Embedded Files
Please visit the American String Teachers Association National Website for information on becoming a member!
The next Exam will be in Feb. 2026
The next Exam will be in Feb. 2026
If you are interested in having your students enter the exam but need guidance, please feel free to reach out to ASTACAP Site Coordinator Michael Geib, astacap@astaok.com or mgeib@uco.edu
2026 Updated Fees for the ASTA-OK ASTACAP Exam are as follow:
$35 for Foundation-Level 2
$40 for Level 3-Level 5
$45 for Level 6- Level 8
$50 for Levels 9 & 10
2025 ASTACAP Examiners
2025 ASTACAP Examiners
Rob Bradshaw, cello
Anne Guvara, violin and viola
Robin Smith, violin and double bass
(Additional examiners may be recruited based on registration numbers)
Volunteers needed
Volunteers needed
We are looking for ASTA-OK members interested in volunteering on our ASTACAP committee or to help administer the exam! If you are interested please contact astacap@astaok.com
ASTA-OK ASTACAP
ASTA-OK ASTACAP
Participating Teachers
Participating Teachers
Sarah Chan
Michele Contreras
Jackie Skara
Tess Remy
Gus Weaver
Ashley Cooper
Natalie Emrich
Samantha Kerns
Theodora Morris
Jeremy Sheets
Allison Taylor
Rebecca Bunch
The ASTA Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP) provides students with an incremental means of achieving playing goals, motivating them to persevere and excel in their instrument studies.
There are eleven levels of graded curricula for violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, and guitar.
The requirements and repertoire for each instrument are available on the ASTA National Website. Please be sure to have your ASTA user name and password available to gain access to these files.
ASTACAP provides definite goals and awards for all students, from beginner to advanced levels, through non-competitive examinations.
Students are judged on technical and musical preparedness at specific levels—Foundation Level through Level 10—by an examiner of musical and pedagogical stature.
Each level is defined by a set of technical and musical goals (for instance: starting vibrato, third position, sense of style), along with corresponding study material.
Completion of each level is demonstrated at a performance exam. The student plays one or more pieces, an etude, scales, and arpeggios. The student is also asked to sight read.
The student’s success is recognized by ASTA with the awarding of a Certificate of Achievement for each level successfully completed.
ASTACAP adjudicators include some of the most prominent musicians and teachers in the state.
Teachers of all traditions find that ASTACAP complements and strengthens their programs. As a result of its great success in several ASTA state chapters, it was adopted as a national program in 2004. Benefits to ASTACAP teachers and students include, but are not limited to:
Uniformity of expectations between states.
Continual feedback through an examiner’s comments on student progress.
Documentation of achievements that can be used when applying to youth orchestras, summer music camps, and college admission.
Professionally designed and printed certificates for students.
Member access to the ASTACAP handbook online. (PDF format.)
Access to a marketing brochure about the ASTACAP program to use for recruitment. (PDF format.)
Use of a specially designed ASTACAP logo for teachers to use on materials and cards.
Listing of participating teachers on the ASTA national website.
Michael Geib
ASTACAP Site CoordinatorMichael Geib
Described as a “masterful” and “impressive” artist, double bassist Michael T. Geib defies musical boundaries. A true musical chameleon, he thrives in every artistic context and aspires to set a new standard for double bass playing in the 21st century. He has performed with countless notable artists, including but not limited to Benny Golson, Parry Karp, Linda Purl, Valerie Narjano, Jorja Fleezanis, Jamison Ross, Corrine Stillwell, Jodi Benson, 2CELLOS, David Benoit, Stefan Grasse, Kenny Garrett, Il Divo, Dave Douglas, Sharel Cassity and Tess Remy-Schumacher. He is committed to performing new works, having played in the world premieres i.d. (2010), Flipside: The Patti Page Story (2011), Bernice Bobs Her Hair (2015), Ascription (2015), Mann… and Wife (2016), To Awaken the Sun (2019), and Cube of Light (2021). An active recording artist, he has performed on a multitude of projects for the Equilibrium, Naxos, Onyx Lane, Quam Audio, and Xolo Labels, as well as innumerable film scores.
While he has performed extensively throughout Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom, he is privileged to call Oklahoma City his home. He maintains an active OKC performance career with the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Brisch Center for Historical Performance, the Painted Sky Opera and the UCO Jazz Lab. He is a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians Chapter 375-703, the International Society of Bassists, and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.
A steward for posterity, Michael T. Geib teaches privately through the University of Central Oklahoma and Geib Musik. He is committed to teaching bassists to be versed in all types of music, with his doctoral treatise focusing on teaching improvisation to orchestral double bass players. His principal teachers were Melanie Punter, Rodney Jordan, Ian Bracchitta and Delbert Felix.
Michael T. Geib is honored and humbled to represent the Onyx Lane catalog of artists.
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