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UIUC Chapter Wins National Award!

Our UIUC Chapter of ASTA has won an award at the National ASTA Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in March of 2009 for "Outstanding Student Chapter"!

Excerpt from ASTA Press Release:

"The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) is pleased to announce that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the recipient of ASTA’s 2009 Outstanding Student Chapter Award. The winner was revealed at the association’s national conference held last month in Atlanta, Georgia. The student chapter advisor is Louis Bergonzi. He is a former ASTA national president from 1998-2001and is credited for helping lead the association into the 21st century.

This prestigious award is given to a student chapter that is actively involved in promoting strings at the university and community level. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign exceeded criteria by annually participating in meetings, outings, clinics for high school students, fundraising, and mentoring. The chapter also sponsored numerous events with guest speakers including Marvin Rabin, Rodney Mueller, and Jason Heath. Other events were “Volunteer Saturday” at a local food pantry—reaching beyond the school community, concerts, workshops, panel discussions, and strong attendance at the Illinois ASTA luncheon during the IMEA convention. These visible gatherings left a lasting impression not only for music education/string majors, but also nonmember string players and local teachers, amateurs, and citizens.

The chapter is also proud of its effective, goal-oriented, and progressive outlook that will develop future leaders in music education. Under the leadership of its Executive Board, led by President Hamilton Le, the chapter’s current strategic goals are education, expansion, and development. “The success of ASTA student chapters relies heavily on a strong advisor who can be a champion in directing students’ talents and energies to promote strings,” says Donna Hale, ASTA executive director. “We congratulate Illinois and Louis on a job well done in earning this much deserved award.” "

This press release is available on the ASTA website, go to www.astaweb.com

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Blake Brasch on the Suzuki Method


On Friday, May 1st, Blake Brasch came down to the University of Illinois to speak about the Suzuki Methodology. Mr. Brasch is currently the Director of the Chicago Suzuki Institue and studied at the Cleveland Institute and Ohio University.


Cello (Suzuki); Chamber Music; Administrator, Suzuki Program

BM, The Cleveland Institute of Music; student of Alan Harris, Mark Schroeder; Suzuki training with Gilda Barston, Tanya Carey, Richard Mooney, Carol Tarr, Catherine Walker; Currently Director, Chicago Suzuki Institute. Clinician at Suzuki institutes throughout the U.S. and Canada.




Here are some points from his presentation:

How do you teach a child pitch?
  • Tape on the instrument is good for reference points
  • But in the end, the sound is what matters
  • Use ringing tones to find pitches
Visual Demonstration
  • While playing the A on the G String, the teacher should have the student be aware that the A string is also ringing(if played in tune)
While playing Andantino
  • A is one of the first notes that cellists play on the G string
There are Suzuki method books for cello, violin, viola, guitar, organ, flute, recorder, voice, piano,...

6 Bass players playing shortening bread at a newly implemented program


Headings from the handout

The Suzuki Talen education Method

Using the Suzuki Method, students learn to make music in the same manner in which they learn to speak - by listening and imitating (the "mother tongue" approach).

The goals of the Suzuki Method are to enrich the lives of children by playing a musical instrument and to give each child the satisfaction that comes from the ability to do something well.

The success of the Suzuki Method depends upon the cooperation and participation of the parent as well as the student.

The student listens each day to recordings of the pieces he or she is learning.

Review is an important component of the Suzuki Method.

Group lessons are an important part of the Suzuki Program


Questions

Do Piano Suzuki students miss out on the Suzuki methodology, because they miss out on the oral aspect of it, before reading music?
  • All student needs to develop a love for the sound of the instrument. They get this experience from the accessibility of sound on the piano and possibly music appreciation classes
Often, little kids don't want to do Suzuki. What methods do you use to keep them focused?

  • Sticker charts work really well with younger students
  • Skill cards get students to think about what they have to do to improve and not when they get to move on to the next piece
Breating and musicality?



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Hi Everybody,

Here is the Finalized Schedule for this weekend's ICMEA Conference. See you there!


Illinois Collegiate Music Educators Association 
Fall Conference
February 28th, 2009
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sign-in 8:30–9:00 am
Music Building South Lobby

(Refreshments available in the Music Building South Lobby throughout the day)

Welcome Address 9:00am

Becca Melendez, ICMEA State President
David Allen, ICMEA State Advisor
MB Auditorium

Session I: 9:30am to 10:20am
Music and the Special Learner
Ryan Hourigan
MB Auditorium

Session II: 10:30 to 11:20am
Kodaly, Orff, and Dalcroze Workshop
Glenda Cosenza
MB Recording Studio
-
"Fear No Strings"
Tips for building a quality orchestra
from a percussionist string educator
Clark Chaffee
MB Auditorium


Lunch 11:30 am

Session III: 12:30 to 1:20pm
Developing Independent Learners
Richard M. Cangro
MB Recording Studio
-
The Importance of Professional Organization
Charles Emmons
MB Auditorium
-
Gamelan in the Classroom
Jui-Ching Wang
Levis Center (see map)

Session IV: 1:30 to 2:20 pm
A world view of music education:
Advocacy for a new age
Keynote Speaker
Gary McPherson
MB Auditorium

Session V: 2:30 to 3:20 pm
Technology Projects for Your Ensembles
Matthew Thibeault
MB Auditorium
-
Playground Learning Styles
Eve Harwood
MB Recording Studio

Session VI: 3:30 to 4:00 pm
Krannert Tour
Main Lobby (5th Floor) of Krannert Center for the
Performing Arts

4:00pm to 5:30pm
Performance and Q&A session
Cornmeal

5:30pm to 7:00pm
Dinner at Krannert's Intermezzo Cafe
Krannert Center of Performaing Arts

7:30pm to 9:30pm
A Tribute to John Williams
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra

9:30pm to ???
Networking and Social Event
Campustown Bar




Best Regards,
2009 ASTA@UIUC Executive Board

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2009 ·ASTA @ UIUC by TNB

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