NDMEA Conference Descriptions
Sunday, March 23, 2025
2:30 - 3:20pm Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
NDBDA Meeting
North Dakota American Band Directors Association Meeting
Prairie Rose 104
Latasha Thomas-Durrell
Teach Them Well and Let Them Lead the Way to the Future of Music Education. With so many changesto education and music education, it is easy to forget to consider the future beyond our ensembles and programs. This session will encourage audience members to dream of and plan for a future in music education as well. If we build it, they will come.
Maple Linden
Orchestra Reading Session I
Orchestra Reading Session I: Come sight-read new string literature, tried-and-true favorites, Editor’s Choice, and more for your ensembles – bring your instruments!
Pine Spruce
Jack Boyer
A Reflective Look at Targeted Small Group Instruction in the Elementary General Music Classroom. This session will outline my own teaching journey as I attempt to implement targeted small group instruction in my classroom to maximize learning. Find out what works, and what REALLY doesn’t, when using small groups to differentiate instruction.
Hall B
Dr. Whitney Mayo
Panel Discussion for Collegiates. This panel discussion will be for college students. Come with questions, come to listen, come with an excitement to start your own job soon! This session might be just what you need when you begin your first job in North Dakota!
3:30 - 4:20pm Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
John Warren
Dr. Peter Haberman
Dr. Jim Popejoy
Experience Is The Best Teacher. Veteran directors will share thoughts, tips, and tricks to help bands of all ages and sizes. A few of the topics to be discussed will include: the importance of literature choices; developing a plan for musical growth; how, when, and where to seek help; and analyzing your band from an adjudicator's perspective.
Prairie Rose 104
NDACDA Meeting
North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Meeting
Maple Linden
Orchestra Reading Session II
Orchestra Reading Session II: Come sight-read new string literature, tried-and-true favorites, Editor’s Choice, and more for your ensembles – bring your instruments!
Pine Spruce
Maria Draper
The "RECD" Framework - The Rural Equity-Based Curriculum Design Framework. Equitable music curriculum is an essential part of the 21st Century elementary music classroom, but it is rarely given in an easy format to the educator. In rural schools with already tight budgets, building a curriculum is often the only painstaking option. This presentation introduces “The RECD Framework” (Rural Equity-Based Curriculum Design Framework), an easy-to-use framework to build an equity based curriculum from scratch. This presentation will discuss the importance of equity-based practice, explain place -based learning in rural schools, dive into how to use the framework, and consider the implications for The RECD Framework use in the actual elementary music room setting.
Hall B
Dr. Lucas Bernier
Crash, Clatter, Ting & BOOM! This interactive session will cover fundamental techniques for cymbals, tambourine, triangle, and bass drum. These ‘accessory’ percussion instruments are often overlooked in terms of importance, playing techniques, and sound quality. With proper technique in our hands and a
characteristic sound in our ears, these instruments will enhance the sound of your band and will help you get the most out of your percussion section. Additional information will include instrument repair/maintenance, types of instruments, and warm up exercises.
6:00 - 6:50pm Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
There’s More To It Than Can Be Seen! Music educators create opportunities for their students to achieve at a higher level in every aspect of life’s journey. Let’s pull back the curtain and see what takes place before the holiday concert, or the homecoming parade. How do you define success on the annual spring trip, or at the festival showcase performance? As we all know, these are only "the tip of the iceberg.” The countless hours of unwavering commitment and disciplined dedication (by both teachers and students) often get overshadowed by the excitement of the musical presentation itself, but without them, there *is* no music to be presented. What are the key road signs to this successful destination?
Prairie Rose 104
Anne Christopherson
Just Breathe: Cultivating Resilience. Practices that center on the breath, movement and mindfulness will empower participants to increase well-being, focus, and resilience. These practices can also be adapted as class management tools regardless of subject matter.
Maple Linden
Dr. Jon Rumney
The Value of Chamber Music in the Orchestra Curriculum. Studying and performing chamber music develops listening, communication, interpersonal critical thinking, and leadership in addition to musicianship, rhythm, and intonation. All of these skills contribute to better orchestral and solo musicians. In this session, ways to incorporate chamber music into the orchestra curriculum will be discussed and sample repertoire will be given for varying levels of abilities and purposes.
Pine Spruce
General Music Meeting
General Music Meeting
7:30pm
Concert Hour I – Exhibit Hall D
Red River Concert Choir – directed by Alexander Hovey
Fargo/Moorhead Kicks Band – directed by Tim Johnson
Monday, March 24 , 2025
8:00 - 8:50am Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Jeff Scott
YOU Make The Difference. This session will focus on what is really important in our roles as teachers and how to inspire students through meaningful relationships. We will discuss classroom environments, building a culture of success and a tradition of loyalty and success.
Prairie Rose 104
Dr. Michael Culloton
Programming for Success. A workshop designed for choral music educators looking to elevate their choir programs! We’ll explore effective strategies for selecting a diverse range of music that not only captivates students but also aligns with curricular goals. Participants will learn how to source repertoire from various genres and cultures, ensuring inclusivity and broadening students' musical horizons. We'll discuss the importance of vocal health, skill levels, and the emotional connection of the music, offering tips on how to assess and choose pieces that challenge and inspire your singers. Interactive discussions will help educators leave with practical tools and resources to curate a vibrant and enriching choir experience that meets the unique needs of their students.
Maple Linden
Angela Harman
The Secret Formula for Recruiting and Retention. Rethink recruiting and retention by first cultivating a classroom culture that promotes growth. Recruiting is much more than a one time event. In this session you will learn a full framework for building and maintaining a thriving music program including vision, classroom dynamic, student mindset, active promotion, and influence.
Pine Spruce
Deb Navin
What Should I Do With K-2? Early Childhood and Early Elementary can be such an exciting age to work with. Yet, their short attention spans make it difficult to engage them for a full lesson of 30-60 minutes. Come explore ways to engage young learners so that even long lessons feel like they fly by. This session will include a variety of activities that can be brought right back to the elementary music classroom.
9:00 - 9:50am Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Jeff Scott
Becoming a Recruiting Pro. In this session, we will take an in depth look at the recruiting process, not just the actual process, but the culture and branding that leads to consistent results. While this clinic has an emphasis on beginner band recruiting, concepts discussed may be valuable to anyone building theirmusic program.
Prairie Rose 104
Dr. Michael Culloton
Principles of Conducting. A choral conducting workshop aimed at refreshing and refining your basic conducting skills! Designed for music educators at all levels, this interactive session will focus on essential techniques that enhance both your effectiveness as a conductor and the overall experience for your singers. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that cover fundamental gestures, clear communication, and expressive conducting styles. Through peer collaboration and guided practice, you'll gain new insights and tools to inspire your choir, boost confidence, and improve ensemble cohesion. Leave equipped with practical strategies to elevate your conducting and transform your rehearsals into a more rewarding experience for both you and your students!
Maple Linden
Angela Harman
Step Up Your Game. In this session, we will explore innovative ways to increase student engagement and performance through implementation of strategic games. Designed to target student needs, boost achievement, and serve as effective assessment tools, these games provide a dynamic and interactive approach to music education. Discover how to transform your rehearsals into dynamic learning environments that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and musical growth.
Pine Spruce
Deb Navin
Getting Serious About Play. Play is the work of childhood, and music is naturally playful! Come and see how play-based music instruction can promote a variety of curricular goals, develop deeper connections with our students, and provide opportunities to assess student learning. This workshop highlights fun
games and activities that are appropriate for grades PreK through 5th Grade.
10:00 - 10:50am - Exclusive Exhibit Time
11:00 - 11:50am - Keynote Speaker
Hall D
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
The Irreplaceable Value Of Music Learning. Music crosses every societal barrier around the globe; it is often coined THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. As music educators, we have the opportunity to avail our students of an artistic vocabulary, availing them to an endless treasury of expression that extends beyond the logical mind and connects to one’s heart-’n-soul. For many, we hold the key to guiding our students to tap into their endless creative potential; the teacher who “makes the difference.” Let’s focus on where we can have the greatest positive impact in our rehearsals and classes as we continue to build a culture of excellence.
1:30 - 2:20pm Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Jeff Scott
Habits for the Beginning Band Musician and their Teacher. This clinic will be focused on effective teaching strategies for the first year of band instruction, including improving rhythm counting, effective beginning of the year strategies, teacher tips and a wide variety of resources available to both students and teachers. This clinic will be helpful to all teachers of beginning musicians, but especially for those new to our profession and new to working with beginners.
Prairie Rose 104
Dr. Michael Culloton
Rehearsal Techniques and Strategies. Are you feeling stuck in a rehearsal routine? Enjoy a transformative workshop designed to inspire conductors of middle school, high school, and collegiate choirs! This session will provide fresh, creative strategies to reinvigorate your rehearsals and ignite passion in your singers. We’ll explore a variety of rehearsal techniques that foster student engagement, promote musical growth, and encourage collaboration. Through interactive exercises and group discussions, you’ll walk away with a toolbox of innovative ideas that can be immediately implemented in your rehearsals. Say goodbye to the rut and hello to a vibrant, inspiring choir experience that keeps both you and your singers excited about making music together!
Maple Linden
Angela Harman
No More Playing Tests. Recognizing the potential limitations of traditional playing tests, the session will explore alternative assessment methods that broaden the scope of influence and provide opportunities for more students to achieve success on their instruments. Attendees will gain insights into the use of practice assignments, peer assessments, and self-assessments as effective tools to measure and track student growth.
Pine Spruce
Deb Navin
Differentiated Recorders. Teaching the recorder to a full classroom of students is a daunting task. Even if the students start at the same ability, it’s amazing how quickly their skill levels diverge. If you keep plowing forward with the advanced students, you lose those who need more time to master the skills. If you go too slowly you bore the higher performing students. This presentation offers activities, ideas, and procedures that are designed to simultaneously meet the needs of all recorder students no matter where they are in their learning.
2:30 - 3:20pm - Exclusive Exhibit Time
Hall B
Dr. David Rolandson
Music Research Poster Exhibition
3:30pm
Concert Hour II – Exhibit Hall D
Gold Standard Vocal Ensemble – directed by Mike Seil
West Fargo Sheyenne Wind Ensemble – directed by James Landman
4:40 - 5:30pm Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Jeff Scott
Building Successful Habits in the Young Band. We will explore some of the most effective teaching strategies for the developing musician and ensemble, focusing on many important components of playing including timing, tone, technique, etc. we will also discuss ways to bring expression and musicianship to your ensembles.
Prairie Rose 104
Dr. Michael Culloton
Warm-ups and Tone Builders. Whether you’re a seasoned conductor or just starting out, this session will equip you with a variety of effective exercises designed to enhance vocal technique and prepare your singers for productive rehearsals. We’ll delve into a range of warm-up activities that focus on breath control, vocal agility, and tone quality, helping to foster a healthy singing environment. Participants will explore creative ways to engage singers, build ensemble cohesion, and address common vocal challenges through tailored warm-ups. You’ll leave with a repertoire of fresh ideas and practical tools to energize your choir and set the stage for successful performances. Revitalize your warm-up routine and empower your singers to reach their fullest potential!
Maple Linden
Angela Harman
Troubleshooting Tips for Strings. Come learn some great strategies that will help your beginners learn faster and accomplish more in less time. With carefully planned learning activities students will develop proper habits that ensure a solid foundation for years of string playing. Discover engaging ways to utilize class time, develop finger strength, build beautiful bow holds, create awesome tone, and introduce note-reading. Find out what props are most useful for helping beginners learn proper technique.
Pine Spruce
Deb Navin
Everyday Movement and Dance. It’s time to get moving! Movement is crucial for the overall development of today’s elementary-aged children. It is also a fantastic way for our students to gain a deeper understanding of the musical concepts they are learning in the general music classroom. Come explore diverse ways to integrate movement into your music curriculum. This workshop introduces a wide range of movement and dance activities to engage and excite students from PreK through 5th grade. Grab your dancing shoes and get ready to move.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
8:00 - 8:50am Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
Race Hoglund
Jazz for Non-Jazzers. Do you have a jazz program and you're not sure where to start or how to take it to the next level? This session will cover a step by step guide on how to recruit musicians for jazz band, rehearse effectively, program engaging music, introduce improvisation, and create a strong student culture within your jazz program.
Prairie Rose 104
Dr. Jason Thoms
Building Community Through Repertoire Selection. Dr. Jason Thoms, Founder and Artistic Director of Dakota Pro Musica, North Dakota's professional choir, leads a session on using repertoire to help build community within the ensemble and with the audience. The session will explore the importance of repertoire selection to help make the choral classroom an open and safe space for our students, choosing music that helps students explore musical concepts, and building relevance for the wider community connected to the school.
Maple Linden
NDSTA Meeting
North Dakota String Teachers Association Meeting
Pine Spruce
Jack Boyer
Ready Player One? Using Video Game Music to Provide Meaningful Assessments in the General MusicClassroom. This session will allow the teachers to become the student, as we create a video game using Google Slides (or Powerpoint) and Chrome Music Lab (please bring a device). This unit will provide opportunities to assess in three National Core Arts Standards domains for upper elementary: Create, Perform, and Respond. All templates used in the presentation will be shared for use in your own classroom.
9:00 - 9:50am Sessions
Prairie Rose 103
John Bisbee
Starting a Tri-M Chapter. The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a National Honor Society for music students through the National Association for Music Education! A Tri-M® Music Honor Society chapter opens up a world of opportunities for students who have already shown themselves to be academically capable and musically gifted. Through performance and community service, they’ll develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, compassion, and a host of other leadership skills sure to serve them well in school and beyond. Learn about how a chapter began at Williston High School and how to start your own Tri-M Chapter in your Middle School or High School!
Prairie Rose 104
Dwight Jilek
Engaging the Entire Student. Join Dr. Dwight Jilek, new Director of Choral Activities at NDSU, in exploring proven methods and techniques that keep students fully engaged mentally and physically in the classroom experience, leading to better learning, retention, and enjoyment for all. Whether you are looking for a few new tips and tricks and/or want to dive deeper into how kinesthetic activities lead to greater musicality and effective classroom management, join us! Content is geared toward secondary teachers, but concepts are applicable to all levels and school sizes.
Maple Linden
Trudy Fraase Wolf
Managing Behavior - An Administrator’s Perspective. As a principal and superintendent, I have had the privilege to observe many teachers' classrooms. Each class has different energy levels and student behaviors even when the students observed remain the same. What accounts for the difference? Is it student behavior or teacher behavior? This presentation is this administrator's observations on what effect various teacher actions have upon student behavior and how to intentionally plan, teach, and reinforce student behavior.
Pine Spruce
Amy DeWitt
Trust the Process. How am I going to teach this music concept? Why am I teaching this concept? What steps do I need to consider to achieve maximum student success? Many curriculums attempt to outline the process of teaching a concept, but often it's too simplistic and often misses critical steps in the learning journey. For this presentation, I will outline and demonstrate a process for 2-3 common folk songs used in the elementary general music classroom. The goal is to have a macro view of where the learning is going as well as a micro view of each necessary step along the way. Teachers will leave with a step-by-step guide about how to develop their own process of teaching.