KASTA SUMMER CONFERENCE
The KASTA Summer Conference provides string teachers of all levels and genres with professional development. The Conference is held annually at Wichita State University and features presentations from nationally renowned pedagogues.
2025 Kansas ASTA Summer Workshop
featuring Dr. Michael Hopkins
Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19
at Wichita State University
Michael Hopkins is professor and chair of Music Education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he teaches courses in string techniques, orchestra methods, research methods, and the psychology of music. He has been a guest conductor at over 100 orchestra festivals and clinics throughout the United States, and has given over 60 presentations at national, international, and state music education conferences on various topics in string education and music technology. He is very active as a composer and arranger, and has composed and arranged over 70 published works for orchestra. His music is published by Alfred Music Publishing, Grand Mesa Music, Kendor Music Publishing, Inc., and J.W. Pepper’s MyScore. His works have been commissioned by many schools and ensembles throughout the U.S.
He is the author of The Art of String Teaching, a comprehensive string pedagogy resource for pre-service teachers, professional orchestra conductors, teachers of group string classes, and private studio teachers. The text is currently in its second edition. The Art of String Teaching has a complementary YouTube channel, a pedagogical resource with over 100 videos demonstrating all aspects of string technique.
Hopkins has published articles in the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, CRME Bulletin, Music Education Research, Journal of Music, Technology and Education, American String Teacher, String Research Journal, the Music Educators’ Journal, and The Instrumentalist.
Hopkins is the director of the Michigan String Educators Workshop and the U-M Bass Bash Festival. He serves on the board of the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and has served on several national committees, including the Collegiate Committee and the Research Committee.
Thank you to all of our past Summer Conference hosts, sponsors, and presenters
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To register, complete the form below and select your registration type. You do not need to be an ASTA member to register for this event. Spread the word and bring your friends!
Registration fee options include:
Two Day ASTA Member Rate: $140.00
Two Day Non-ASTA Member Rate: $170.00
Single Day Rate: $85.00
Student Rate (High School and Collegiate): $30.00 -
Two hours of graduate credit are available through Wichita State University. With questions, to enroll and/or submit payment, contact:
Dr. Mark Laycock, Director of Orchestras
Wichita State University
316-978-6202
mark.laycock@wichita.edu -
8:30-9:00
Registration, coffee and bagels, meet and greet.9:00-9:50
10:00-10:5011:00-11:50
12:00-1:30
Lunch (on your own)1:30-2:20
2:30-3:20
Kansas ASTA General Meeting: Updates from KMEA President Jamie Minneman3:30-4:00: MS Summer Orchestra Rehearsal with Dr. Laycock
4:00
Concert for Parents (WSU Music, room C104) -
9:00-10:30 AM
Boot Camp for Secondary Instruments*10:45-11:40 AM
11:40 AM – 12:00 PM
Pack up and travel to:
Palen Music, Inc.
2300 E Lincoln St
Wichita, KS 6721112:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch provided by:
Palen Music and D’Addario (with door prizes!)
1:00 – 1:50 PM
Session with D’Addario2:00 – 3:30 PM
*Reading Session sponsored by Alfred Music -
Hyatt Place at Wichita State University
4703 E. 19th Street North
Wichita, Kansas, 67208
United States
+1 316 364 4700
2024 KASTA Summer Teacher Conference
Registration Form
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Past Summer Conference Clinicians
2024 - Dr. David Pope: Associate Professor of Music Education at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Performing Arts.
2023 - Dr. Rebecca MacLeod: Professor of Music Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, author of Teaching Strings in Today’s Classroom, Director of the Lillian Rauch Beginning Strings Program and the Peck Alumni Leadership Program, President of National ASTA.
2022 - Jim Palmer: editor, arranger, and clinician for Alfred Music; Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chairman at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia; Music Director for the Youth Orchestras of Greater Columbus in Columbus, Georgia.
2021 - Dr. Brenda Brenner: Associate Professor of Music (Music Education), Jacobs School of Music, University of Indiana, Bloomington.
2020 - Cancelled (COVID Pandemic)
2019 - Bob Phillips: co-author of the Sound Innovation method book series; renowned string pedagogue, composer, authors, teacher trainer, and conductor.
2018 - Dr. Christopher Selby: author of Habits of a Successful Orchestra Director, Music Theory for the Successful String Musician, and co-author of the Habits of a Successful String Musician series; Director of Orchestras, School for the Arts in Charleston, South Carolina.
2017 - Dr. Robert Gillespie: co-author of the Essential Elements 2000 for Strings method book series; Professor Emeritus of Music Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.