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<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Dear All,</p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span>I am excited to announce that Michigan's second ASTACAP event is scheduled for April 14th, 2024, in Troy, MI. </p><p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Building on the tremendous success of last year's event, which saw twice the expected student participation, we're looking forward to another fantastic gathering. If you're a school teacher and have private students, ASTSACAP offers an opportunity for you. If you don't have private students but know teachers who do, please pass along this information. ASTACAP not only benefits students but also provides a well-structured curriculum for teachers.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b>WHAT IS ASTACAP?</b></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">ASTACAP, the American String Teachers Association's Certificate Advancement Program, establishes national goals for string students at all levels and offers:</p>
<ul class="gmail-ul1">
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings: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-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>A comprehensive and flexible curriculum encompassing scales, etudes, and repertoire across eleven levels</li>
<li class="gmail-li1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings: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-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:9px;line-height:normal;font-family:Menlo"></span>Instrument-specific guidelines and requirements for each level</li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span>Students participating in the examination program are assessed for their technical and musical achievements by highly qualified ASTACAP string specialists. Teachers receive detailed evaluations of their students' exam performances, including grades and written comments, which they can then share with their students. Certificates are awarded upon the successful completion of each level.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b>MY STORY</b></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span>As a studio teacher in Michigan for nearly 15 years, I was never entirely satisfied with the solo festivals available for my students. They often seemed to prioritize ratings over the music itself. When I became the studio chair for ASTA of Michigan, my primary aim was to create a festival that focused on encouraging and educating students. I envisioned it as a series of mini-master classes. With ASTACAP organized by level, students and teachers can easily find appropriate music and receive evaluations tailored to their abilities. I'm grateful that other teachers had similar visions and established the ASTACAP program at the national level.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b>REGISTRATION</b></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span>This year's registration process will be conducted through a <b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenFC_h-qvrRIZx-Vz6wKsQxYRB_XYuH2GrwSk9gqCYSJa7pw/viewform?usp=sf_link">GOOGLE FORM</a></b>. Teachers are requested to register their students by January 31st, 2024. After, they will receive a list of their registrations for approval, along with the total payment due.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><b>HANDBOOK</b></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span>You can find the ASTACAP handbook <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/b0fldqsic2rk2jl846gnm/ASTACAP-Handbook-L.pdf?rlkey=c1thptfpr1xyflm7vdvqxb9xf&dl=0">here</a>. It includes music suggestions for each level. If you have a piece of music that isn't listed, feel free to share it with us for approval.</p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Thank you for your support and participation in ASTACAP. We look forward to another successful event on April 14th, 2024, in Troy, MI.</p>
<p class="gmail-p2" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue";min-height:15px"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-p1" style="margin:0px;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Best regards,</p><br clear="all"><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>