General Information
The Arizona Study Program (ASP) was started in 1958 to provide a consecutive and comprehensive plan of music study for piano designed to motivate and encourage the student to strive for growth and excellence.
The Arizona Study Program is a 12-year graded course of study developed by ASMTA to provide for the development of musical Performance, Theory and Technique.
It is organized in terms of the twelve years of public school, with one level for each of the years a student would be enrolled in school. It requires continual work throughout the year and is evaluated each spring by a master adjudicator and a written theory test.
ASP Committee 2025-2026
| Chair | Dr. Barbara Russell, NCTM | barbaraspoelman@msn.com |
| Immediate Past Chair | Barbara Stoutenburgh, NCTM | |
| Secretary | Albana Kapidani | akapidani4@gmail.com |
| Treasurer | Francisco Naranjo, Jr. | francisconaranjojr@gmail.com |
| Advisor | TBD | |
| Technology Coordinator | Susan Traylor | suszy2@aol.com |
| Administrative Materials | TBD | |
| Ribbons & Plaques | Johnny Rice | johnny@the-rice-brothers.com |
| Certificates | Fran Kaspar, NCTM | Kaspar48@gmail.com |
ASP Local Chairs
| Cochise | Karen Miller | kg-miller@hotmail.com |
| East Valley | Lara Heeder Holt | evmtaasp@gmail.com |
| Debbie Saifi, NCTM | evmtaasp@gmail.com | |
| Dr Barbara Russell, NCTM | evmtaasp@gmail.com | |
| Northern Arizona | Diana Galindo | ASPinfo@dianagalindo.com |
| Phoenix | Tatyana Eldridge | tanyaeldridge15@gmail.com |
| Tucson | Victoria MacDonald | tucsonasp@gmail.com |
Evaluation Dates
| Local Association | Date | Location |
| CMTA | May 2, 2025 | Cochise College |
| EVMTA | May 16-17, 2025 | Arizona State University |
| NAMTA | May 16, 2025 | Northern Arizona University, Kit School of Music |
| PMTA | April 25-26, 2025 | Glendale Community College |
| TMTA | May 10, 2025 | University of Arizona |
Overview of Process for Participation in ASP
If you are a teacher interested in participating in the Arizona Study Program, detailed instructions and eventual evaluation results are given by way of three (3) packets:
Packet 1:
Found here and in your local MTA yearbook, Packet 1 contains the Parent Letter, General Information, Student Program Form, Materials Order Form and Highlights from previous year evaluations.
Please select your local association to download your Packet 1 (in PDF format) —
Unaffiliated and Student Members: To access enrollment information, please select the local association above where your students will be evaluated
Fillable Forms from Packet 1: The fillable PDF forms are being provided here for your convenience. For instructions regarding these forms, see Packet 1 which is posted on this web page in September or October.
- Fillable PDF Student Program Form
Packet 2:
The following Packet 2 items will be distributed by each local association: In mid-March, the Teachers Schedule will be emailed from Tenuto Web (online enrollment app). In late-March or early-April, the teacher instructions, instructions for parents, school Release Form & Reminder Notice; Senior Level 12 Letter will be emailed, and the Student Evaluation Forms and name tags will be mailed.
Fillable Form from Packet 2: The fillable PDF forms are being provided here for your convenience. For instructions regarding these forms, see Packet 2 which will be emailed to teachers in late March or early April.
- Fillable PDF Senior Level 12 Letter (coming in March): CMTA, EVMTA, NAMTA, PMTA, TMTA.
- MTNA Release Form
Packet 3:
Distributed in May, Packet 3 contains evaluation results and awards.
Enrollment Information
- Teachers must be an active member of ASMTA to enroll their students is ASP.
- For studios employing multiple teachers, each teacher wishing to have their student(s) participate in ASP must be an active member of ASMTA and must enroll their own students. Unless the owner of the studio is teaching that student, the owner or other teachers in the studio may not enroll students who they are not personally teaching.
- Each student must purchase a theory workbook.
- PMTA Teachers must inform students/students’ parents that they will be required to sign (at the time of the evaluation) a MCCCD Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability form representing each of their participating students (one form per family). .
- Online Enrollment only (no paper enrollments accepted):
- Early Enrollment $35 is November 1 to December 1.
- Late Enrollment $50 is December 2 to February 15.
- With Online Enrollment you have the option to pay by PayPal (PayPal account, credit card or debit card, or check). NO REFUNDS OR SUBSTITUTIONS.
Online Enrollment with Tenuto Web
Click Here
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New in 2025! Starting with ASP Evaluations for 2025, teachers no longer need to enter their Teacher ID when enrolling. For questions regarding enrolling online, contact Suszy Traylor, ASP Technology Coordinator . For questions regarding enrollment in general, contact your local association chairperson(s) (as listed above on this page).
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- Also, see Packet 1 (above) for more detailed information.
- A student may be enrolled in different levels for theory and performance/technique. (As of 2023-2024 ASP Evaluation year, performance and technique must be the same level.)
- Indicate the different levels on the name tag and all forms, including the Student Evaluation Form which is presented to the adjudicator..
- Records will show completion of the lower of the two levels.
- The performance level will determine the time allotment for evaluation.
- Students may be evaluated in only one level per school year.
- Levels may be repeated and/or skipped at the teacher’s discretion.
- Indicate previous teacher(s) of all transfer students if students were previously in ASP.
- Level 4, 8 and 12 awards are given only for completing Category A. Theory, technique, and repertoire must all be at the same level in the same year.
- A Level 12 senior student may take the Early theory test after January 1. If necessary, the Level 12 test can be retaken at the scheduled Evaluation date. Contact chairman for dates.
- Notify local chairman in writing of any students dropped or changes in program, level or category. (Check with your local association ASP chair for possible deadlines for submitting changes.)
- If a student cannot be evaluated on the above dates, see your local association Packet 1 for procedure. There will be an additional fee for the adjudicator.
ASP Help Videos:
- Levels 1-12 Technique videos. Login to your ASMTA Member Dashboard, scroll down the page, and click on the link to view the videos.
- NEW! How to Prepare for the Arizona Study Program Evaluations: IMTF Panel Discussion.
Grants
Janice McCurnin Teacher Enrichment Grant
Janice McCurnin Certification Grant Program
Teacher Enrichment Grant Recipients
2013 Karen Stahl
2021 Kassandra Weleck, NCTM
