The Drum Set: View from the Throne
Daniel Dufour
Lecturer in Drum Set

DuFour will present a drum set clinic that focuses on the role of the drummer in a big band and combo setting.

Conversations on Research and Graduate Education
Amy Simmons, presider
Associate Professor of Instruction in Music and Human Learning

Join this interactive session featuring small-group discussions about research, graduate study, or careers in higher education. Research Poster Session presenters are encouraged to share their work with small-group leaders and receive feedback about their talk prior to the poster session. Attendees are welcome to network with university music education faculty to learn what graduate education has to offer. This session is designed to address individual needs of those who attend.

Teaching in Sync with How Learners Learn.
Robert A. Duke
Professer of Music and Human Learning

Designing experiences in ways that reach all learners, not only the best and the brightest, leads to more positive experiences for students and teachers alike. Duke will discuss how some approaches to music instruction inadvertently inhibit learning and will examine effective methods of sequencing instruction that help all students become the best musicians they can be. 

College Division Research Poster Session
Amy Simmons, presider
Associate Professor of Instruction in Music and Human Learning

Selected authors present their research at this informal session where attendees can learn about the research and discuss applications to music teaching. Details on selected research will be included in the app and the convention program.

The University of Texas Wind Ensemble in Concert
Jerry F. Junkin, conductor

College Division Research Poster Session Display
Amy Simmons, presider
Associate Professor of Instruction in Music and Human Learning

The research selected for the annual College Division Research Poster Session will remain on display for review. Details on selected research will be included in the app and the convention program.

Showcase: University of Texas at Austin Clarinet Choir
Tyler Webster, director

Enjoy this cosmic-themed program, including Zimmer's Interstellar (arr. Marianno), Holst's Jupiter arranged for clarinets, Jonathan Russell's playful Evil Robot Spooky Space Jam, and a world premiere inspired by deep space.

Preparing for Success on the TExES Music and PPR Exams
Laura Bock
Ph.D. candidate in Music and Human Learning

with Shauna Pickens, Texas Tech Univesrity

Preparing for the Texas music teacher certification exams can be daunting. Pickens and Bock will provide helpful information about registration, preparation, and success on the TExES Music and PPR exams.  The session will include practice questions, small and large-group discussions, and access to a list of study resources. 

Embracing Failure: The Skill-Building Process of Success
Clifton Croomes, presider
Associate Director Of Bands

with Jason Younts, Champion High School, clinician

Younts will share his methodology for skill building to facilitate student success and independence in the classroom and beyond. Failing, with effort, is a required component of the learning process, yet it is frequently programmed out of educational settings. Learn to facilitate sustainable effort in all students throughout the learning process with a consistent approach.

The Creative String Orchestra
Marissa Guarriello, clinician
Assistant Professor of Music and Human Learning

with Sarah Gulish, F-flat Books | Matt Shaffer, Mount Nittany Midde School

Want to engage your students in creative music-making but don't know where to start?  The clinicians will guide you through improvising, creating, arranging, and performing with your students.  Based on the perspective of three string orchestra educators, these proven methods will transform your music classroom into a music laboratory. 

Why Piano Education Still Matters
Martin Kesuma, clinician

with SungEun Park, Texas Lutheran University | Zachariah Davis, Texas Woman's University

Piano education fosters wellness, focus, and belonging; yet it's often the first to be cut. Drs. Kesuma and Park will share practical strategies for sustaining piano instruction with limited resources, advocating for its value, and using it as a pathway to resilience, identity, and lifelong musicianship in today's music classrooms.