Traditionally, orchestras have employed hierarchical seating structures through the use of chair challenges and seating auditions in efforts to motivate students to practice. However, minimal research is available on the outcomes of hierarchical seating structures within an orchestra. Acknowledging that teachers are at the forefront of our curricular decisions for the orchestra, I explored these challenges from an autobiographical account, sharing the experiences of my students who participated in the orchestra program for three years during the time in which ASP was first integrated. ASP demonstrates how it can act as a practice of social justice within a community of practice. Learn how to apply the principles of social justice through various seating schemes: circle seating, rotational seating, scrambled seating, and randomized seating.
