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This Green Paper, submitted by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), outlines ASTA’s vision for strings and orchestra in the 21st century, presents obstacles to achieving that vision, and offers strategies for overcoming those obstacles.

Green Paper Authoring Organization: American String Teachers Association

STRINGS

Michael Gagliardo
Musical Director
Etowah Youth Orchestras
Gadsden, AL

Michael R. Gagliardo was named the second Music Director and Conductor of the Etowah Youth Orchestras in August of 1995. Since his appointment, he has led the EYO to national recognition, including the receipt of ten ASCAP Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music. Under Mr. Gagliardo's direction, the Orchestras have performed numerous concerts throughout the United States and Great Britain, including "by-invitation" performances at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers for the Performing Arts.

Mr. Gagliardo has served as Guest Conductor of the 2009 and 1997 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival, the 2008 Colorado All-State Orchestra Festival, and the 2003 All-West Tennesse Honor Orchestra Festival Senior Orchestra.

Mr. Gagliardo received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Ball State University. He has served as a presenter at the League of American Orchestras’ National Conference, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's Summer Teacher's Institute, the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, and the ASTA National Conference. He currently serves as the Chair of the 2010 National High School Honors Orchestra for ASTA.
Mr. Gagliardo is the founder and CEO of Wonder Dog Press and Daphne Roo Music,. He resides in Glencoe, Alabama, with his wife Melia and their four dogs, Daphne, Lady, Jake, and Gracie.

Original STRINGS Green Paper:

Strings (pdf, 94KB)

STRINGS

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New and innovative thinking

topic: Green Paper: Strings
Posted by Michael R. Gagliardo On June - 28 - 2010

I’m always on the lookout for new and innovative thinking when it comes to funding the arts, and especially when it comes to my home discipline of music, specifically string and orchestral music. After all, as our Green Paper states, part of our vision is to “protect these programs from economic uncertainty.” But this one caught even me off guard!

FORD CREEK, IN, June 24, 2010 – Officials and board members with the Culver County School System have devised a way to save the system’s threatened strings program without cutting services to students. “After a great deal of discussion, we have come up with solutions that we feel will allow us to continue to offer the strings program in our schools, and at the same time will address the current economic concerns of the system,” stated Culver County Superintendent of Schools Paul LaCosta.

The board has recommended cutting back the number of strings on each string instrument from four to two. “We feel that, by eliminating two of the strings from each instrument, we can cut maintenance costs for string repair and replacement in half, which we estimate will alone save the system roughly $2,000 annually,” noted Beth Ann Pederson, Finance Director for the Culver County Schools. “We don’t want to dictate which strings should be eliminated,” added LaCosta. “We will leave this up to the discretion of the instructors – they know best in this matter.”

Additionally, the board has mandated that string orchestras at the high school level become active participants in their schools’ band booster programs. “We want to see those orchestra parents out there in the concession stands on Friday nights, working side by side with the band parents selling hot dogs and popcorn and raising money for the orchestra,” said Culver County School Board President Bud Parker. “Of course, we expect them to participate in the halftime show along with the band. I’ve heard of ‘strolling strings’ programs before, and I’m looking forward to having the first schools in the Midwest with marching orchestras.”

Other ideas suggested in the meetings included soliciting donations of horsehair from local farmer for students to use in their bows when in need of replacement, and having instrument repair work performed by inmates in carpentry programs at state prisons instead of using most costly instrument repair services. “We are looking into the cost benefits of these options, and feel that we will make more headway in saving our strings programs by using these alternatives,” added Pederson.

Culver County strings teachers could not be reached for comment.

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