2027 MMEA Midwinter Convention

February 18, 2027 - February 20, 2027

Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404

The Midwinter Convention is MMEA’s annual professional development convention. The state’s largest gathering of music educators features nationally recognized headliners, a wide variety of performances and informances, sessions from area presenters, P.I.T. Stop Sessions for practical instrument tips, an Exhibit Hall, and tons of networking. Join us for three days of professional development delivered with joy and fun! Music learning, teaching, and making in our state is diverse and vast. We belong to a vibrant and dynamic community of musicians and educators who create and cultivate musical spaces that are responsive to the needs of our students. Through the diversity of sound we find in our state, we can celebrate our differences, support and foster ideas that seek to expand and include, and amplify unique and important musical voices. We gather at the Midwinter Convention in support of our students, of each other, of our profession. We have a space to connect, share, and collaborate, where we can engage in a reciprocal process by which we learn from one another and affirm the work we seek to do. Then, we have the opportunity to turn these experiences and knowledge into action. We are living in divisive times. Connection, engagement, and action are ways in which we can push against forces that seek to divide and separate us. We are empowered to work toward a music education that is just and accessible to all, that honors the varied and beautiful ways that we can make music. We are committed to an equitable musical future that reflects the diversity of thought, pedagogy, and practices that make Minnesota such a special musical community. This is how we UNITE! To engage with these ideas requires a choice, and your choice to be here matters. We encourage you to connect, to engage, and then to act. We are MMEA.

Clinic Details

Thursday, February 18, 2027

What a Song Can Do: New 2-Part Choral Rep

Andy Beck

11:00 AM – 11:40 AM

M100 AJ

What can a song do? Build confidence, spark joy, and bring your singers together in powerful ways. In this sing-and-learn reading session, explore new 2-part choral repertoire designed especially for elementary (and emerging middle school) choirs. You'll learn what makes this music effective for young voices, gather practical teaching tips, and explore creative ideas for bringing each piece to life in rehearsal and performance. Come ready to sing, reflect, and be inspired by the impact of a well-chosen song. A complimentary music packet will be provided.

Increasing Student Engagement by Flipping Rehearsals

David Pope

6:00 PM – 6:40 PM

M100BI

Creating band and orchestra classrooms where students are empowered is vital to high-level performances. In this session, attendees will learn various rehearsal strategies that reduce the teacher's role during daily rehearsals and allow students to take over more of the rehearsal process. Shared strategies include teaching leadership skills, building in small-group opportunities, and incorporating student problem-solving into the rehearsal process. I will share how to teach students to identify, analyze, and solve common performance issues in small groups, sectionals, and as a large ensemble. As a result, students at all ability levels can learn to become leaders, gain independence, and build the confidence to become their own teachers.