VASTA: Virginia String Teachers Association

Virginia ASTACAP
(a.k.a. Certificate Program)

ASTACAP stands for American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program.  Begun in Maryland in 1998 under the leadership of Lya Stern and advanced in Virginia in 2002 by then President Lynne Denig, the ASTA CAP is now a national program, much like similar programs in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia.  It consists of eleven graded levels of technical and musical development.  These levels in the form of a graded list of studio materials can be found in ASTA's The Certificate Program for Strings Handbook, available at www.astaweb.com or by contacting the National Office at 703-279-2113.           
Contact Northern VA Chair Carol Stone.
Please send application to Carol Stone.
    

• There are eleven levels of graded curricula for strings and harp (a first in VA just in 2010, organized by Elizabeth Blakeslee)
• The student, under the guidance of his or her teacher, prepares scales, an etude, one or more pieces, and hones sight-reading skills.
• These are performed at a yearly non-competitive exam before an examiner who offers constructive written comments.
• The examiners are VASTA members known for their fine, supportive teaching skills and professional experience.
• The student is awarded a Certificate of Achievement for each level successfully completed.

Benefits of the ASTACAP program for both teachers and students include:
• Uniformity of expectations between states.
• Continual feedback on students' progress with constructive comments.
• Documentation of achievements that can be used in applying to youth orchestras, summer music camps, and for college admission.
• Professionally designed and printed certificates for students.
• Member access to the ASTACAP Handbook online.
• Access to a marketing brochure (for teachers).
• Use of a specially designed logo on materials and cards.
• Listing of participating teachers on the ASTA Website.