MASTA is a state chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). Michigan has one of the largest and most active state ASTA chapters in the US.

The American String Teachers Association promotes excellence in string and orchestra teaching and playing. ASTA pursues its mission through an open sharing of ideas; benefits, services, and activities responsive of the needs of all members; development of strong state leadership and chapters; enhancing the image and visibility of string teaching and study; advocacy for string education; and an inclusive community of string teachers and players.

ASTA National Conference

March 19-22, 2025 | Atlanta, Georgia

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Benefits of Membership

Become a member today!

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Our Sponsors

A special thank you to our sponsors for the 2024-2025 school year.

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MASTA Chamber Music Festival 2022

The MASTA Chamber Music Festival will be held at Western Michigan University on Monday March 7, 2022.  The festival is open to grades 7-12 and the competition is open to grades 9-12. Faculty will include: Megan Crawford and Mary Kothman, violin, Igor Fedotov, viola, Bruce Uchimura, cello, and Michael Hovnanian, bass.  Please look for registration

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Setting up your Virtual Studio

Shawn BouckeSeptember 2021 Virtual teaching has gone from a niche area of music lessons, to becoming essential for nearly all private teachers. I never thought I wanted to teach virtually as it felt limiting; and like many people, was forced into it in the Spring of 2020 and now I wish I had gone virtual

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2021 MASTA Chamber Music Festival Results

The 30th annual MASTA Chamber Music Festival was held virtually this year due to the pandemic. Eight student groups submitted videos and received online coaching from Katri Ervamaa, Kathryn Votapek, and Aaron Berofsky. Students also participated in an enrichment class with Melissa Knecht. The winning ensemble of the 30th annual MASTA Chamber Music Festival Virtual

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MASTA PD Grant – Summer Master’s Degree

By Joe Harmsen This past year looked a little different than most. Plans were altered or cancelled, masks were worn, and large gatherings were avoided by most in order to do our part against the all-too-familiar pandemic. For those of us in “summer school”, this meant that college courses were moved completely online. Last summer,

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MASTA Solo Competition Winners

The 20th biennial MASTA Solo Competition was held online November 1, 2020. Guest competition judges were two principal members of the Toledo Symphony: Kirk Toth, Concertmaster and Amy Cheng, assistant principal cello. The judges decided to award two gold and two silver prize winners this year, due to the high level of competition participants. Gold

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MASTA Sleigh Ride

Over the past few weeks, MASTA members were offered the opportunity to participate in a virtual performance.  Spearheaded by Jonathan Glawe of Ann Arbor Public Schools, teachers all over the state practiced and recorded their parts to Sleigh Ride via Upbeat Perform.  Upbeat Perform is a new software that allows musicians to record themselves playing

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