An Analysis of Ratings and Interrater Reliability at the American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival

The purpose of this study was to examine the assigned ratings, interrater reliability, and possible influences of school level and instrumentation on adjudicators’ evaluations of orchestra performances at a national-level adjudicated music festival. Data consisted of the overall ratings assigned to orchestra performances ( N = 55) at the 2017, 2018, and 2019 American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival (NOF). Analysis revealed that 83.64% of all participating orchestras earned a I/Superior or II/Excellent overall rating. A logistic regression model revealed that both school level and instrumentation were not significant predictors of earning a I/Superior overall rating. Individual members of each three-judge adjudication panel assigned identical ratings to 61.82% of orchestra performances and possessed a mean internal consistency of .90. Orchestra teachers can use the results of this study to weigh the educational benefits of participating in the NOF.

American String Teachers Association Research Award 2019

This article is based on a speech that Barnes presented at a meeting of the Collegiate Roundtable at the American String Teachers Association 2019 National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Research-to-Resource: The Importance of Aural Learning in the Strings Classroom

String musicians put a high priority on ear training in order to be successful on their instruments. Research suggests that delaying music reading to teach by ear does not negatively affect sight-reading performance in the long term, may improve music literacy skills, and also may improve student perceptions of accomplishment. The pedagogy of learning by ear, which is distinctly different than learning by rote, may be unfamiliar to many string teachers, regardless of their experience in the classroom. The purpose of this research-to-resource article is to provide string teachers with strategies to teach repertoire by ear with the intention of strengthening students’ aural acuity, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of the fingerboard.

Flow-Theory-Based Strings Education

This chapter provides a foundation for string teachers and students of bowed-strings instruments to understand the conceptual framework of flow theory-based strings pedagogy. The chapter outlines flow theory and introduces flow indicators in musical activities (FIMA). These flow indicators are used to observe and analyze strings learner's flow experience. The chapter also describes the author's introduction to flow theory and subsequent adaptation of the concept in constructing an approach to strings education.

Assessment Practices of American Orchestra Directors

After reviewing a small body of literature on the assessment practices of American orchestra directors, this chapter quickly shifts attention to conducting original research. It describes a descriptive survey study with American String Teachers Association (ASTA) members (N = 416) that found performance-based assessments were the most frequently used form of formal assessment to evaluate technique, musicianship skills, creative musicianship, and ensemble skills. Music literacy was nearly equally split between performance-based and written assessments, while evaluation of music and musical performances and historical and cultural elements tended toward written assessments and verbal feedback. Creative musicianship and historical/cultural elements were the top two nonassessed areas, but were still assessed by the vast majority of teachers. Interviews with five string teachers demonstrate that the research participants emphasized performing/playing assessments, focused on student learning/improvement, acknowledged the role of the school district/administration and benefited from its support, and recognized the value in aligning assessment to standards/curriculum.

Reflections on Research: Past, Present, and Future

This paper was presented upon receiving the Outstanding String Researcher Award at the 2017 National American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Conference in Pittsburgh. The author traces significant experiences and people who shaped her interest in conducting research, followed by a confessional tale of the affective experience of engaging in, and teaching others how to initially engage in, the research process. The author then invites readers to consider various questions we might explore in our collective future research, pointing to the connections between and vital roles of making music and doing research.

The Status of Strings and Orchestra Programs in U.S. Schools

The purpose of this study was to monitor the status of school string and orchestra programs in the United States and to gather descriptive information in the areas of program characteristics, curriculum, support, and student/teacher demographics. A second purpose was to document trends observed when compared with results of previous studies. Based on the review of literature, specific variables were identified as potential for trends: string student enrollment, symphonic orchestra offerings, enhancement offerings, private lesson enrollment, string teacher shortages, and student/teacher demographic information. All members of the American String Teachers Association indicating K-12 string teaching as part of their duties were contacted to complete a web-based survey ( N = 2,232). After follow-up contact, 369 respondents participated (16.5%). Although teachers indicated growth in both number and size of programs, increased utilization of approved curricula, and representative racial demographics among students, analysis revealed the following concerns: a decline in the offering of symphonic orchestra and other enhancements, a decline in student participation in private instruction, unrepresentative gender and racial demographics of string teachers, and factors that indicate a continuing string teacher shortage.

Got ’em on a string: The skills, knowledge and attributes of group string teachers in Queensland

There appear to be considerable differences in the outcomes of group string teaching programs in Queensland. Some teachers appear to be able to generate, manage, and administrate highly efficacious programs; others seem to experience difficulty transferring the knowledge and skills required for students to become successful string players. As a case study with multiple participants, this investigation set out to document the reflections of mid-career group string teachers, observe the outcomes of their programs and teaching methods, and establish a preliminary collective profile of skills, knowledge, and attributes. Key findings include a high degree of overlap in the participant profiles, and the potential for further research into undergraduate training and post-tertiary supervision of group string teachers entering the workforce. Implications of the study include the need to appraise current undergraduate programs preparing group instrumental teachers in Australia, and the necessity for developing strategies to mentor these graduates in their early teaching years.