Our team is looking forward to meeting you at this year’s American String Teachers Association National Conference and serving your professional needs in any way we can. Ask us about the free resources we have for you when it comes to program planning, advocacy, funding and other teaching and professional development needs.

Each year, the ASTA conference gives us an opportunity to connect with all of you and to remind you that Yamaha is your partner in music education, not just through our great student acoustic instruments and innovative Silent/Electric products but also with resources, support and professional development. We know how difficult these past two years have been as we have navigated through these uncertain times, and we want to express our appreciation and gratitude for everyone involved in making this conference possible. We want to continue to hear about your programs and learn about you and your specific needs to see how Yamaha can partner with you.

Stop by and say hi to Ken Dattmore and the Yamaha team in the exhibit hall. We’ll be showing some new instruments in the booth, including the SLB300 and SLB300Pro. Sign up for the Yamaha Educator newsletter to access advocacy, professional development, information on instruments, resources, partnerships in education and more.

Have a wonderful conference!

Thursday, March 17

• 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Andy Renier’s clinic “Looping in the Classroom and the Private Studio: Changing Lives with Harmonic Grooviest” (Room: Inman)
• 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.: Jesus Florido’s Master Class “Eclectic Styles Pre-Collegiate” (Room: Regency 5)
• 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.: Martha Mooke’s clinic “The Ever-Increasing Value of a Performance Degree in MultiStyle Strings” (Room: Lenox)
• 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.: Jesus Florido’s clinic “Realizing Diversity with Latin American Music” (Room: Regency 5)

Friday, March 18

• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Andy Renier’s clinic “Teaching Bluegrass Fiddle Tunes So They Come Alive” (Room: Kennesaw)
• 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.: Jesus Florido’s clinic “Eclectic Styles Roundtable: Just Because We Bring More Music in Doesn’t Mean We Have to Take Any Away” (Room: Hanover C)
• 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.: Martha Mooke’s “Reading Session: K-12 Orchestra Grades 4-6 New Music” (Room: Hanover AB)

Saturday, March 19

• 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.: Jesus Florido’s clinic “Realizing Diversity with Eclectic Styles – A discussion on expanding to a more inclusive pedagogy” (Room: Piedmont)
• 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.: Andy Renier’s clinic “Using Looping, Overdrive, and other effects to Improve your Classical Technique” (Room: Hanover AB)

Through the Yamaha Educator Suite blog site and SupportED magazine, Yamaha reaches thousands of educators with professional development tips, advice and resources. If you have questions or need help finding resources for your program, email us at educators@yamaha.com.

Here is a sampling of our top professional development articles:

• Portal to Another World: A Role-Playing Game Enhances Beginning Violin Lessons
• Case Study: How to Grow a High School Orchestra Program
• How to Choose an Amplifier for Your Electric String Instrument
• Reducing Performance Anxiety
• Celebrating Excellence in Music Education – “40 Under 40”
• Christian Howes: Versatile Violin Virtuoso
• Case Study: A Las Vegas Middle School Orchestra’s Remarkable Success
• The ABCs of Classroom Management
• Black Violin Dares Students to Dream Big
• Electric Strings: The Power of Plugging In
• New to Teaching Strings?
• Tips to Manage Workload and Find Work-Life Balance
• Avoid Burnout
• Positive Mental Health Strategies
• Cellist Mike Block’s Musical Quest
• Electric String Ensemble Checklist