2026 MMEA Fall In-Service Conference

What do festival ratings really tell us about student performance and ensemble achievement? This session presents findings from a quantitative analysis of ratings from every Maryland high school concert band festival performance during a single year of statewide assessment. The study examines rating distributions, reliability, and differences across classification levels, while identifying common strengths and recurring areas for improvement within adjudication categories. Attendees will gain research-based insights into statewide performance trends and practical strategies for using assessment data to inform instruction, repertoire selection, festival preparation, and performance evaluation.

This session is designed for college attendees to meet music supervisors from around Maryland and interact with the supervisors and hear about effective interview and application strategies. Supervisors will share information with attendees about navigating the application process and effectively interviewing for a teaching position. Supervisors will talk with attendees about common interview questions, ways to promote themselves during the interview, and common mistakes to avoid. Attendees will also be able to ask questions.

Who decides who has access to music education in the state of Maryland? There are a lot of answers to this question, ranging from your principal to the president of the State Board of Education. Join AEMS to explore the landscape of who has power and influence in Maryland's education ecosystem, including YOU! Learn more about current state policies and priorities and dive into our resources to support your advocacy journey.

Rehearsals often struggle to balance depth of learning with realities of limited time. This session explores microlearning as a learning design strategy that targets retention, transfer, and ensemble growth. Explore the cognitive science behind attention, knowledge transfer, and context switching, while evaluating the definition of a complete learning experience. Participants apply concepts through a guided activity that will give them a practical framework for implementing microlearning in their own classes.