ASU String Project gets under way

Last spring, Assistant Professor of Music Education Jill Sullivan realized the results of writing a successful grant when the School of Music was awarded a grant from the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) for ASU to become one of 24 sites nationally to develop a String Project.

The grant is funded by the Knight Foundation, and provides $10,000 a year for two years to promote string education. The purpose is to provide hands-on teaching experience for ASU string education majors, while supporting area public school string programs and providing opportunities for children to learn string instruments who might not otherwise have a chance to learn.

One reason for ASU's selection as a grant site was the creation of a new faculty line for a string music education specialist. Margaret Schmidt was selected for the new position. Arriving from St. Cloud She joined the School of Music faculty as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the beginning of Fall Semester 2001. Prior to her ASU appointment, Schmidt was Associate Professor of Music Education and Chairperson of the Music Department at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Schmidt spent fall semester getting acquainted with area teachers and developing a plan for ways that the String Project can assist them. "There are so many fine string teachers and programs in the Valley," she says. She is publicizing the String Project to area public schools and home school associations.

The String Project begins classes in late January with a target number of 50 students. Anita Archer serves as the lead teacher for the String Project. She is also an elementary orchestra teacher in the Mesa Public Schools. For the String Project, Archer will teach classes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at ASU for area children in grades four, five and six. Five ASU undergraduate string education majors have been selected to assist with the classes, and both Archer and Schmidt will work with the ASU students as each develops her/his own teaching skills.

The grant provides each undergraduate assistant teacher with a stipend. "There is a desperate need for music teachers, especially string teachers," notes Schmidt. "We want to attract students with the stipends, as well as the opportunity for substantial practical experience. Our hope is that the students will fall in love with teaching strings. The jobs are there for string teachers and graduates in the string area will find places." For more information on the ASU String Project, contact Schmidt at margaret.schmidt@asu.edu.

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