2026 NYSSMA Winter Conference

Friday, December 4, 2026

Trumpet Diagnostics: Training Your Ears and Eyes for Better Trumpet Teaching

Aaron Witek

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

CC Cascade ABC

Sharpen your diagnostic skills to identify and address common trumpet performance issues through focused listening and observation. This session provides educators with practical tools, both with and without technology, to assess and improve tone, intonation, embouchure, range, dynamics, finger dexterity, flexibility, and articulation. Using recordings, live demonstrations, and targeted exercises, participants will explore effective strategies and recommended literature to support student growth.

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Middle School Momentum: Music for Developing Voices

Andy Beck

8:15 AM – 9:15 AM

Looking for choral music that will engage your middle school singers and is also pedagogically appropriate? This reading session highlights new repertoire designed specifically for developing and changing voices. Sing through new selections, explore strategies for choosing literature that fits your students right now, and find ways to balance fun with growth. You?ll leave with fresh programming ideas, practical teaching tips, and renewed confidence. A complimentary music packet will be provided.

The Art of 2-Part: Choral Rep for Any Age

Andy Beck

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM

Wondering if 2-part music can be musically satisfying for teen singers? It can! This reading session features engaging, high-quality repertoire that works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs. Sing through selections that balance accessibility with musical depth, and explore how the right 2-part piece can support growth, confidence, and artistry at any stage. Leave with fresh ideas, renewed perspective, and music you?ll feel proud to program. A complimentary music packet will be provided.

From Scratchy to Sublime: Strategies for Improving Tone and Intonation

Stephen Benham

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

This session will focus on strategies for helping string players perform with better tone, intonation, and articulation. Principles of tone production, timbre, and related bowing techniques will be presented. Participants are encouraged to bring instruments to play along. We will look at specific exercises and etudes that can help students understand the principles of tonal production, such as control of bow weight, angle, speed, and placement. We will also demonstrate exercises to improve intonation as it relates to tone. Designed for both the school orchestra director and the studio teacher, as well as native and non-native string players who are teaching orchestra for the first (or 20th) time.

How to Get Your Students (and Yourself) Unstuck in Rehearsals and Lessons

Stephen Benham

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Standing in front of an ensemble and knowing where to begin solving problems is a challenge for beginning teachers and seasoned veterans alike. The massive amount of information teachers monitor can be overwhelming. This session focuses on a Review of the String Systems approach ? a systematic, sequential process for problem-solving. Learn how to break down what you hear and see into manageable parts, adapt your rehearsal plans accordingly, and see success become more predictable. This approach helps teachers identify recurring problems, develop strategies for remediating them, and, even more importantly, learn to proactively plan to eliminate them over the long term. As teachers become more systematic in their rehearsing and planning, they also become more effective and efficient. This allows them to predict with more accuracy where specific problems might occur and the specific challenges of individual repertoire. Ultimately, becoming more systematic improves student learning, reduces teacher and student anxiety, and provides an environment where each student's individual learning needs are addressed.

Building the High School Sound

Andy Beck

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Strong high school choirs grow from thoughtful repertoire choices. This choral reading session highlights music and resources created for emerging ensembles?freshman and sophomore groups, smaller programs, or choirs with tight rehearsal schedules. Explore literature that supports vocal development, ensemble building, and musical growth while keeping singers engaged. Sing through selections that meet students where they are and set the foundation for success. A complimentary music packet will be provided.

The 10-Minute Orchestra Tune-Up for Intonation Rhythm and Tone

Stephen Benham

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

The opening 10?15 minutes of rehearsal can determine the success of the entire rehearsal. This session explores creative warm-up routines designed to solve common ensemble problems before they emerge in repertoire. Participants will learn practical strategies for using the first minutes of rehearsal to build tone production, intonation, bow control, articulation, and listening skills with middle- and high-school orchestra students.