2026 | Quick View | Clinic/Session Information

Music educators continuously work to improve the quality of their programs. Navigating how to ask for support and funding can be difficult. Attendees will learn how to formulate their Ask, create a rationale, and utilize local and state advocacy toolkits such as Title resources and music education information. The workshop will include how to contact legislators, sample language, a talking point template for use during the session, and resource links to experts.

Many P–12 educators host student teachers (or field experience placements) in their school classroom. Research findings suggest that a collaborative approach to guiding these preservice teachers is most impactful in their development—and helpful to veteran teachers, who learn new skills and tips! In this session, we’ll explore ways to make the most of these joint ventures between colleges/universities and school music classrooms. Both preservice and veteran teachers are welcome as we discuss a two-way approach to preservice internships in music education!

Discover fresh rhythmic possibilities for your jazz students by exploring grooves beyond the traditional swing feel. From straight-ahead and broken-time concepts to Latin, funk, and odd-meter influences, this session offers practical ideas to broaden rhythmic vocabulary and inspire creativity. Perfect for educators looking to introduce new textures and global influences while keeping jazz rooted in its expressive traditions.

In this session, participants will make professional connections to their own reflective teaching process, examine personal teaching
philosophies, and explore community building practices. Topics will include 1) Know your narrative, 2) Explore your beliefs about music
teaching, 3) View teaching through a reflective lens, 4) Create a system for self-assessment and reflection, and 5) Engage in reflective
dialogue with colleagues and professional communities. By becoming reflective music educators, teachers move from asking
“Am I doing this right?” to “This is the right thing to do.”

Meet the 2025-2026 All-State Jazz Band Conductor, Dr. Damani Phillips, Professor of Jazz Studies and African American Studies and Head of the Jazz Studies area at the University of Iowa.

In this session, you will learn a variety of tricks, activities, and organization methods for better classroom management, recruitment, and community outreach.

Looking for effective ways to engage your most challenging students? Ready, Set, Center! is an interactive session designed to help music educators implement daily music centers in the elementary or general music classroom. Participants will explore engaging, student-centered activities that reinforce key musical concepts through hands-on demonstrations. The session will also cover practical strategies for classroom management, differentiation, organization, establishing clear procedures, and assessing student progress. By the end, educators will leave with the tools and confidence needed to successfully launch and sustain meaningful, effective music centers.

Children love percussion instruments, and you will love the musical skills they develop with these lessons. Kickballs, hand drums and other non-pitched percussion instruments are very motivational for the students, as they grow their mastery of steady beat, rhythmic reading and score analysis.

Rene' Spencer and Vicky Scott are excited to lead participants in an evening of folk dancing in a social setting. Wear your "dancing shoes" and prepare to "shake a leg!"

Learn all about the ins and outs of beginning and developing an Orff ensemble. From auditions to performance night, learn from a clinician whose
students have played at state and national conferences. Programming, flow, and special effects will help you put together an amazing performance for your students and many of the ideas are applicable to your grade-level performances too!

The teaching techniques that are presented in this clinic have been used with middle and high school students, and with university undergraduate and graduate students. They have been explored in jazz ensembles, combos, orchestras, string ensembles, group lessons, sectionals, and private instruction. I found that if I start “young” improvisers with these techniques, they feel successful immediately and they are excited about learning and improvising more. These techniques are accessible to both experienced and inexperienced teachers. Educators with little or no improvisational training will find the methods clear and easy to use. The quick reference guide can be used to find the correct notes for any 99% of the chords that any jazz musician will use to improvise. This is designed as a way to find the notes so the players can make changes. With this handout, we can provide for the students the right “vocabulary” to use. They, of course, must LISTEN, and IMITATE the people that really “speak” the language in order to know how to put together cool and interesting rhythms and phrases. Jazz, like any language, must be heard and imitated in order to be “spoken” correctly. We can help to provide them a great start on their walk with Jazz.

The Jazz Reading Session is a great opportunity for directors to play through a variety of arrangements of all levels, both new charts and the“ tried and true”. Bring your instrument and
join us! Or just come and listen! There’s sure to be a tune or two that will fit your program’s needs,.

We'll explore how music notation apps can unlock a variety of super charged rehearsal techniques. Bring great literature into your band’s reach, as well as deepen your own score study habits. Create flexible scoring that fits your ensemble like a glove!

Learn how to utilize Apple MainStage in both marching band and pit orchestra settings. This session will walk you through setting up the software for the first time, hardware requirements, creating patches, and demonstrate its ease of use in live performance. Whether you're enhancing your front ensemble or supporting a musical, you'll leave with practical tools to integrate MainStage into your program with confidence.

There are many creative ways to integrate children’s literature and music in the PK-elementary grades. These not only help children learn music/literacy but also develop attention span and assist with classroom management. Participants will be involved in singing, dramatizing, playing, listening, analyzing, improvising/composing activities inspired by children’s literature representing diverse topics and authors. Genres include folk, jazz, world, classical, popular. Handouts of activities and resources will be provided, including where to find many of the books online for free.

Many instrumental conductors are tasked with preparing large works that involve choir—whether programming masterworks, collaborating across departments, or leading community ensembles. Yet many have little formal training in vocal pedagogy. This session bridges that gap by providing instrumental conductors with practical tools for teaching healthy vocal production. Participants will explore how to apply vocal pedagogy in the context of choral-orchestral and choral-band literature, using sequenced skill development, experiential exercises, and familiar repertoire.

Bring your instrument and play repertoire for String Orchestra from a variety of difficulty levels and styles. Light refreshments provided!

The first five minutes are crucial for our rehearsal and our preparation is often neglected for a variety of well-meaning reasons. Gilpin will present a framework he uses to create warm-ups that involve the voice, the body, the mind and heart; connecting students to each other, to the director and to the repertoire. He will also share favorite warm-ups from other choral conductors we know and love.

Budgets are tight but the need for choral excellence continues. Greg Gilpin will present a wide array of REPRODUCIBLE choral collections that are filled with outstanding choral music for all ages along with teaching and performance suggestions.

We juggle it all—rehearsals, recruiting, budgeting, student needs, and somehow our own well-being. In this session, I’ll share the things we can’t afford not to do if we want to build strong, sustainable programs and still love our jobs. From advocacy and retention to wellness, logistics, and culture-building, you’ll leave with real, usable strategies to reduce burnout and boost success. Whether you’re new or experienced, this session is about thriving—not just surviving—the band director life.

This clinic is designed to help beginning and middle school band directors make rehearsals fun and exciting with creative, outside-of-the-box teaching strategies. It covers the Five Pillars of Music Performance, Suzuki-inspired sound-before-sight methods, how to use method books, fun games, easy ways to learn scales, and tips for moving students from method books to sheet music. The focus is on building students’ confidence, natural musicianship, and a lasting love of music.

This clinic is designed to help directors examine their motivation for participating in adjudicated events and clarifying the goals of these assessments. Advice, hints and help will be given from the perspective of the adjudicator to help both students and directors be successful in evaluative festivals.

"Were you ever taught how to practice? At some point we all figured it out, but more often than not musicians have to learn through
trial and error. Why not give them the cheat code? Teach them HOW to practice. How to diagnose problems, what to do to fix them,
and STOP playing straight through a piece full of errors! Learn why I started assessing practicing instead of playing tests and the
tremendous effect it had on my program."

All-state band conductor Travis J. Cross discusses challenges and opportunities in programming for and rehearsing honor ensembles. Please bring your questions and observations for a free-flowing conversation!

The clinicians will share strategies and rehearsal techniques from the perspective of those who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing, based on twenty years combined experience as both a student and teacher in band classrooms and in marching band. Information related to hearing loss, assistive devices and hearing protective measures will be provided, as will suggestions for adaptive techniques for effective, inclusive rehearsals. This session will be a resource for educators who are looking to improve the musical experiences for all students.

Two simple words, “Be Musical” coupled with some knowledge about the power of belonging transformed my music classroom, helping create a foundation for what is now a community of (almost always) joyful, cooperative musicians. Learn what the research says so you can make this happen in your classroom!

Zoltán Kodály believed music to be central to the wellbeing of the human person. He wrote and spoke about this belief a great deal, even saying, "No other subject can serve the child’s welfare - physical and spiritual - as well as music." During this session, we will explore the connection between our art form, mindfulness, and trauma informed teaching practices. Taking into account both positive and adverse childhood experiences, and the many opportunities for healthy human connection offered through group singing, we will share strategies for community care in the music class setting. All participants will leave with a list of free resources to further support understanding of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences in the lives of our students as well as ideas for connection during music class, and of course, a few new songs and canons.

This workshop is designed specifically for music educators looking to dip their toes into the world of musical theatre production or just to incorporate some theatrical elements to their classroom and performances. Whether you're tackling your first show or looking to add more theatrical flair to your concerts, you'll leave with practical tools and resources to "Break a leg!"

Come write an original song with the Lafayette Guitar Ensemble! Learn to use functional music theory and collaborative techniques to create original compositions and take the mystery and fear out of songwriting.

Times are tough and we are all confronted with massive challenges in music education. This session will share how, no matter the difficulty of situation, we can choose our personal upbeat and develop habits of thought and action that can transform our personal and teaching life to optimize our personal physical, mental, and emotional health so that we can be at our best for our students.

Featuring the Fountain City Ivories

MSHSAA Associate Executive Director James Melton will provide a brief update on issues impacting the association, music education, and festival initiatives. Additionally, MMEA members will be able to engage with members of the MSHSAA Music Advisory to help guide change, share concerns, and speak directly with their representatives to the MSHSAA Board of Directors.