Hello String Players and Teachers:

IAJE String Caucus members Renata Bratt, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Matt Glaser, Stanley Chepaitis, with Andy Dabczynski and Robert Gardner, have been working on a committee for ASTA for the last two years putting together the following Alternative String Styles Track and Awards at the very first ASTA with NSOA stand-alone conference.

They just finished getting all of the clinics together, and you can see its going to be a really exciting event for string players - a real milestone for the acceptance of alternative strings styles, I think.

Please send the following information out to as many other e-groups and friends as you can think of. This event will be quite amazing and worthwhile attending.

Announcing the ASTA with NSOA Complete Alternative Style String Track and Awards.

ASTA WITH NSOA National Conference
March 27-29, 2003
The Ohio State University
Students from all over the United States, from Alaska to Florida, ages seven to twenty-five, competed to be finalists in the latest American String Teachers Association competition - in Alternative String Styles. Here, alternative means nothing less than non-classical; all folk music traditions, rock and jazz . Fourteen Finalists will be presented in competition for four Junior (to 18 years old) prizes of $500 each and four senior prizes (19-25) of $1,000 each. Composer, champion fiddle player and jazz artist Mark O'Connor will award full scholarships to the summer Mark O 'Connor Fiddle Camp in San Diego to the Senior prizewinners.

The Alternative String Style clinicians will include
Mark O'Connor (Appalachian Waltz),
Darol Anger, (co-founder of the Turtle Island String Quartet),
Jay Unger (Ashokan Farewell) and
Liz Carroll (National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts)
together with over 24 different clincians.

With this intense line-up of musician educators, the formerly very classically oriented organization of the American String Teachers Association wth NSOA (over 10,000 members strong) has embraced diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism. The members of this organization, including string and orchestra teachers, are opening up to many other styles of music than just classical. The conference will feature many other clinics and panels, including even more alternative style string clinics on its "regular" side. Come Join Us!

Register Now to Attend Celebrating Strings: All Together Now!

ASTA's first National Conference
Substantial Savings! Early Bird Registration postmarked on or before January 15.
Go to www.astaweb.com
Clinicians and performers:
Mark O'Connor, Matt Glaser, Liz Carroll, Bruce Molsky, Jay Ungar Darol Anger, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Jay Ungar, Eugene Friesen Martin Norgaard, Jesus Florido, Christian Howes, Stanley Chepaitis, Paul Anastasio, Renata Bratt, Leanne Darling, Cathy Morris, Vicki Horner Richards, Carl Rahkonen, Yale Strom , Daryl Silberman, Bert Ligon, Jan Farrar Royce and Helen Yee.

Fourteen Fine Young Performers in a Variety of Alternative String Styles.

The Schedule:

Thursday, March 27th

9:15
Grand Opening Ceremony, including performance of "Road to Columbus" with Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Paul Anastasio, Liz Carroll, Matt Glaser, Renata Bratt, Christian Howes, Vicki Horner Richards, Leanne Darling, Jesus Florido, and others.

11:45
Mark O'Connor: An American Journey of music and playing the violin

1:15
Using Improvisation to Teach Classical Technique led by Dr. Stanley Chepaitis
Dr. Chepaitis will demonstrate improvisational ways to approach and master technical problems in string playing. The emphasis will be on getting the student's eyes and mind out of the page and into the instrument-player-music connection. This is not just for improvisers but for anyone open to new ideas about creative teaching.

Latin Jam with Jesus Florido
Try out some Latin charts, learn how to solo over clave. Bring your instrument.

2:30
Mexican Fiddle Styles led by Paul Anastasio
In southwestern Mexico, where the states of Michoac?n and Guerrero meet, is an area known as Tierra Caliente--the Hot Lands. Here, along the banks of the Rio Balsas and the Rio Cutzamala, one can still hear stunningly beautiful Calentano music being played on violins, guitars and tamboritas that dates back as far as the 1860s . Anastasio has almost single-handedly helped to document this dying art form through the concerts, recordings, and videos he's produced, as well as thousands of hours of transcriptions.

Writing for Jazz Strings led by Bert Ligon
Many string educators are beginning to compose their own arrangements and tunes for their string ensembles and orchestras. Bert Ligon has composed many fantastic charts for jazz string ensemble. He will present key information regarding how to develop jazz arrangements for strings through a discussion of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic development, as well as accompaniment methods for soloing.

3:45
Contemporary Left- and Right-Hand Techniques with Julie Lyonn Lieberman (moderator), Darol Anger, and Matt Glaser
Break out of the legato/vibrato syndrome and learn the secrets of the language that bowed string players must employ to successfully make the journey into blues, jazz, and fiddle literature.

Southern Mountain Fiddling with Bruce Molsky
The origins of Southern Mountain Fiddling demonstrated and discussed, including some of the pre-radio, pre-mass media regional styles and players. An exploration of how percussion, tunings, tonality, and ornamentation all join together to make this unique fiddle style.

Swing Jam led by Paul Anastasio
Bring your instrument and learn some swing repertoire as well as how to phrase and improvise in the swing style. Anastasio studied with Joe Venuti so you're in for a treat.

6:30
Blues Jam led by Darol Anger
Blues is at the root of American jazz and rock music. Explore the structural and stylistic demands of the music as you learn some melodies and jam. Led by the co-founder of Turtle Island String Quartet. Bring your instrument!

Friday, March 28th
8:00 a.m.
Orchestras That Improvise led by Daryl Silberman
An interactive demonstration that will explore contemporary styles, tone and inflection, free improvisations, structured improvisations, and a little rock and blues -- all without music. Through these devices we will address such issues as lack of self confidence, improper positions and postures, and unenthusiastic participation. Bring your instrument!

Accompaniment Styles for Cello led by Renata Bratt
Cello students and teachers can expand their harmonic and chordal knowledge by learning how to accompany jazz, bluegrass, and fiddle tunes. Cellists can become a welcome part of any jam session in a variety of styles. We will interpret chord changes on cello by using jazz walking bass, fingering major, minor and seventh chords, and playing bluegrassy rhythm "bass" parts. Handouts provided and bring your instrument!

Arabic Strings Jam led by Leanne Darling
Explore Arabic structures, ornamentation and more. Bring your instrument!

9:15
American Fiddle: An Historical Overview with Matt Glaser (moderator), Bruce Molsky , Darol Anger, and Liz Carroll
The fiddle has been at the heart of almost every style carried to or developed on American soil. Enrich your appreciation for the instrument by learning more about its stylistic origins, and the role it has played in the development of American folk music.

Blues/Jazz: String History with Martin Norgaard and Julie Lyonn Lieberman
Voice and fiddle were the two earliest instruments involved in the development of the blues. We'll explore the violin's role in blues and jazz through the 1800s on into the first half of the 1900s.

Mexican Jam Session.
Paul Anastasio has hundreds of charts and amazing repertoire from Tierra Caliente to share. Bring your instrument and experience this deeply traditional music of Mexico.

11:45
Rhythmizing the Bow with Darol Anger, (moderator), Julie Lyonn Lieberman, and Bruce Molsky
Too often string players develop facility of the fingering hand when improvising, to the exclusion of the bow hand. Intense rhythms generated by the bow are hallmarks of old time fiddle, swing, bluegrass and jazz styles. Chop technique, asymmetrical string crossing, two against three, odd meter, and alternating meter will be just some of the topics discussed and demonstrated.

Integrating String Improvisation Into School Programs with Renata Bratt You do have time and you can find resources to implement National Music Standard #3, "Improvisation." When students have a creative voice, they practice more and stay with their instruments longer. Practical considerations, using CD backup tracks, tips and recommendations.

Bluegrass Jam with Matt Glaser
Bring your instrument and explore bluegrass repertoire and stylistic phrasing with a master of the art!

1:15

Irish Fiddling: An Overview with Liz Carroll
Carroll has enriched and extended the Irish tradition in music through performing, composing, and teaching. The recipient of the coveted senior All-Ireland fiddle title (second American to do so) as well as a National Heritage Fellowship, she will present an overview of the Irish fiddle's history, musical forms and stylistic idiosyncracies.

East Meets West Jam with Vicki Horner Richards
Explore the East Indian approach to scales, ornamentation, and improvisation on the raga. Bring your instrument. Prepare for an eye-opening experience.

2:30
Latin Strings with Jesus Florido
An overview of the role of strings in Latin music, including everything you need to know in order to successfully improvise or play melodies stylistically correctly.

Irish Jam with Liz Carroll
Bring your instrument and get ready to play some jigs, reels, hornpipes, and airs. Special focus on rolls, bowed trebles, and other ornaments/bowings that Irish fiddlers use to "dress up" the tunes.

3:45
Fiddle Styles: Performance Sampler Extraordinaire with Bruce Molsky (moderator), Darol Anger, Matt Glaser, Paul Anastasio, Yale Strom, Liz Carroll and Carl Rahkonen
Ever had a chance to hear the fiddle speak different languages back to back? Take advantage of this rare opportunity. You'll be amazed that the same instrument can create music in so many different ways!

Playing on Chord Changes with Dr. Stanley Chepaitis
This session will cover such topics as: reading chord symbols, chord scale relationships, chord extensions and corresponding scales, relating harmonic structure and phrasing, motivic development and time feels. The session will be hands-on so bring instruments. Prior experience is not necessary.

6:30
Big Band Jazz Strings Concert with Bert Ligon
Bert Ligon is one of the premiere composers for jazz strings in America. The band will be made up of many of the "Alternative Style" clinicians, the University of South Carolina Jazz Strings, and will be conducted by Ligon, so prepare for an adrenaline-pumped musical journey.

Saturday, March 29th

8:00
Orchestras that Fiddle: Open Reading Session led by Jan Farrar Royce and Liz Carroll
Bring your instrument and have great fun as you read through a bunch of fiddle tunes representing various styles, including some originals by Liz Carroll.

Musical Treasures Next Door with Bruce Molsky, Yale Strom, Paul Anastasio and Carl Rahkonen
There's a big difference between learning a fiddle tune from a recording or tune-book versus going out in the field and learning tunes by ear from the original players (or their descendants). This clinic will give you an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of out-in-the-field experiences, hear some of the tunes they've collected, and learn about how you might do this yourself!

9:15
Strings Around the World: Part One with Vicki Horner Richards (Indian), Leanne Darling (Arabic), Helen Yee (Asian), Yale Strom (Klezmer and Gypsy), Jesus Florido (Latin), Paul Anastasio (Mexico), Liz Carroll (Ireland), and Carl Rahkonen (Scandinavia)
The violin can be found in almost every style world-wide. We'll explore its rich legacy through these American players who've reached beyond the status quo and become aficionados of other styles. Be prepared to hear some sounds you may never have dreamed possible! Double-session clinic will delve into right- and left-hand ornamentation, scales, rhythms and repertoire.

Cello: An Overview of Styles with Eugene Friesen
Friesen's experiences within the Paul Winter Consort as well as on the faculty at Berklee College of Music have provided him with a particularly original orientation to the cello as a vehicle for improvisation and alternative styles. Bring your questions and get ready for an interesting journey into the cello's often unsung capabilities.

Cajun Jam with Jay Ungar
Accompanied by partner Molly Mason, Jay Ungar, the composer of "Ashokan Farewell," will introduce you to some easy to learn and fun to play Cajun fiddle classics. Bring your instrument and your ears.

10:30
Strings Around the World: Part Two with Vicki Horner Richards (Indian), Leanne Darling (Arabic), Helen Yee (Asian), Jesus Florido (Latin), Paul Anastasio (Mexico) Liz Carroll (Ireland), and Carl Rahkonen (Scandinavia) The violin can be found in almost every style world-wide. We'll explore its rich legacy through these American players who've reached beyond the status quo and become other styles. Be prepared to hear some sounds you may never have dreamed possible! Double-session clinic will delve into right- and left-hand ornamentation, scales, rhythms and repertoire.

Playing Waltzes from the Heart with Jay Ungar
This session will focus on connecting with the music beyond the page using both inner focus and ornamentation, tonal color, melodic improvisation, accents and dynamics. The goal is to help you find the life and lift in a simple melody in a way that will enhance both the emotional depth and the danceability of your playing. Feel free to record this session and bring your instrument.

Cello Jam with Eugene Friesen
Explore the cello's role in improvised music. Bring your questions and bring your instrument. This is a great opportunity to hang out with a member of the Paul Winter Consort.

11:45
Improvisation on Folk Styles with Jay Ungar (moderator), Paul Anastasio, Liz Carroll, Darol Anger, Matt Glaser, and Bruce Molsky
Each fiddle style has its own set of guidelines as to what is appropriate or not when improvising. There are certain generalizations that can be made about harmonic changes, ornamentation, and appropriate scale tones to emphasis, traditionally speaking. Today, all of these guidelines can be toyed with, but it's handy to familiarize yourself with the roots of each fiddle style, and expand out from there. Old-time, Irish, Texas Swing, bluegrass, and more...

Rock and Pop Jam with Christian Howes and Cathy Morris
Interested in bridging the gap with your pop-oriented students? Bring your instrument and explore everything you might need to know to update your skills as a teacher/player.

1:15
Open Reading Session: Jazz/Blues/Pop led by Bert Ligon
A read-through orchestra performing a variety of scores written in jazz and blues styles. Get new ideas for your ensembles. Bring your instrument and join us!

Scandinavian Jam led by Carl Rahkonen
Learn a few tunes and explore the rich ornamentation and rhythmic phrases offered within the Scandi repertoire. Bring your instrument!

3:45
Alternative Strings Concert with Award winners and many others.

Feel free to send an email if you want more information. Hope to see you there!