USC was represented well at the 2014 American String Teachers Association National Conference

The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Conference, the premier event to enhance skills and knowledge of string-related topics, is held yearly to benefit string teachers, students and performers. USC was represented well by our faculty, students and alumni at the 2014 conference in Louisville.

Faculty Sessions

Gail V. Barnes, chair, ASTA Pre-conference sessions on String Projects, worked with a committee to develop 11 presentations on matters relevant to String Project administrators and undergraduate teachers. At 84 attendees, it had the largest attendance of any ASTA pre-conference session. 

Priorities in the String Classroom - Barnes showed how using video of String Project children and teachers demonstrates how to teach posture, pulse and pitch in beginning string classes.

Barnes was co-presenter with Katie Lindler on Practicing String and Orchestra Teachers’ Perception of their Collegiate Practicum Experience, and co-presenter with David Pope at the research poster session: The Effect of Experience, Performance Level and Presentation Medium on String Musicians’ Evaluations of String Orchestra Performances. 

Measures of Success for Strings was a session featuring “Measures of Success,” the method book Barnes co-wrote that will be published this summer. 

Robert Jesselson presented Cello Bootcamp 101 and 201. Designed as a refresher course in playing the cello, this two-hour session was for orchestra directors and string teachers who must know something about the cello for their rehearsals and teaching. Six USC students volunteered their time at this session: Christine Arroyo, Lydia Burrage-Goodwin, Milton Lopez, Molly Sgrecci, Katie Lindler and graduate student Katie Holaway, plus USC alumna Rachel Myers. All current or previous String Project teachers, they assisted with correcting positions and helping participants through various exercises. 

Gail Barnes and Robert Jesselson, board members of the National String Project Consortium (NSPC), attended the NSPC board meeting and reception.

Craig Butterfield presented the session, Alternative Styles for the Double Bass.

Rebecca Hunterpresented the session, Body Mapping for String Players. 

Student Presentations 

Katie Holaway– Pre-conference Session: Classroom Management for String Project Undergraduate Teachers

Katie Lindler – Research Poster Session: Practicing String and Orchestra Teachers’ Perception of their Collegiate Practicum Experience (the product of a Magellan grant); ASTA Student Chapters Serving and Building Support.

Student participants in the National String Project Consortium (NSPC) Pre-Conference
Katie Linder, Katie Holaway , Christine Arroyo, Samuel Breitenbach, Caleb Coker, Ronnie Crisp, Lydia, Burrage-Goodwin, Milton Lopez, Olivia Morris, Zoe Lynne Rosner and Molly Sgrecci.

Alumni Presentations

Jacob Dakon– Memorization for the Beginning String Student

David Pope– Teaching Outside the Box: Increasing Student Efficiency During Rehearsals; The Effect of Experience, Performance Level and Presentation Medium on String Musicians’ Evaluations of String Orchestra Performances.

Christopher Selby– chair, pre-conference session on ASTA string curriculum, performance of the Charleston School of the Arts at the National Orchestra Festival. Debuted his new publication: Habits of a Successful String Musician (GIA Publications, Inc).