2026 MMEA Fall In-Service Conference

This session helps early career and veteran music educators strengthen their impact on school culture and community engagement. Participants will explore building a structured band program that fosters collaboration, positive relationships, and alignment with school goals.Attendees will learn to design performances that reflect their school community and support students in feeling connected, valued, and safe, especially post-COVID.Key topics include social-emotional learning, expectations, discipline, parent engagement, classroom setup, and rehearsal routines. The session also highlights aligning program goals with the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and School Performance Plan (SPP) to boost recruitment, retention, and long-term success.

Belonging does not happen by accident; it is built through intentional choices in culture, communication, artistry, and leadership. This session will help choral directors examine the full family experience, from rehearsal arrival and concert logistics to audience engagement, volunteer culture, and traditions. Participants will leave with practical strategies for creating a chorus community where families feel known, singers feel supported, and directors are free to be present for the relationships, shared experiences, and musical moments that keep people coming back.

We all have felt the lasting effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly the increase in disruptive and negative student behaviors in classrooms. Since the pandemic, music educators have reported both increased frequency and severity of disruptive behaviors while also feeling underprepared to address them effectively. As schools increasingly adopt Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), many music teachers are seeking practical ways to adapt these strategies to ensemble and general music settings. This session aligns with the Emerging Practices strand by exploring evidence-based approaches for implementing PBIS effectively in music classrooms. Participants will learn strategies to reduce disruptive behaviors, strengthen classroom management, and create positive, safe, and productive learning environments that support student engagement and musical growth.

So, you’ve decided to go to grad school… Now what? Gathering information from a variety of sources can help make you a stronger candidate. Three experienced music educators/performers with diverse musical backgrounds will collaborate to provide a comparison of M.M., M.S., D.M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in music education, conducting, and performance; practical advice on how to choose the degree program that best fits your career goals; considerations about when to go to graduate school; information about funding your education; and tips for making yourself marketable before and during the application process.