STRING ALONG SPRING 2017 VOL. 30, NO.3

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String Along

Check out our Annual Award Winners on page 11. More information about them and their accomplishments will be presented in the Fall Newsletter.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED String AlongOfficial Publication ofAmerican String Teachers Association10515 Bluefield Ave.Whittier, CA 90604

Featured Inside:

President's Message……………3

2017 Solo Competition

Preliminary Rounds…….…….5-8

Harp Competition………………8

Bowed Strings Finals……………9

ASTACAP…………………………10

Annual Awards…….………..……11

Steve Acciani interview……12-13

Planning for next year…………14

Member Blog..……………………15

Diamond Bar Orchestra Under the Direction of Steve Acciani is Co-Winner at the ASTA

National Orchestra Festival 2017:

Are you looking for a Youth Orchestra for your students? ASTA-LA has a fabulous list of the area Youth Orchestras with

links to their website thanks to Connie Deeter. You can find it on our Section Page on the State website http://www.calasta.org/la.php

Are you receiving our monthly email blast?

If not, your email address may not be up to date with the

National Office. Important information is now being sent via email. Updates

can be sent to stringalongeditor@gmail.com

STRING ALONG SPRING 2017 VOL. 30, N0. 3

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ASTA

Greater Los Angeles Section

PRESIDENTRobert Becker714-289-2081becker@chapman.edu

PRESIDENT-ELECTSusan Pascale626-403-4611stringsprogram@aol.com

SECRETARYConnie Deeter

626-844766 cmdeeter@earthlink.netTREASURER

Kay PechKay@chambermusicinstitute.com

PAST PRESIDENTJanine Riveire213-598-6235jhriveire@cpp.edu

BOWED STRINGS COMPETITION CHAIR

Kyle Champion909-593-9374championcello@usa.net

GUITAR COMPETITION CHAIR

Brian Headhead@usc.edu

HARP COMPETITION CHAIRMarcia Dicksteinfatrockink@aol.com

ASTACAP CHAIRKay PechASTACAP.LA@gmail.com

STRING ALONG EDITORWendy Velasco562-760-2609CelloVelasco@gmail.com

BOARD MEMBERSKira BlumbergFung HoShih-Lan Liu

Ljubomir VelickovicJacqueline Lewis-Wang

The newsletter of the Greater Los Angeles Section serves the string teachers and students who are dedicated to the art of string playing in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.

GET INVOLVED!

All board meetings are open to all ASTA members We invite you to attend any board meeting. See the calendar for dates and locations or email Bob Becker for more information.

CHECK ONLINE! Competition Guidelines, Applications, reports, and more are found at www.calasta.org

“LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK! Find us at “ASTA Los Angeles.”Keep up to date with all the events that ASTA Los Angeles sponsors. Post about your concerts or let members know that you have room for more students. Ask questions or share concerns. The page is open for all to post.

Deadline for Submissions: Member submissions for publication consideration are welcome. Please send submissions for the next edition by Aug. 15th, 2017 to stringalongeditor@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL If you renew online at https://www.astastrings.org please be sure to double-check that your email address and other data are accurate and current!

CONTACT INFORMATION National: www.ASTAstrings.orgState: www.calasta.org

Advertisers Index

Antonio Rizzo……………..11Benning Violins……………13Dominant Strings………..14M&R Weisshaar…………..12Morey’s Music………………4Muse Minder …………….…8Nazareth Gevorkian……..12Olympia Y.O. …………….…6Pascale Method……….……4Robert Cauer…..back cover

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEGreetings once again from your President, Elected Officers, Board of Directors,

and all other volunteers who really make our section significant. As I am now approaching a year in office, the energy that so many people bring to our organization is becoming clearer to me. We owe so many of them a great debt of gratitude. Many of our section members are unaware of the leadership brought to our state level by those officers. After attending several of those state meetings, their dedication and commitment to our string teachers is without parallel in this country.

Kyle Champion undertook the duties as Chair of the Bowed Strings Competition this year after the resignation of Gloria Liu Traulle. New Guidelines, Codes of Conduct, new locations, new judges and methods of paperwork processing all had to be implemented. The new procedures, dates and guidelines were all approved by the LA Section Board at meetings earlier this year. Thanks to Kyle and to our treasurer Kay Pech for processing all the checks and paperwork so efficiently. Those winners are posted in this newsletter and will be available on the website. A great thanks also to each area competition chair: Esther Chu & Eddie Chang, Gary Hung, Susan Pascale & Wendy Velasco, and Kyle Champion. A special thank you also to Marcia Dickstein for reviving and coordinating our Harp Competition this year and to Brian Head for continuing to work with the Guitar Competition.

Each year our Los Angeles Section selects several Members for recognition. This year’s awards include:

Outstanding School Music Teacher of the Year: Steve Acciani of Diamond Bar High School Several state officers and I were privileged to observe this group perform in Pittsburgh as they were selected as the Joint Winner of the National Orchestra Competition at the ASTA National Convention in March. Bravo to you and your students Steve and Bravo to our section of ASTA!

Outstanding Private Studio Teacher of the Year: Richard Naill, Cello

Distinguished Service to the String Community: Laurie Niles for her work with the website violinist.com

These awards were presented to them at the Finals for the Bowed String Competition at Cal State Fullerton on May 27, 2017.

There is a great development at our national level. A brand new ASTA web site with specific links to supportive teaching info and videos is now up and running. I believe this can be a highly effective tool for inviting teachers to join us at ASTA. One can also find a membership update on that site now!!

Many of you enjoyed the ASTACAP reviews this year. Our best year ever with more teachers and students in participation than ever before. Brava Kay Pech for coordinating these very valuable assessments.

By the time you receive this, most of us will be already planning our summer festival visits and participation, travel for vacation or performances, family reunions and so much more. Please be alert on so many levels in this day and age to ensure safe travel for you, your families and students.

Please feel free to reach out to me at the listed emails or phone numbers if I or any of our Board members can be of assistance to you or your teaching.

Best always

Robert Becker Robert BeckerASTA Los Angeles Section Presidentbecker@chapman.edu714-289-2081

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(562) 420-9532m.mainstreethub.com/moreysmusic

www.moreysmusic.com

Check Out Our Pages!

STRING ALONG SPRING 2017 VOL. 30, NO.3

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Sunday, April 23, 2017Pomona. Kyle Champion, Chair Judges: Linda Stone & Margaret Edmondson

Elementary Violin First Place (finals) Anna Yoo (Aimee Kreston ) Saint-Saëns Havanaise Intermediate Violin First Place (finals) Alan Wang (Eunice Kim)

Lalo Symphonie Espagnol Second Place Edward Zhou (Aimee Kreston)

Pre-College Violin First Place (finals) Phoebe Cao (Henryk Liao)

Wieniawski Concerto No. 2, ISecond Place Yu-Shu Chen (Michelle Ahn)Third Place Katie Chen (Fung Ho)Honorable Stefan Kosmala-Dahlbeck (Dr. Jerzy Kosmala)

Pre-College Cello First Place (finals) Kendra Lee (Sangwon Cho)

Saint-Saens Concerto, I

ASTA-LA SOLO RECITAL/COMPETITION 2017 PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

Sunday, April 30, 2017South Pasadena. Susan Pascale, Chair; Wendy Velasco, co-chair

Judges: David Lisker & Joon Sung Jun

Elementary Violin First Place (finals) Aidan Fu (Sam Fischer)

Beriot Concerto No. 9, ISecond Place (finals) Connor Lee (Cheryl Kim)

Haydn Concerto in G, IThird Place Nicole Sawano (Susan Pascale)Honorable William Liu (Mitchell Newman)

Intermediate Violin First Place (finals) Rachael Kim (YuEun Kim)

Bruch Concerto, I

Second Place (finals) Matthew Chang (Elmer Su)

Sarasate ZiegeunerweisenThird Place Ronnie (Yirou) Zhang (Sam Fischer)Honorable David Hung (Sam Fischer)

Pre-College Violin First Place, tie (finals) Megan Chang (Elmer Su)

Barbar Concerto, I Second Place (finals) Bronte Vlashi (Sam Fischer)

Mendelssohn Concerto, IThird Place Charmaine Lee (Sam Fischer)Honorable John Cho (Eunice Lee)

Elementary Viola First Place (finals) Sharani Bhattacharya (Michael Larco)

Telemann Concerto in G, I

Pre-College Viola First Place (finals) Joel Kim (Andrew Picken)

Schubert Arpeggione, I Second Place (finals) Emma Phillips (Susan Pascale)

Hoffmeister Concerto, I

Elementary Cello First Place (finals) Paulina Salazar (Ben Lash)

JC Bach Concerto, ISecond Place Hannah Fong (Sarah Koo Freeman)

Intermediate Cello First Place (finals) John Lee (Sangwon Cho) Saint-Saëns Concerto, ISecond Place (finals) Norah Fong (Sarah Koo Freeman)

Elgar Concerto, IVThird Place Srijani Bhattacharya (Rainer Crosett)Honorable Kaitlyn Ng (Jonathan Thomson)

Pre-College Cello First Place (finals) Jenna Pascale (Richard Naill) Popper Hungarian RhapsodySecond Place Elizabeth Crotty (David Garrett)

Pre-College Bass First Place (finals) Jacob Shneiderman (David Tranchina)

Bach Cello Suite in G, Sarabande and Gigue

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CalStateLA Symphony OrchestraOlympia Youth Orchestra

Fung Ho, Music Director & Conductor

http://www.olympiaphil.org

Year Round AuditionsFour or more performances each season

General Information:Fung Ho (626) 447-5839; (626) 242-3579

Dates of Audition: by appointment, phone or email

Audition Venue: To Be Announced

Please send $20.00 non-refundable application fee payable to:

Olympia Philharmonic Society465 W. Le Roy Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91007-7306

Submit online on website under youth orchestra sectionApplication fee will be credited towards tuition

if student is selected

Eligibility:Students learning any orchestral instrument, age 12 and up

Annual Tuition Fee: $650Scholarships Available Pending Audition Results

Transferable University Credits available

Rehearsals: Sunday Afternoons at 4:30PM-7PMon the campus of Cal State Los Angeles

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STRING ALONG SPRING 2017 VOL. 30, NO.3

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ASTA-LA SOLO RECITAL/COMPETITION 2017 PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

Saturday, April 29, 2017Torrance. Esther Chu, Chair; Eddie Chang Yue, co-chair

Judges: Nicholaus Yee & Lila Yang

Elementary Violin First Place, tie (finals) Marina Miki (Sam Fischer)

Sarasate Caprice BasqueFirst Place, tie (finals) Andres Engleman (Aimee Kreston)

Rieding Concerto in G, IIISecond Place Kevin Hu (Elmer Su) Third Place, tie Logan Kim (Sherry Cadow)

Third Place, tie Holly Lacey (Margaret Batjer)

Intermediate Violin First Place (finals) Kristie Lee (Elmer Su)

Sarasate ZiegeunerweisenSecond Place, tie (finals) Andrew Chi (Elmer Su) Paganini Concerto in D, ISecond Place, tie (finals) Sarah Liu (Elmer Su)

Mendelssohn Concerto, IThird Place Bryce Li (Elmer Su)

Pre-College Violin First Place, tie (finals) Kevin Chen (Elmer Su)

Tchaikovsky Concerto No.1, III First Place, tie (finals) Robert Hu (Elmer Su)

Tchaikovsky Concerto No.1, ISecond Place, tie (finals) Danielle Li (Eunhee Kim)

Paganini Concerto in D, I

Second Place, tie (finals) Jennifer Yang (Henryk Liao)

Sarasate Ziegeunerweisen

Elementary Cello First Place (finals) Austin Park (In Kyu Lee) Popper Hungarian RhapsodySecond Place Natalie Kwok (Esther Chu)

Intermediate Cello First Place (finals) Jessica Lee (In Kyu Lee)

Elgar Concerto, IVThird Place, tie Rachel Shim (Sungwon Cho)Third Place, tie Ashley Chung (Sungwon Cho)Honorable Ethan Hodess (Stan Sharp)

Pre-College Cello Second Place Hugo Yamauchi (Stan Sharp)

Sunday, April 30, 2017Fullerton. Gary Hung, Chair; Paul Grant, co-chair

Judges: Francis Moore & Manon Robertshaw

Elementary Violin First Place (finals) Jaden Minjae Kim (Michelle Park)

Sarasate Ziegeunerweisen

Second Place (finals) Sarah Yang (Aimee Kreston) Mozart Concerto in G, III

Intermediate Violin First Place (finals) Allison Park (Elmer Su)

Mendelssohn Concerto, ISecond Place (finals) Scarlett Chen (Aimee Kreston) Vitali Chaconne Third Place, tie Isabella Yuan (Sam Fischer)Third Place, tie Hannah Velez (Gary Hung)Honorable Evan Chan (Michelle Park) & Aaron To (Gary Hung)

Cellos continued on page 8

Pre-College Violin First Place (finals) Shannon Zhuang (Jerzy Kosmala)

Beethoven Concerto, ISecond Place (finals) Jeongwon An (Fung Ho)

Sibelius Concerto, IThird Place, tie Cathy Lu (Fung Ho)Third Place, tie Gloria Park (Eunhee Kim)

Pre-College Viola First Place (finals) Johanna Linna (Gina Coletti)

Clarke Viola Sonata, I

Young Adult Viola Second Place Clio Brady (Robert Becker)

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Sunday, April 30, 2017South Pasadena. Marcia Dickstein, Chair

All students performed: Gitana by Alphonse Hasselmans and Theme and Deviations by Libby Larsen

Judges: Lara Somogyi and Gracie SproutFirst Place: Annette Lee, student of Paul BakerSecond Place: Claire Elias, student of Celia Chan ValerioThird Place: Faith Ellzey, student of Marcia DicksteinHonorable Mention: Toubby Chau, student of Celia Chan Valerio

ASTA-LA SOLO HARP COMPETITION 2017

Elementary Cello First Place (finals) Jake Leehealey (Xiao-Qiang David Pan)

Eccles Sonata, I & IISecond Place Sophia Slott (David Garrett)

Intermediate Cello First Place (finals) Ivette Chen (Sarah Koo Freeman) Kabalevsky Concerto, ISecond Place Andrew Park (Inkyu Lee)Third Place Chloe Tjangnaka (Sungwon Cho)Honorable Michelle Jung (Hyeyeon Hannah Kim)

Pre-College Cello First Place Zoe-Daphnee Lavoie- Gagné (Hyeyeon Hanna Kim)

Bartok Romanian Folk DancesSecond Place Sophia Moore (Stan Sharp)Third Place Andrew Do (Sarah Koo Freeman)Honorable Jonathan Ku (Xiao-Qiang David Pan), Aimee Liang (Natalia Dyakonova ), Sung Min Lim (Stan Sharp), Sedong Hwang (Stan Sharp)

Sunday, April 30, 2017Fullerton Preliminary Round continued

First Place winner Annette Lee with her teacher, Paul Baker. Annette is eligible to continue on to the State Competition in

October 2018

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PRE-COLLEGE VIOLIN 1st Place—Jeongwon An, student of Fung Ho2nd Place—Danielle Liu (Eunhee Kim)3rd Place Tie—Megan Chang (Elmer Su)3rd Place Tie—Brontë Vlashi (Sam Fischer)Honorable Mention—Phoebe Cao (Henryk Liao)Honorable Mention—Kevin Chen (Elmer Su)

PRE-COLLEGE VIOLA 1st Place—Joel Kim, student of Andrew PickenHonorable Mention—Emma Phillips (Susan Pascale)

PRE-COLLEGE CELLO 1st Place—Zoe-Daphnee Lavoie-Gagné, (Hyeyeon Hanna Kim)2nd Place—Kendra Lee (Sangwon Cho)

PRE-COLLEGE DOUBLE BASS 1st Place—Jacob Shneiderman, student of David Tranchina

INTERMEDIATE VIOLIN 1st Place—Matthew Chang, student of Elmer Su2nd Place—Alan Wang (Eunhee Kim)3rd Place—Rachael Kim (YuEun Kim)Honorable Mention—Scarlett Chen (Aimee Kreston)

INTERMEDIATE CELLO 1st Place—Jessica Lee, student of In Kyu Lee2nd Place Tie—Ivette Chen (Sarah Koo Freeman)2nd Place Tie—John Lee (Sangwon Cho)

ELEMENTARY VIOLIN 1st Place—Connor Lee, student of Cheryl Kim2nd Place Tie—Aidan Fu (Sam Fischer)2nd Place Tie—Marena Miki (Sam Fischer)3rd Place—Sarah Yang (Aimee Kreston)Honorable Mention—Andrés Engleman (Aimee Kreston)Honorable Mention—Anna Yoo (Aimee Kreston)

ELEMENTARY VIOLA 1st Place—Sharani Bhattacharya, student of Michael Larco

ELEMENTARY CELLO 1st Place—Austin Park, student of In Kyu Lee2nd Place—Jake Leehealey (Xiao-Qiang David Pan)3rd Place—Paulina Salazar (Ben Lash)

ASTA Los Angeles SOLO COMPETITION FINALS May 27

CSU-Fullerton Recital HallKyle Champion, Chair

JUDGES: Jeanne Skrocki, violin; Andrew Duckles, viola; Marlin Owen, cello

Grand Prize Winner: Jessica Lee (In Kyu Lee), Elgar Cello ConcertoAlternate Grand Prize Winner: Jeongwon An (Fung Ho), Sibelius Violin Concerto

This competition was the culmination of the four preliminary rounds held in Torrance, South Pasadena, Fullerton, and Cal Poly Pomona. 111 students performed in these four locations over two weekends in April. Thanks go to Esther Chu, Chang Yue, Gary Hung, Paul Grant, Susan Pascale, Wendy Velasco, Kyle Champion, and Janine Riveire for their excellent guidance in running these preliminary events.

The high level of performance at the Finals was lauded by the judges as representing the very best of young string players in the LA region. The maturity of the musicianship was a remark seen on many of the comment sheets which will be shared with the teachers of these fine students.

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ASTACAP PROGRAM 2017

ASTACAP in Los Angeles suddenly jumped in enrollment to 154 students from 25 teachers this year from last year’s 101 students (21 teachers). There were 102 violin students, 12 viola students, 37 cello students and 3 bass students. The meaningful, caring atmosphere we provide in the ASTACAP evaluations: the warmup room, plus the help in opening doors, carrying music, opening sight-reading materials, and attentive listening by top professionals to each student, as well as their helpful, complimentary and astute written comments. Our standards are high and we encourage our students to reach for their best. More than all of this is, the help the ASTACAP program provides in scale/etude/solo selections from the Teacher’s Handbook (with 11 levels) is available (free) at https://www.astastrings.org. Each teacher knows the value of striving for definite goals with your students, through months of preparation before the evaluation day. We announce the available dates in September and teachers register for the date they want up to 2 months before the selected date. If it is filled, you may select a later date.

Plans for evaluations in spring 2018 in the Los Angeles Section will be announced in September. We encourage you to bring your own students into this nurturing program.

Email Questions for Kay Pech about Greater Los Angeles policies/procedures/literature are always welcome at ASTACAP.LA@gmail.com

Pasadena — March 19Evaluator Joyce Osborn heard and passed 9 violin and viola students of Cheryl Scheidemantle at the Polytechnic School. San Clemente— April 1Evaluator Elizabeth Johnson heard and passed 13 violin and viola students of Janet Poth at a church in San Clemente.Woodland Hills— April 8Evaluator Jennifer Walton heard and passed 25 violin/viola/cello students of Nick Alvarez, Elise Goodman, Joyce Osborn, Marisa McLeod, and Diana Ray-Goodman at the studio of Joyce Osborn.Bellflower—April 22Evaluator Jennifer Walton heard and passed 17 violin/viola/cello students of Kayoko Adachi, Kay Pech, Agnes Schwartz and Jonathan Thomson at the Arts Development School.South Pasadena—April 23Evaluator Mari Haig  heard and passed 39 violin and viola students of Louise Brown, Katherine Ezawa, Chloe Kang, Marisa McLeod, Mitchell Newman, Susan Pascale, Kay Pech, Melissa Phelps-Beckstead, Irene Shiao and Ayako Sugaya. Evaluator Shelley Phelps Johnson heard the 14 cello students of Rainer Crosett, Benjamin Lash and Jonathan Thomson as well as 3 bass students of Kraig Long.Fullerton — April 29Evaluator Shelley Phelps Johnson heard and passed 23 cello students of Dr. Charles Baker, Kyle Champion, Seungmi Hur, David Xiao-Qiang Pan and Jonathan Thomson at the studio of Dr. Baker.

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Lot’s of great sounding violins and cellos!

ASTA-LOS ANGELES ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS 2017

Awards were presented to:

Studio Teacher of the YearRichard NaillSchool Music Teacher of the Year Steve AccianiDistinguished Service to the String Community Laurie Niles

Richard Naill was unable to attend because he was out of the country.

The award winners and their accomplishments will be featured in the Fall newsletter.

Kay Pech, Fung Ho, Kyle Champion, Robert Becker, Steve Acciani, Laurie Niles, Connie Deeter, Lubo Velickovic.

Do you know an ASTA member who deserves to be recognized? ASTA-LA asks for nominations each January in the Winter Newsletter and on the calasta website.

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Steve Acciani, Director of the Diamond Bar High School Symphony Orchestra

Why did you select the ASTA National Festival? We selected the ASTA national festival because of the great reputation ASTA has for string

education. We knew the students would be able to experience more than just a performance. They would be immersed in a positive, educationally rich environment. What made this festival different from other orchestra festivals?

The opportunities to attend outstanding clinics, and to interact with other like-minded students. What did your students like best about this festival?

They enjoyed hearing other groups that were as serious about orchestral music as they are.

continued on p.13

ASTA NATIONAL ORCHESTRA GRAND CHAMPION: STEVE ACCIANI

15041 Lemay St., Van Nuys, CA 91405 818.486.3539 phone

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How do you help your students balance the demands of all their classes, practice, orchestra… as they prepare for college applications?

We make sure that the approach we take is one where the individual matters as much as the group. We have set up a philosophy that participation in our groups will enhance the students high school life, not detract. The school has developed the concept of the four A’s for all students: Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Activities. The culture is one of all students fully engaging in all of these. Almost all of our symphony orchestra students are involved in multiple activities, including varsity level athletics, student government, journalism, yearbook, robotics, science Olympiad, and a variety of clubs, most as leaders. Our students take an average of 6 AP classes , and some are involved in the International Baccalaureate program. Because of the demands on their schedule and our philosophy that we want the students to succeed at all of their endeavors, we have to be very flexible with rehearsals and performances. We have built up a

trust with the community that allows us to be very understanding of the time pressures of the students, and we work with them to prioritize and manage their time. It means that we are not always the top priority, but we find a way to make it work. This approach has allowed us to maintain a 97% retention rate for our music students. What do you do in your class to build a strong commitment to high standards?

We make sure that the program is student centered, not teacher driven. We involve the students in all of our decision making processes, inc lud ing the l i te ra ture , per formance opportunities, and travel. We also differentiate for our students, with a year round chamber music program, that allows for independence, and growth for the students at whatever their level. The final piece to high standards is selecting music that is worthwhile and gives the students a specific goal driven reason to improve as individuals and as a group.

STEVE ACCIANI INTERVIEW, CONTINUED

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Sept.-Oct. Nov.-Dec. Jan.-Feb. March April May

Go to ASTAstrings.org to plan ASTACAP and

calasta.org for Competition music for

students. Apply for ASTA-LA Grants

Form chamber group with your colleagues

and/or students to perform in Chamber

Music Festival

Register your students for

ASTACAP. Perform in Chamber Music

Festival.

Register your students for ASTA-LA

Solo Competitions. ASTACAP

Examinations begin.

ASTACAP continues and Solo Competition Preliminary Rounds for Bowed Strings.

Also Final Round for Guitar and Harp.

ASTA-LA Solo Competition

Bowed Strings Final Round.

PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR’S EVENTS

Don’t get behind in your dues ever again!˝

Make sure you don’t have to scramble to be eligible for ASTA activities.

You can set up automat ic dues payments through your credit card.

Here’s how…

For a fee that works out to about $2 per transaction, you can have quarterly or monthly payments set up on your credit card.

Tracey Krat i s the membership coordinator and she can set this up for you at (703) 279-2113 x 14

Automatic renewal payments are ongoing until the member notifies the national office otherwise.

STRING ALONG SPRING 20167 VOL. 30, N0. 3

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MEMBER BLOG: MAREK SZPAKIEWICZ, CELLIST

I have been teaching cello and chamber music at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA, for the last 11 years. My studio has grown from one student in 2005 to 15 cello majors this fall. I strongly believe that the love for music can only be nurtured in a supportive environment, where students can feel encouraged and inspired. One of my important roles as a teacher is to make sure that I support students’ musical ideas and stimulate their love for music.

To that end, I adopted the “positive comment first” policy in our weekly studio class. During the studio class, each cello student performs in front of peers, who provide feedback immediately after the performance. While it is often easier to provide constructive criticism, I encourage my students to look fir s t for any pos i t i ve a spect o f the performance they just heard. It is a good exercise for them to form their own opinions and provide positive feedbacks to their fellow students. Followed by a positive comment, students in the audience could address how the performer could improve—it could be a technical issue, an artistic element, or a performance manner. This exercise not only helps create supporting atmosphere in my cello studio but also provides an opportunity for students to pay attention to details and learn from each other.

Playing the cello is an emotional, intellectual and, most of all, spiritual endeavor. All of this takes physical form through dedicated efforts, like athletic training. It is a long journey to become a

fine cellist; it does not happen overnight, or even in a couple of years. We need to practice day after day, year after year.

This is a perspective that I want my students to gain through their studies during their college years—learning perseverance and building character. To help them gain perseverance and build character, igniting and fostering their love for music should come first. And that is why I believe a nurturing environment, where students can feel safe to express themselves through music, is essential.

For example, my cello studio has been participating in collaborative Bach solo recitals with violinist Midori’s students from the University of Southern California since 2014. Each recital features several violin students playing their choice of Bach Violin Sonata or Partita, along with several cello students playing their selection from Bach Cello Suites. It has been a monumental event for our students. Playing the Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello from memory, each of which has six movements, could be a daunting task. The cello studio’s supportive atmosphere, with the “positive comment first” policy, becomes more important in preparation for the Bach recitals. Through its preparation, the Bach recitals have brought my students not only motivation to excel, but also a bonding experience.

It is rewarding to see my students learning to express their feelings through music and finding their own voices as performing artists, while ultimately growing as human beings.

Marek SzpakiewiczDirector of Chamber MusicCello StudiesAzusa Pacific University, College of Musical ArtsDMA, MM from University of Southern California Thornton School of Musicwww.szpakiewicz.com

The String Along welcomes article submissions from ASTA-LA members of ~500 words or less. Please send articles for consideration to stringalongeditor@gmail.com