ASTA Certificate Program for Strings
A Non-Competitive Examination System

The ASTA Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP) is a comprehensive, non-competitive, series of exams for string students that covers scales, sight-reading, etudes and solos; with 11 levels, Foundation through 10, for which students are given a certificate on
passing each level. This is a new offering from ASTA in the last two years. Students can participate in an exam to be awarded a grade or
for comments only. Entrance may be at any level and skipping levels forwards or backwards is allowed. Levels may be repeated.

Minnesota tried a small pilot project for this new program, and the Board has approved the program for future use by studio teachers.
Annette Caruthers was the coordinator for the pilot project, and plans to offer this again for her students. In addition teachers in any
location can offer their own sites, judges, etc. This will streamline the process for each teacher involved, and will minimize transportation
costs. Annette will coordinate for a few teachers for a shared site, and will act as a resource for those running individual sites.

The ASTACAP Handbook available online at http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/MemberResources/ASTACAP/default.htm includes: repertoire lists for every instrument and level; a parallel comprehensive list of etudes and scale books; complete scales for Levels 1 – 5; examination rules; instructions on how to organize examinations in step-by-step detail; sample letters, forms, and instruction sheets. This is a uniquely flexible exam system — teachers may use any etudes or solo repertoire (and any edition) for the examination of similar difficulty to the works suggested for the level.

If you think you will use this program for your students in 2008-09 download the following document from the MNSOTA Handbook:

Form Name	Posted	Document Type
ASTA Certificate Advancement Program - MNSOTA information	8/11/2008