FIRST MORNING IN TAMPA

Hello from the Tampa Convention Center!

The time is now 11:10am EST and we’re diving into the world of string – instruments, pedagogy, technique, repertoire, you name it!

This morning, we woke up bright and early to meet in our hotel lobby at 7:30am.  After we checked in as a group for the morning, we took a short 5-minute walk from our hotel patio to the entrance of the convention center.  The weather is just perfect and as you can see from the photos below, our walk is right along the gorgeous marina. 

We ate breakfast at the convention center and got some food in our bellies to get ready for a morning of learning.  At 9:30am, we all went to see a different ASTA conference session – the students chose to attend 1 of 4 options:

-         1)  Demystifying the Right Arm Technique for Violinists and Violists: A Systematic, Hands-on                    Approach to Greater Artistry and Freedom

-         2) The High Road of Cello Playing: A Guide for Teachers, Students, and Cellists of all Levels Seeking to Improve Technical Skills, Achieve Agility, Enjoy Instrumental Freedom, Prevent Professional Injury and Develop Natural Abilities for Deeper Artistic Expression

-          3) Get in the Groove – how to improvise and use percussive devises in popular music, presented by Joe Deninzon on the electric violin

-         4)  Eclectic Styles Multi-Level Master Class with violinist Jeremy Kittel.  We’re going to see his concert tonight!

We’ve all been learning a lot and also getting to meet and learn from some of the best string educators and presenters in the country.  We’ve also been running into other middle school and high school students participating in the National Orchestra Festival this weekend, including our friends from University High School!  Here is the list of all participating youth orchestras, which I took from the National Orchestra Festival’s printed program:

Now, our students have about an hour to peruse the exhibit hall, which presents venders from all different string organizations, instrument makers, college music conservatories, and music publishers/distributors.  Our students, chaperones, and staff are all having a great time collecting some giveaway trinkets, looking through sheet music, and trying out fancy new instruments (including some electric string instruments!) 

At noon, we’re headed to lunch next door to the exhibit hall.  Then, we’re making a quick stop back at the hotel before heading off on charter buses for a fun afternoon at Busch Gardens!  Afterwards, we’re going to see Jeremy Kittel in concert and then bed time.  We’re all still adjusting to the time change and recovering from yesterday’s travel day, so some students are a bit weary.  But we’re hoping to soak up as much knowledge and as much fun as we can in our 3 more days of ASTA tour!

I’ll try to blog again from Busch Gardens, but I may not be able to take my laptop through park security.  You’ll definitely hear from me later tonight though.  Keep checking our facebook page for quick updates: www.facebook.com/PSYEnsembles.  

Talk soon - Bella

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