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<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Greetings,<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">     The first ever ASTA Certificate Advancement Program will occur on May 21st in Jackson, MI. </p><p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><br></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">     This event will be for violin and viola students only. We will expand to lower strings in future ASTACAP events. Attached is the registration form to be filled out and returned by <u>March 31st, 2023</u>.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"></p><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p></blockquote>     This is a fantastic opportunity for students around the state that will hopefully spread to multiple locations throughout the subsequent years. ASTACAP is for students of private studio teachers who are members of ASTA. If you are a school teacher and work with individual students one-on-one you may send them to this event. <u>Please forward this material </u>to any studio teachers in your area who may be interested in joining ASTA and could benefit from this program. Our hope is that as more people become members and send their students to ASTACAP, the stronger our state will be as musicians and music educators.<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><p></p>

<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="text-align:center;margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b style=""><font size="4"><u>A brief overview of the program</u></font></b></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">     The American String Teachers Association, through the Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP), establishes defined national goals for string students at all levels and provides:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<ul class="gmail-ul1">
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>An extensive, flexible curriculum of scales, etudes and repertoire in eleven levels <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Instrument specific guidelines and requirements at each level <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>A program of non-competitive examinations, offered locally and online <br>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="text-align:center;margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b><u>Benefits to Students</u></b></p>
<ul class="gmail-ul1">
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Receipt of a certificate for each level of successful participation. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>The ability to list ASTACAP achievements on applications and resumes. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>The motivation and means to excel from year to year. The “Instrument Specific Guidelines, Requirements and Repertoire” portion of the Handbook contains detailed incentives for mastering technical studies and solo repertoire. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>The opportunity to perform prepared materials in a live, non-competitive setting, if the in-person examination option is chosen. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>The opportunity to choose an online evaluation option. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>The building of student confidence and cultivation of greater success in future recitals, festivals, competitions, and auditions for youth orchestras and colleges. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Consistent musical expectations; and easy and accurate tracking of progress. <br>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="text-align:center;margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b><u>Benefits to Teachers</u></b></p>
<ul class="gmail-ul1">
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Access to a curriculum guide composed of scales, etudes, and solo repertoire, with playing goals structured in eleven graded levels, Foundation through Level 10. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Receipt of examiner feedback, in the form of grades and written comments, informing the student, parents, and teacher of the student’s progress. <br>
</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-s1" style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Increased respect for teachers using this highly-regarded program of nationally accepted standards in music pedagogy. <br>
</li>
</ul><div><font face="Helvetica Neue">Please reach out if you have any questions. I know this event will be an incredible asset for music teachers and students all across Michigan.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue"><br></font></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial black, sans-serif">Shawn Boucké</font><font face="arial, sans-serif">, M.M., B.M.E.</font><br><div><a href="http://www.xn--shawnbouck-k7a.com" target="_blank">www.ShawnBoucké.com</a></div><div>Private Studio Teacher</div><div>Wedding/Event Musician</div><div>Orchestra Director at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs</div>Studio Chair for ASTA Michigan<div><font face="arial black, sans-serif"><img src="https://www.shawnboucke.com/uploads/1/5/0/1/15014224/asta-statechapterlogo-rgb-1_orig.png" width="92" height="96"><br></font><div><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>