ASTA Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP)

ASTACAP Online

Having established robust pedagogy and student learning benefits over 15 years of ongoing live examinations, the ASTACAP Program online presence is an important part of our mission.

The non-competitive philosophy, skill-based goals, and flexible curriculum and repertoire are the center of the ASTACAP Program. This is consistent no matter how one takes the examination. Find more details in the ASTACAP Handbook.

Why ASTACAP Online?

  • Receive written feedback from nationally recognized adjudicators for scales, etudes, and repertoire.

  • Students who successfully complete their performance will receive a certificate of recognition.

  • Virtual opportunity to recognize your students' hard work when studio recitals are not an option.

  • Submit student performances for evaluation for a wide range of levels to fit any playing ability (foundation to level 10). Students of all ages may participate.

  • Member access to the full ASTACAP Handbook, which includes a breakdown of all ASTACAP level requirements, sample repertoire lists, and tips for submitting online performances.


ASTACAP Online is open twice a year — in June and November. Please NoteASTACAP Online is open from November 1 to November 30, 2022. You must be an ASTA member to submit performances for your students. See details below.

How to apply for the online ASTA Certificate Advancement Program:

  • ASTACAP Online is now open from November 1 to November 30, 2022.
  • You must be a current ASTA member to submit applications for your students.
  • ASTACAP Online fees can be found here.
  • Before applying, please review the ASTACAP program information here for the performance options for your student's ability. Students of all ages may participate. See the tips below for submitting a successful performance. 
  • The program platform supports the following video formats: mpeg, mpg, mp4, ogg, mov, avi, wmv, m4v, vob.
  • The link to apply: ASTACAP Online Registration

Tips for submitting a successful online performance:

  • Check the ASTACAP level requirements carefully to ensure that your student has all requirements prepared. Level requirements can be found here.
  • When recording your student's performance, please treat it like an audition tape. Be mindful of any background noise or distracting items in the room. If your student is performing from memory, your video should clearly show a room with no music stand or the music stand should be clearly facing away from the student with no music on it.
  • You will be recording 3 separate videos. One for scales, one for etudes, and one for the repertoire selection (if your ASTACAP level requires more than one piece, you will need to record one video for each piece). Videos must be recorded back-to-back, as if they were being recorded in a live setting. No edits may be made to the videos.
  • Teachers, as the ASTA member, should submit all student performances.
  • Completed adjudication forms and ASTACAP certificates for successful completion of an ASTACAP level will be mailed to teachers for distribution to students.
If you have any questions, please contact us at asta@astastrings.org or 703-279-2113.

To participate in ASTACAP throughout the year, check with your state chapter for dates of in-person exams.