2023 ASTA National Conference

March 15-18, 2023  |  Orlando, Florida

The Call for session proposals has closed

Decisions will be sent in August 2022


Be rejuvenated and reconnected with your ASTA community by sharing your great teaching ideas through a session proposal for the 2023 ASTA National Conference, March 15-18, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. ASTA has extended the deadline for conference session proposals to June 3, 2022. We welcome and encourage all ASTA members to submit a proposal. Our theme this year is Building a More Inclusive Community. Session proposals that directly relate to the theme are welcome, as well as those that focus on pedagogical tools and techniques for all learners. 

The online submission process will be open to accept your session proposals from April 8, 2022, through June 3, 2022, at 11:59 pm PDT. All proposals must be submitted through this online collection process. Proposals sent in any other format will not be considered.

Please read all the details below before starting your proposal. All proposals will be considered and reviewed through a peer-evaluation process. Learn more about how the ASTA National Conference Committee reviews conference session proposals.

Application Overview  (PDF)  |  Webinar recording on preparing a competitive proposal (member login required)

Have a question about submitting? Email meetings@astastrings.org.

Session Topic Areas

The following is a list of sample topics for sessions needed for the conference.

  • Administrative Support (K-12)
  • Advocacy
  • Assessment
  • Building/Maintaining a Program/Studio
  • Building Musicianship (literacy and aural skills)
  • Community Music
  • Conducting
  • Curriculum
  • Pedagogy
  • Performance Anxiety
  • Repertoire and Teaching Materials
  • Research Application
  • Standards-Based Learning
  • String Maintenance
  • Teacher Recruitment and Retention
  • Technology
  • Training Future String Educators/Performers
  • Working with a Full Orchestra

Learning Formats

Learning formats support a range of instruction that give attendees the option of choosing different content, materials, and methods to match their objectives. ASTA will publicize the session types in 2023.

  • Listen and Learn (60 min) – A blend of lecture-based instruction, interaction, and case studies
  • Panel Discussion (60 min) – Facilitated conversation with a group of experts and the audience
  • Demonstration Group (60 min) – Watch and learn with a group focusing on skills (demo group size limits apply)
  • Learn and Play (60 min) – Hands-on learning experience with the speaker; bring your instrument
  • Express Talk (20 min) – TED-style talk given by one person that explores a single idea with practical teaching or performing tips, projects, or state/collegiate chapter best practices – ALL MEMBERS ENCOURAGED!
  • Pre-conference Workshop (5 hr) – Held 12:00-5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 15, 2023; provides intensive education in a small class setting

Focus Areas

The conference committee aims to have a program that serves the needs of ASTA's diverse community of string teachers; therefore, sessions are selected to meet the needs of the following categories.

Presenters are required to choose two focus areas for their proposed sessions: one as the primary area for the proposed session and another as a secondary area:

  • Private Studio & Chamber Music – Content covers pedagogy, instructional methods, repertoire, and administrative tasks relevant to private studio instructors.
  • School Orchestra – Content covers pedagogy, instruction methods, classroom management, rehearsal strategies, repertoire, classroom-based technology, and other topics relevant to public/private school teachers.
  • Collegiate/University – Content covers pedagogy, instructional topics, teacher preparation, and research relevant to higher education professors.
  • Student – Content covers topics relevant to attendees who are working toward becoming string teachers and performers (school, studio, performers, scholars), such as completing music degrees, finding employment, or attending graduate school.
  • Community Music – Content covers topics relevant to community music programs, such as youth orchestra programs, El Sistema, New Horizons, and other community-based ensembles.
  • Eclectic Music – Content covers topics related to teaching eclectic or multi-style music, including but not limited to fiddle, rock, jazz, mariachi, and all world music.
  • Wellness – Content covers topics relevant to the health and wellness of string teachers, students, and players, including but not limited to body mapping, metal health, teacher and student productivity.
  • DEI – Content covers topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and exceptionalities, both in terms of the people in the string teacher profession (teachers, players, learners) and the content covered by the string teacher profession (repertoire, genres, styles).
  • General – Theory, copyright, advocacy, entrepreneurship, mentoring, ASTACAP,  non-string players teaching strings, and non-classroom-based technology.

The Details - Please read before submitting your proposal:

Presenters will be notified of the status of their submission through the online submission system, so please make sure your email address is correct.

  • Focus Areas: Where does your proposal focus its content? The conference committee aims to have a program that serves the needs of ASTA's diverse community of string teachers; therefore, sessions are selected to meet the needs of the categories above. Presenters are required to choose two focus areas for their proposed sessions: one as the primary area for the proposed session and another as a secondary area.
  • Learning Formats: Learning formats support a range of instruction that give attendees the option of choosing different content, materials, and methods to match their objectives. ASTA will publicize the session types in 2023.
  • Session Topic Areas: What are the primary and secondary topic areas that best describe the session?
  • Connection to Conference Theme (300 words): How does your session proposal connect to the conference theme of Building a More Inclusive Community?
  • Marketing Description (50-75 words): Write a description of your session that will appear in marketing materials if your session is selected.
  • Abstract (300 words; this should be different from the Marketing Description): What will the audience learn? Please include at least three learning objectives.
  • Presenter Information: Please provide a brief summary of your qualifications, including your additional session presenters. Please include past experience conducting workshops or delivering presentations.
  • Demographic data: ASTA is asking for demographic data to help the conference committee build a program that includes a diverse group of presenters, including new presenters, returning presenters, and demographically diverse presenters.
  • Membership: All speakers must be ASTA members and will need their ASTA Member ID number. If you do not have your ASTA Member ID number, sign in above to access your member profile.
  • For More Information: You can get details on all the information needed for the application here.

Special Notes

  • The committee will not accept session proposals that are solely performance-based and those that promote individual commercial products. Commercial materials may be used in a session for educational objectives, but they cannot be used for promotional purposes. Taking orders or selling products during the session is prohibited.
  • Exhibitor Showcase applications (sessions promoting commercial products; see Music Industry Showcase Sessions below) are available for purchase through the exhibitor prospectus and must be reserved by the sponsoring company.
  • IMPORTANT: All other session proposals will ONLY be accepted through this online submission process. No paper applications will be accepted. The deadline for submitting session proposals is 11:59 pm PDT June 3, 2022.
  • All session presenters, co-presenters, and panelists must be current ASTA members when submitting the proposal and at the time of the presentation, and are expected to register for the full conference.
  • All applications must be complete to receive consideration. Incomplete applications and applications not meeting the guidelines will be rejected.
  • You can learn more about how conference session proposals are reviewed by the ASTA National Conference Committee here. You can get an overview of application details here.

We will notify applicants of their acceptance status in August 2022. Please make sure your email address is correct and that it is where you would like notifications to be sent. 

Questions? Please send us an email at asta@astastrings.org.


The Call for Session Proposals is now closed.



Music Industry Showcase Sessions - Limited number available for purchase

These sessions are for promotion of commercial products and services. They give companies the opportunity to share expertise, launch new products, market directly to a focused group for a one-hour block, and provide increased visibility for products and services. Showcase sessions are available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis and are available to ASTA business members exhibiting at the conference. ASTA business members: Please contact your company representative to have them reserve the showcase slot. Company representatives: Please contact meetings@astastrings.org or use the exhibitor prospectus contract to reserve your slot.