PADESTA :: The Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association

Welcome

The 2010 PADESTA Executive Board Officer Election is now active--please vote by July 29, 2010

Every two years our organization holds a general election to select two officers on the PADESTA Executive Board. The new President-Elect will serve on the board for a six-year term, and the new Secretary will serve a two-year term (with the option of running for additional terms). All members of ASTA in Pennsylvania and Delaware are eligible to vote in the election. This year’s Executive Board Officer Election will be conducted online only (no paper ballots).

To vote, please click here.

All votes for the PADESTA Executive Board Officer Election must be submitted by 11:00pm on Thursday, July 29, 2010.

Thank you very much for your membership in PADESTA, and for everything you do for string playing and teaching!

Welcome to the new PADESTA website!

The PADESTA chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) represents hundreds of school and private teachers, professional performers, college faculty, and students from across the Pennsylvania-Delaware region.  Our leadership board is composed of volunteers who are either elected by the membership or appointed to positions by our leadership to serve in various capacities. By working closely together, we hope that a unity of strength and vision can help us continue to advance the cause of strings in our region.

This change in our website is part of PADESTA’s ongoing commitment to continue to serve its membership in meaningful and practical ways. Our goal is to provide information, news, and resources to you in a timely fashion. Please take a few moments to browse our website and offer feedback on what information would be most useful to you or if there is anything you’d like to see us add.

With this new website we also have the ability to update information more regularly, providing you with greater advance notice of events, both locally and nationally. In addition, you’ll see ads from our sponsors, who help make this service available. In the future, we hope to add such benefits as a job listing service, resources and links, and also features about our members.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these changes and we also hope that you’ll see the great range of activities and benefits offered for ASTA members. If you’re not yet a member of ASTA, here are just a few reasons why you might want to consider joining our organization:

Why Join ASTA?

Advocacy Tools––ASTA is committed to championing string education and providing you with resources to make your job easier. These include: Why Strings informational brochures; recruitment posters; Advocating for Strings DVD, PowerPoint presentations, customized letters of support for programs in trouble, and special advocacy sessions at our national conference.

Training & Education––ASTA members have access to cutting-edge professional development options that include: the National Conference offering more than 170 training sessions programs; New Music Reading Folders; and American String Teacher journal – to name just a few.

Programs For Your Students––When you belong to ASTA your students can take part in: National High School Honors Orchestra; National Solo Competition; Alternative Styles Awards; National Orchestra Festival; Instrument Outreach programs; and Certificate Advancement Program for students enrolled in private lessons.
Recruitment/Community Initiatives- ASTA members have access to a host of special programs including: Discovering Strings and Orchestra; Increasing Access to Strings: Piloting After-School Music Programs; and recruitment posters, brochures, pamphlets, and more.

Collaborative Partnerships––ASTA is the national leader in string education. As a member we have nurtured partnerships to help you be a more effective string educator including: discounted instrument insurance from Merz-Huber; membership in your ASTA State Chapter; preferred pricing on ASTA publications and discounts from our String Industry Council members; and ongoing collaborations with Americans for the Arts, NAMM, SupportMusic.com, League of American Orchestras and others.