American String Teachers Association

Conference / Competition - In 2022, ASTA provided a hybrid conference due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. More than 1,000 members joined for three days of in-person professional development sessions, keynote performances, jam session, and evening performances, and sight reading of new music serving all ASTA members - K-12 string educators, studio teachers, electic strings educators, and higher education faculty - in Atlanta, GA. The event included a live National Orchestra Festival featuring 16 student ensembles from across the country. This was followed the next week with a three day virtual conference event, with 30+ additional sessions, two keynotes, and one evening performance. In addition, ASTA began to expand its webinar offerings, offering on average one webinar per month.

Communications - The Association, in partnership with SAGE publications, produces the American String Teacher, a quarterly journal designed to enhance the image and visibility of string and orchestra teaching and playing. The Association also publishes String Research Journal annually, a peer-reviewed research journal focused on string teaching. The ASTA website and other periodic communications provide valuable information to members.

Member services - The Association provides professional development, career building & support, and a community of peers for all teachers of stringed instruments. ASTA communicates its message through various methods includng social media, and both printed and electronic pamphlets and brochures intended to further the goals of increasing school programs, improving university education programs, and enhancing string performance throughout the country.

Publications - ASTA publishes two peer-reviewed journals -the American String Teacher Journal, published quarterly and the String Research Journal. The American String Teacher Journal is written for all members and features articles related to string teacher and performance, with an emphasis on educational approaches for string instruments. The String Research Journal (SRJ) represents the research community of ASTA. Its purpose is to encourage and improve scholarship and research within the string education profession and to disseminate the results of this work to the string and larger music teaching communities. It is produced annually.

Foundation - ASTA welcomes donors to support ASTA's programs. ASTA partners with the Foundation for the Advancement of String Education to fund scholarships for new teachers to attend the in-person ASTA conference. This year, those dollars allowed 10 educators to participate in the virtual conference.