8:00pm Eastern

The Elementary Music Summit® Kickoff Call

with Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed.

Join us for the start of the Elementary Music Summit®! Join us for the Kickoff Call where we will set the stage for an exciting event filled with learning, inspiration, and community building. In this session, we'll outline what to expect, share tips on how to make the most of your summit experience, and ignite your passion for elementary music education.

This is your chance to connect with fellow educators, get motivated, and gear up for an incredible journey of professional growth. Let's kick off the summit with energy and enthusiasm, setting the tone for the best summit yet!

9:00am Eastern

Maximizing Instructional Time Through Engaging Transitions in the Elementary Music Classroom

with Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed.

Elevate your music teaching as you explore a range of effective transition techniques to keep your lessons flowing smoothly. In this session, you'll dive into practical strategies like using rhythmic and melodic transitions, employing ostinatos, and incorporating storytelling to seamlessly move from one activity to the next. Learn how these transitions can enhance student engagement, improve classroom management, and create a cohesive learning experience. Ideal for elementary music educators seeking to refine their lesson planning, this session offers actionable tools to make your classroom more dynamic and effective.

10:15am Eastern

Teaching From Your Values

with Dr. Liz Stafford

This session will show you how to apply branding theory to your work as a teacher - yes, really! You will discover which values are most important to you, and how you can lean into these to impact your teaching style, curriculum choices, and more. This will help ensure that your approach to teaching is more authentic, engaging, motivating, and enjoyable for your students and yourself.

11:30am Eastern

Curtains Up! Producing a School Musical with Grade 4-6 Students

with Gina Vidak

Dive into the magic of musical theatre with your grade 4-6 students! This engaging session will guide educators through the process of planning and producing a school musical, from start to finish. Learn how to create realistic timelines, access valuable resources, and define the roles of staff and volunteers for maximum efficiency. Packed with tips and tricks, this session will cover everything from casting to rehearsals, set design to show night logistics. Whether you're a first-time director or looking to refine your process, this workshop will leave you equipped to bring the stage to life and inspire your students to shine.

1:30pm Eastern

Get Moving, Get Learning: The 3 Must-Have Lessons for an Engaging Music Classroom

with Leanna O'Brien

Ready to energize your music classroom? Discover 3 top lessons for seamlessly integrating meaningful movement. Leave with ready-to-use strategies, games, songs, and movement breaks to instantly create a dynamic, engaging space. Beyond fun, movement deepens musical connections, improves management, and reignites your passion. New or experienced, gain confidence and tools to make movement a natural, powerful part of your teaching. Expect practical tips, real success stories, and resources to boost engagement and reclaim instructional time. Get ready to move, groove, and transform your classroom!

2:45pm Eastern

Yes, You Can Try Bucket Drumming With Your Neurodiverse Students

with Stephanie Powell

Activities like bucket drumming can be intimidating when we want or need to include students with conditions that may make them more sensitive to loud noises. There are ways that you can make it not only work, but make it a lot of fun! I will share the process I have used with three different groups now to have an excellent bucket drumming experience for everyone.

4:00pm Eastern

Beyond the Notes: A Creative Approach to Recorders

with Erin Elliott

The recorder is a staple of elementary music education, but too often, instruction revolves around a narrow focus on repertoire and assessment. What if we could transform recorder playing into a truly engaging, creative, and joyful experience for students? In this session, we’ll explore innovative strategies that go beyond rote learning and test-driven assessment to foster improvisation, composition, exploration, and cross-curricular connections.

Through activities such as centers, children’s literature and more, you can create a more inclusive and joyful learning environment. Instead of simply asking, “What song is next?” we’ll explore ways to ask, “What else can we do with this music?”

7:00pm Eastern

Escape Music Teacher Island: Virtual Networking for Elementary Music Teachers

Don't feel like you're the only one on "music teacher island"! We invite you to "Escape Music Teacher Island: Virtual Networking for Elementary Music Teachers." This dedicated online event provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers, share best practices, discuss challenges, and foster a supportive community.

Whether you're looking for new ideas, collaborative partners, or simply to connect with others who understand the unique joys and demands of teaching elementary music, this is your chance to build your network and feel more connected than ever.

9:00am Eastern

Exploring Orff-Schulwerk Through Children's Literature

with Michelle Brinkman

This session will demonstrate how to use children's literature to introduce pieces from the Orff-Schulwerk volumes. Pieces from Music for Children, Volumes I and IV, as well as pieces from the Erstes Spiel am Xylophon will be explored. Some of the pictures books that will be featured include Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming, William's Winter Nap by Linda Ashman, Wet Dog by Elise Broach, and Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. The session will also include improvisation and composition opportunities for students as part of the Orff process.

10:15am Eastern

Popular Music in the General Music Classroom: Orff and Modern Band Collide

with Melody Oberschlake

This session will give attendees a chance to explore and experience popular music in a general music setting through the Orff Schulwerk and Modern Band approaches to music education. The advantages and limitations of utilizing popular music will be discussed, both the Orff Schulwerk and Modern Band approaches will be defined, as well as how they can be used as agents for popular music in the classroom. Throughout the presentation participants will engage in three miniature lessons that Oberschlake created for and has used in her own classroom to achieve an understanding of theory of these approaches to applying them into the attendees’ professional practice. 

11:30am Eastern

Let’s Get Organized! Tips, Strategies and Systems for Busy Music Teachers

with Alessandra Santaguida

Are you looking for time-saving and efficient teaching systems to help you do more in less time? Feel like you have a million ideas, but unsure how to get clarity? Let's help you get organized and start this school year strong with organization systems, strategies and more to help you plan your year, curriculum, materials, music room, and more.

Please note: Due to speaker availability, his session has been pre-recorded and will be broadcast live on the Main Stage.

1:30pm Eastern

Songs, Activities, and Projects for Upper Elementary

with Aileen Miracle

Looking for lessons your upper elementary students will love? In this session, Aileen will share some of her favorite songs, activities, and projects for upper elementary, including where to include the material in your sequences, how to provide students with challenge, and more!

Please note: Due to speaker availability, his session has been pre-recorded and will be broadcast live on the Main Stage.

2:45pm Eastern

Hacking the School/Life Balance Myth: Practical Strategies for Integrating Teaching with the Rest of Your Life

with Grace Stevens

Set yourself up for success by learning that school and life balance doesn't come naturally and that it takes intention. In this session, we will debunk the myth that we can "keep all the balls in the air", and learn a more practical framework to prioritize tasks. Understanding which balls to intentionally drop (guilt-free) will enable you to maintain balance in all areas of your life and avoid overwhelm and burnout.

Beyond discussing mindset and theory, you will receive a comprehensive tool to quickly diagnose areas of your life that are out of balance and how to course-correct them. This resource is uniquely geared towards educators, and the session will include a 20 minutes guided exercise that you can complete and gain immediate insights. Don't worry; there will be no "sharing out" of results! You will leave the session feeling empowered to set yourself up for success and a more positive teaching experience.

4:00pm Eastern

Music is for Everyone: 10 Engaging Songs for Young Children

with Debbie O'Shea

Join us for an interactive session exploring 10 engaging songs and rhymes for Early Childhood Music Education! Drawing from Music is for Everyone, this workshop will provide practical, hands-on activities that bring each song and rhyme to life.

Learn how to teach the songs and rhymes effectively, incorporate movement and play, and adapt them for different developmental stages. Whether you're an educator, parent, or caregiver, you'll leave with fresh ideas to inspire young children through the power of music. Let’s make music together!

9:00am Eastern

Purposeful Pathways Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom

with Roger Sams & BethAnn Hepburn

The Purposeful Pathways model blends Orff, Kodaly, and eurhythmics pedagogical processes. This session will model how the Purposeful Pathways model empowers the teacher to make their curriculum planning choices, decide what their students need, and how to ebb and flow between being the teacher as a musical model to the teacher as the facilitator of student-created experiences.

This session will model how to sequence musical experiences and give suggestions for curriculum planning: What does a typical weekly lesson look like? How do you mix and match the Pathways to create a logical sequence? How do you get your Sunday evenings back? Ideas for putting it all together will be shared and how to make the journey on each pathway joyful!

We are very thankful to have Music Is Elementary sponsoring this session of the Elementary Music Summit®.

10:15am Eastern

Culturally Responsive Teaching in a Multicultural Society

with Rachel Ammons

We all know that books and music can - and should - serve as mirrors and windows for students. We want students to feel reflected in our curriculum and to be able to expand their horizons by looking into new cultures. Some teachers, however, have the question: How do I teach music outside of my culture? Or, alternatively: CAN I teach music outside my culture? In this session, we will dive into the benefits of culturally responsive teaching, resources to use in your lesson planning, and how to avoid accidentally falling into cultural appropriation territory. Please note: This session will be presented by and coming from the perspective of a white woman teaching in a multicultural district.

11:30am Eastern

The Itinerant Music Teacher's "Survival Guide"

with Renée Gehlbach

In this session, Renée will discuss practical advice for teaching music as an itinerant educator, including: essential supplies which she have found useful for teaching "on the go," how to solidify your class expectations when seeing students only 1-2 times per week, and adapting singing games for spaces where students have limited space for movement.

1:30pm Eastern

Sing, Move, Play, and Create with MusicFirst Elementary

with Mary Birkner, PhD & Melanie Alexander, NBCT

Whether you’re an experienced teacher looking for something fresh or new to teaching and building your toolbox of lesson materials, you will not want to miss exploring MusicFirst Elementary! New on the scene, this general music curriculum provides lesson activities, beautifully scored music, and carefully curated resources that are easy to use creatively in any setting.

Looking for new repertoire, interactive projects, games, or innovative ways to present material? How about Orff and Kodály resources, ukulele and recorder materials, or musical productions? Whatever your focus, singing and active music making are at the heart of this curriculum.

Designed around the National Core Arts standards, the spiral design of MusicFirst Elementary promotes active music making in every unit of work.

In addition to its curriculum, you can access Creative Tools that allow students to create music in a variety of ways. You’ll even find a kid-friendly DAW that can be used to make music, score movies, and explore sound.

With the ability to customize lessons and units, YOU get to decide how the curriculum best supports your strengths as a teacher and best meets the needs of YOUR students. No matter your situation, MusicFirst Elementary has something for everyone!

2:45pm Eastern

Little Notes, Big Ideas: Music Making for Young Minds

with Elizabeth Gaskill, Ed.S.

Sometimes creating opportunities for composing and improvisation in the lower grades can seem daunting and too large of a task. In this session, we will explore activity ideas that allow our youngest musicians, prekindergarten through 2nd grade, a variety of bite-size opportunities to improvise and compose music.

By using a collection of hands-on materials and incorporating various elements of music including movement, rhythm and melody, these activities will give an extra spark to your young musicians and further establish the music room as the place where they can see their little notes expand into big musical ideas!

4:00pm Eastern

It's Possible! LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Elementary Music 

with Kelly Ruggieri

This presentation aims to support elementary music educators in fostering a welcoming environment for students within the LGBTQ+ community. Drawing from Kelly's qualitative research conducted as part of her thesis at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, we will explore the significant role of inclusivity in elementary music.

Taking teachers’ range of comfort levels into consideration, this session will provide age-appropriate resources and actionable strategies to promote inclusivity in your classroom. Join us to strengthen your confidence and abilities to create a welcoming and supportive space for all students.

7:00pm Eastern

Curriculum Mapping Post-It Party (AAP Exclusive)

with Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed.

In this hour-long guided co-working session we will work through the brainstorming and organization needed to start a high-quality curriculum map. By the end of the hour you'll have a yearly curriculum map for a target grade level finished. 

This co-working session is reserved for those who have upgraded their ticket to the All-Access Pass and members of Elementary Music EDGE™. The link to join us on Zoom will be sent out via email to AAP holders and the replay will be added to the AAP resources.

9:00am Eastern

Smooth Start Symphony: Strategies to Build a Strong Foundation for a Successful Year!

with Bill Henry

As we embark on a new school year, the initial moments can truly shape the journey ahead. Discover effective strategies to ensure a seamless start, while also uncovering fun resources designed to engage kids and simplify your planning experience. Let's make this year not just smooth, but memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved!

10:15am Eastern

Help! Preschool and Kindergarten Have Been Added to My Schedule!

with Amy M. Burns

Are PreK, kindergarten, or early childhood music classes part of your schedule, but you’re feeling a little unsure about how to make those lessons sing? You’re not alone — and this session is here to help!

Join Burns as she shares her favorite tried-and-true activities, resources, and lesson ideas from over 25 years of joyful music-making with PreK students. Whether you're new to teaching little ones or just looking to add fresh ideas to your repertoire, you’ll leave with practical tools and confidence to make your early childhood music classes a hit. Come discover how magical (and manageable!) teaching music to young learners can be!

11:30am Eastern

We're in the Money: A Survivor's Guide for Grantwriting

with Jonathan Wyatt

Explore the essentials of grant writing, specifically geared towards music education. We will provide samples for how to gather data and how to tell your story in a narrative. This session is lead by a real-life general music teacher, who has used grant funding to supply his classroom to more effectively reach his community through music.

1:30pm Eastern

Are Uke Integrating Ukulele Yet?

with Analisa Byrd

Attendees will delve into the ukulele as an elemental instrument and its significance in elementary music, such as providing a unique learning experience and fostering creativity, coordination, and expression. They will learn how to choose curricular goals based on melody (finger picking and simple songs), chords/progressions and strumming, and integrating ukulele with singing. They will be provided with physical/online resources, teaching materials, and technology to guide them on how to reach their specific curricular goals.

Byrd will share proven teaching methods, including demonstration/imitation, step-by-step instructions, group activities, and individual/self-paced practice. Attendees will also receive modifications/accommodations and inclusive strategies to help differentiate instruction for varying skill/cognitive levels and physical attributes. Finally, teachers will learn to evaluate student success and their teaching methods to improve future learning.

2:45pm Eastern

Choose and Use a School Sound System

with Scott Panfil

A one-hour master class designed to help educators select, set up, and troubleshoot sound systems with confidence. Music teachers are often expected to be the go-to experts on their school's audio equipment, yet they enter the profession with little to no formal training on the subject. Music schools rarely prepare graduates for the practical challenges of using microphones, speakers, and mixers in real-world school settings.

This session will bridge that gap by covering essential topics like choosing the right microphone, selecting cost-effective speakers and mixers, properly connecting audio equipment, and understanding power requirements. Participants will also learn how to prevent and fix common issues like microphone feedback, as well as best practices for microphone handling, speaking techniques, and gain-staging. Sound equipment tends to look complicated, but is based on simple concepts. With a little base-knowledge, music teachers can operate any system they come across.

4:00pm Eastern

Sing it, Say it, Dance it, Play it

with Susie Davies-Splitter

An Orff-based approach integrating speech, song, story, body percussion, movement and percussion instruments. Easy and appealing music that is immediately accessible and filled with fun. Have your children jumping for joy with material that inspires them to sing, move, dance, listen, create and play instruments.

Please note: Due to speaker availability, this session has been pre-recorded and will be broadcast live on the Main Stage.

9:00am Eastern

Fab Five: Quick & Engaging Music Activities for the Last Five Minutes

with Rainy Barton

Have you ever finished a lesson early and wondered how to make those last five minutes meaningful and productive so that you do not lose your students- then this workshop is for you! In Fab Five, I will be sharing a variety of no-prep, high energy music activities that reinforce musical concepts while keeping your students engaged until the last second of class. All of these activities will require minimal materials or prep, but will utilize maximum engagement. Get ready to play, sing, and move—because every minute counts!

10:15am Eastern

We ALL Make Music: Active Inclusion of Special Needs Students

with Emily Brackney

EVERY child in the elementary music room can be an active and successful learner when the classroom and lessons are structured to facilitate this. Strategies to help special needs learners often benefit everyone.

Brackney will present kid-tested ways to teach songs, movement and instrumental pieces that allow ALL students to be involved at their level. She will demonstrate how tangible tools give visual guides, adding layers and giving options helps with cognition and student anxiety, and our "village" at school is invaluable. She will also discuss modifications for recorder, Orff instruments, and choir.

11:30am Eastern

Bullseye! Hit the Mark with Classroom Management that Builds Student Confidence!

with Amber Hann

Students are constantly chasing moving targets. They go from homeroom teachers, recess aides, other specials classes, lunchroom expectations, extracurricular activities and more. All the while, they have to continually remember expectations, goals, content and more from various places and adults. How do we set them up for success in our classroom and hit that bullseye of engaging, controlled chaos more often? In our music corner, we can create consistent, repetitive, and engaging routines to help students thrive. Join me as I share the lessons learned from years of trial and error—insights that have helped my classroom succeed.

1:30pm Eastern

From Solfege to Song

with BethAnn Hepburn

This session is designed to model processes for daily practice to utilize solfege for developing partwork with young singers. We will explore how to begin with ideas to explore using solfege aurally to develop independent singers, and then an additive process from a solfege additive approach to learning a melody. This makes sight-reading integral to your approach to a song, rather than a stand-alone warm-up. Three examples of regular practice of solfege in warm-ups and an additive approach to skeletal harmonic solfege to learn melodies and descants with two song examples will be shared.

2:45pm Eastern

Feel the Beat: Creative Rhythm Resources for Early Elementary Music

with Stephanie Leavell

Join music therapist Stephanie Leavell, founder of Music for Kiddos, for an engaging presentation filled with creative songs and activities that immerse children in the joy of rhythm. Through imaginative exercises and adaptable techniques, kids will explore rhythm in a fun and meaningful way, enhancing their musical experience while fostering creativity and self-expression.

4:00pm Eastern

Elevate Your Music Teaching Skills: Four Decisions for Elementary Music Specialists

with Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed.

In this keynote training, Bryson will delve into the vital aspects of curriculum and planning in elementary music education. Explore the importance of creating a song list as the foundation for a successful program, and weigh the benefits of pre-planning over the summer versus building it dynamically throughout the school year. Gain insights into effective strategies, decision-making processes, and best practices that empower educators to create engaging and comprehensive music education experiences for their students.

5:15pm Eastern

The Elementary Music Summit® Closing Call

with Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed.

Join us for the grand finale of the Elementary Music Summit®, our Closing Call! As we bid farewell to an incredible event filled with inspiration, growth, and connection, we'll reflect on the highlights, celebrate our accomplishments, and set our sights on the exciting future ahead as we reveal to you a secret project we've been working on behind the scenes! 

Don't miss this final opportunity to come together as a community and leave the summit feeling empowered and ready to take your music teaching journey to new heights. Let's make this closing call a memorable celebration of our shared passion for elementary music education!