcements, new publications, to ASTA members; the annual subscription and other association-related information price is included in membership dues ($111). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: American String Teacher, 4155 Chain Reviews Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030. 68 Of books, music, and software POLICY: As the primary means of profes- sional communication of ASTA, the Ameri- can String Teacher represents and reflects the mission of the association. It is not the intention of AST to promote or endorse any particular person or commercial prod- uct. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily Every Issue those of ASTA or AST. ASTA reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. 62 Membership Application No article or editorial matter in AST may be photocopied or reprinted without Volunteer Leadership Directory written permission from ASTA. Visit www. 64 copyright.com for more information. Advertisers’ Index 79 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American String Teacher Journal, 4155 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030. © 2016 by American String Teachers Association. 6 | American String Teacher | May 2015 www.astaweb.com | 7 ASTA Board of Directors by Monika Schulz, CAE, CEO President • Stephen Benham Inspirations Duquesne University Mary Pappert School of Music 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282 [email protected] A Time for Reinvention President-Elect • Brenda Brenner 3713 Devonshire Ct. Bloomington, IN 47408 [email protected] I had the great privilege recently to celebrate some holiday cheer with a Past President • Bob Phillips group of ASTA members. The conversations focused on getting to know 17175 Burkshire Dr. each other, and sharing personal experiences with ASTA. What I Grand Haven, MI 49417 consistently heard was, ASTA is an incredible community with [email protected] individual diverse stories, needs and experiences, encompassed in the Secretary • Kristen Pellegrino love of string music. 4231 Woodbridge Way San Antonio, TX 78257-5010 As I thought about these conversations, I was reminded about what [email protected] bound this community together 70 years ago at its inception. ASTA’s Member-at-Large • Lynne Denig story began in February of 1946 at the national meeting of the Music 4900 Bexley Lane, Fairfax, VA 22032 Teachers National Association, where a group of music teachers laid the groundwork for a [email protected] new national string organization. The general goals of this founding group were: Member-at-Large • Joseph Conyers 1420 Locust St., #26G, Philadelphia, PA 19102 • Improvement of string pedagogy; [email protected] • To make known the meaning, function, and value of individual and group experience Member-at-Large • David Wallace with the music of stringed instruments; 79B Grew Ave., Roslindale, MA 02131 • Development of professional relationships with other groups; [email protected] • Assistance toward manufacture and repair of stringed instruments; Member-at-Large • Margaret Berg • Opportunities for children in our schools to hear good string playing; 9777 Jellison St. Broomfield, CO 80021-4269 • Cooperation with college and university string departments in the development of [email protected] their teacher-training curricula; and String Industry Council President • Chris Rohrecker • Modernization of string materials. 8 Vernon Valley Road, E. Northport, NY 11731 [email protected] Fast forward 70 years, the ASTA community today is a professional membership organization of close to 9,500 members representing string educators and performers from Publications Chair • Judy Palac Michigan State University, 203 Music Practice Building K-12, private studio, performers, and students to the collegiate level. As the community 345 W. Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824 grew and needs changed, the 2014 ASTA Board of Directors recognized and implemented a [email protected] way forward through adoption of a strategic framework with a mission of enriching people’s Chief Executive Officer •Monika Schulz lives through the joy of teaching and playing string instruments. It is centered on five ASTA National Office 4155 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030 overarching goals: [email protected] • Professional development and research American String Teacher • Our future and the next generation Critical Articles Editor • Mary Wagner Reviews Editor • Marg Schmidt • Building community Design and Layout • Sky Henderson • Advocacy and outreach • Sustainability • Correspondence Subscriptions, change of address (send mailing label), individual issues, billing, membership, and Today, ASTA finds itself in a time of reinvention.Where is ASTA’s future? ASTA has other business matters should be directed to the ASTA National Office, 4155 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, VA core services; it has a member base; it has a strategic plan; but the community and profession 22030; tel. 703-279-2113; FAX 703-279-2114; Email: are changing and for ASTA to remain relevant, the question becomes—What does our [email protected]. • Advertising Deadlines are: August issue—June 5; community today need and value? Therefore, ASTA is evolving. It is time to focus and invest November issue—September 5; February in technology, to distinguish what members want and value, to identify and provide relevant issue—December 5; May issue—March 5. Inquiries should be directed to Steve Wafalosky, LaRich & and helpful content, to cultivate the member experience where ASTA is the resource you can Associates, 512 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022, T: 440-247-1060, F: 440-247-1068 depend on and to build engagement of ASTA members and the community. Email: [email protected]. We are looking forward to another great national conference—a time to build • Editorial AST welcomes letters and articles from its community, learn and refuel your passion. For those of you joining ASTA in Tampa for the readers. Query letters are preferred over unsolicited manuscripts. For a copy of the AST Author Guidelines, 2016 National Conference, we want to know what you value and what you are looking for. visit www.astaweb.com. Inquiries and articles should be We will have plenty of opportunities for you to provide feedback to us. For those of you submitted to [email protected]. • Reviews Review materials should be sent to Marg who can’t join us in Tampa, let us hear your voice. Schmidt, School of Music, ASU, 40 Gammage Parkway, Thank ouy for your dedication to our ASTA community and for your passion and joy PO Box 870405, Tempe, AZ 85287-0405. Requests to become a reviewer should be addressed to Marg in teaching