2027 AMEA Conference

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Ready from Day One: 10 Steps to Foster Success When Leading Your Own Music Class

David Pope

9:15 AM — 10:05 AM

Forum G

This session will provide music education students and novice teachers with 10 immediate steps they can put in place to overcome common pitfalls for young teachers. Attendees will discuss classroom routines, administrative tasks, building student rapport, and work-life balance to ensure their first year in the classroom is successful.

Proactive Problem Solving in Band and Orchestra: Strategies for Fixing Common Issues

David Pope

3:30 PM — 4:20 PM

Forum D

This interactive session will help band and orchestra directors identify, isolate, and teach common technical struggles-including note reading, range expansion, reading & performing rhythm, and aural training. Attendees will learn strategies to easily integrate rote exercises, print materials, and technology into rehearsals to create a proactive, problem-solving environment.

At Any Level: Developing Comprehensive Music Literacy Skills

Dr. Chantae Pittman

3:30 PM — 4:20 PM

Forum C

This session equips choral directors with practical tools to boost music literacy through sight-reading, theory, and ear training. Learn step-by-step strategies and adaptable mini-lessons for all skill levels to build fluent music reading from day one in your rehearsal room.

Friday, January 22, 2027

Empowering Your Students: Rehearsal Strategies That Build Leaders and Independence

David Pope

9:00 AM — 9:50 AM

Forum D

Transform your rehearsal by shifting ownership from the teacher to students. This session offers classroom-tested strategies that reduce the teacher's role and empower K-12 instrumentalists. Learn to incorporate leadership, small-group problem-solving, and diagnostic strategies into your rehearsals. Leave with a toolkit that builds independent musicians who improve their own performances.

Saturday, January 23, 2027

Winning the Rehearsal: Strategies to Gamify and Energize Your Orchestra

David Pope

8:00 AM — 8:50 AM

Forum D

This interactive session introduces classroom-tested strategies like gamification and "hidden repetition" to teach string skills while avoiding student burnout. Attendees will depart with ready-to-use games, innovative exercises, proven rehearsal strategies, technology resources, and a shopping list of props that can be immediately implemented in their classroom to maximize student engagement.

Cultivating the Bow Arm to Improve Tone Quality & Musicianship

David Pope

9:15 AM — 10:05 AM

Forum D

Playing with a good sound is vital to keeping students excited about learning a string instrument. If students like their sound and tone quality, they will want to continue playing in orchestra. In this session, we will discuss the fundamentals of tone production, bow usage/distribution, articulation, and tone color, enabling students to perform with beautiful tone quality from their first year in orchestra to their last.