Session Descriptions
Friday, October 25

Preliminary descriptions as of September 15 - Updated October 10
Session descriptions are subject to change without notice.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

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Session 1: 8:30 - 9:30

Room: Richmond C
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Claire Oliverio
Fostering a Healthy Community of Singers
In this everchanging, gen-z driven, social-media focused world, the choir classroom continues to offer a steady constant to our singers: community. As students navigate self-discovery, ownership of learning, and humble collaboration, the choir classroom provides the opportunity for them to also engage as leaders in building their community.
This session will offer physical warm-ups, group activities, and ideas for community-building in a choir program.

Room: Richmond D
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Christina O’Brien 
Ukulele 101
If you are just getting started with ukulele in your classroom or studio, this session is for you! Learn tips, tricks and money-saving hacks to kick-start your program. Ukulele for Children author Christina O'Brien will walk you through some ways to get started and cover all of the basics such as tuning options, instrument storage ideas, classroom management, warm-up activities, free online resources, and why she NEVER starts with C, F and G chords. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion too! Tapestry Music will have some ukuleles on site, but please bring your own if you have one.
Sponsored by: Tapestry Music

Room: Richmond E
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Michael Meroniuk
​The Intersection of Music & Technology
The purpose of this clinic is to demystify recording technology and provide current and aspiring music educators with the skills to engage, create and develop confidence in this discipline. Attendees will learn the  basics of how to record, create beats, and create original music using a digital audio workstation. (DAW)  
Sample lessons templates will also be distributed ensuring that attendees have resources to utilize in their classroom and use to review material. 
Sponsored By: The New Sound

Room: Richmond F
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Tori Beil
Early Literacy in Music Class
This clinic will give you ideas and ready-to-use examples of activities you can bring into the primary music room that will help strengthen and reinforce certain pre-reading skills in your students. Even classroom teachers will walk away with some ideas on how to liven up their literacy lessons!

​Room: Richmond G
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Diana Clark (Long & McQuade)
Secondary Choral Reading Session
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician leads the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for high school choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Sponsored by: Long & McQuade

​Room: Steveston A
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Geeta Das
Innovating "Intro to Improv" Instruction
An interactive exploration of inviting and inclusive improvisation ideas you can even introduce to your beginner bands. Please bring your instruments and percussion toys and join in the fun!

​Room: Steveston B
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Steve Kaldestad
Saxophone Sound and Intonation
In this session I'll give you tips and techniques to show your saxophone students how to play with a great sound, and even play in tune! We'll discuss equipment, warm ups, breathing, and tuning approaches that will help you tame those wild saxophone sections and get everyone striving for better blend and more beautiful tones.

​Room: Steveston C
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Dr. Richard Dorfer
What Your Strings Adjudicator is Looking For

​Room: Steveston F
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Michael Beauclerc
Drum Kit: Tuning, Maintenance, and Repair
Often the most overlooked instrument in the classroom, with the loudest footprint!
Michael Beauclerc will show you simple tricks to help fix up your drumset and make it sound and function better in the classroom and on the stage.
Sponsored By: Yamaha Canada Music

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Session 2: 9:45 - 10:45

Room: Richmond C
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Vancouver Chamber Choir
Interactive Demonstration: OnSite Choral Encouragement Program for Students & Teachers
OnSite is part of the Vancouver Chamber Choir's award-winning suite of educational and outreach programming. It is designed for both students and teachers, and has been provided free of charge to participants across the Lower Mainland for over 30 years. The program offers a unique learning environment through interaction with the choir's singers and conductor. OnSite has recently been expanded to offer the option of a small group of singers (or the full choir) to travel into your school, and our staff will work directly with you to develop a fully customized workshop. Today's session is an interactive one in which you, the teachers, will act as the participants! By singing with the choir, meeting the singers and hearing of their experiences working with school choirs you will learn of the possibilities this workshop can offer to your own students, from vocal pedagogy, musicianship, ensemble singing... and even conducting technique, if that is of interest to you! The hour-long demonstration will be followed by a mini-performance of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, led by Artistic Director Kari Turunen.

Room: Richmond D
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Christina O’Brien
Ukulele. Simplified
No strumming required…(but you can if you want to!) Learn some simple strategies to make teaching ukulele easy and accessible for all learners and all teachers. Reinforce MUSIC READING on the staff, playing and listening within a group ensemble, and "musical multi-tasking" ie. playing and singing at the same time. Christina O'Brien, the author of “Ukulele for Children” will present some of her classroom tested ideas and songs that work great with students in Grades 1-6. Teachers who are new to teaching ukulele or already have lots of experience, will walk away from this hands-on session with plenty of fresh ideas to incorporate ukulele in their classes, arrange popular music, and will take home some fantastic reproducible handouts to use right away. Tapestry Music will have some ukuleles on site, but please bring your own if you have one.
Sponsored by: Tapestry Music

Room: Richmond E
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Kevin Hamlin
How to Help Your Bands Sound Instantly Better!
Want your bands to sound instantly better? Well here’s a wealth of tips and techniques that will bring about instant results, developed over the past 30 years by a National Level Adjudicator.  Put these things to use, and you (and your students!) will be noticing the difference right away!
Sponsored by: Yamaha Canada Music

Room: Richmond F
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Sabrina Brooks
Oops! I ran out of chairs! - How to set up elementary music students for success so your beginner band programs are overflowing
For over a decade, the beginner band program in Fort St. John has been overflowing to the point new classes had to be created and new facilities built. How did they do it? In this clinic we will cover everything: recruitment and retention strategies, relationship building, PR and advertising, elementary curriculum & pedagogy with band in mind, how to adapt music classes for diverse learners, and more. At the end of the case-study of my district's successes I will open to the floor for the second half of the workshop to a collective brainstorming and sharing session between all educators in the room so we can all learn & grow from each other in our recruitment efforts. The results of this discussion will be cataloged and shared to all BCMEA members to increase participation in all BC band programs.

Room: Richmond G
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Diana Clark (Long & McQuade)
Elementary Choral Ready Session
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician leads the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for elementary choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Sponsored by: Long & McQuade

​Room: Steveston A
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Geeta Das
Prepping Pros
Encouraging and nurturing your student’s confidence and enjoyment through simple and universal professional performance practices you can start from the start

​Room: Steveston B
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Dr. Anita Prest, Dr. Scott Goble, & Dr. Hector Vazquez-Cordoba
Decolonizingmusiced.ca: A website to Support the Embedding of Indigenous Perspectives in BC Music Education
In this session, we will share what 200 School District Indigenous leads, Knowledge Keepers, and music educators told us about decolonizing music education at the Everything is Connected conference in May 2022. We will provide session attendees with infographics that summarize advice to music educators. We will also share the content of our developing, interactive “Decolonizingmusiced.ca" website and ask session attendees for their ideas on what else they would like to see on the website to support them on their decolonizing journey.
Sponsored by: British Columbia Music Educators' Association

​Room: Steveston F
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Sandro Massullo
Preventative Maintenance of Woodwind and Brass Instruments
In this session we will go over how to handle, proper assembly, how to clean and maintain each instrument, mouthpiece and reed set up and all along throwing in tips on how to avoid those costly repairs.
Sponsored by: Massullo Music

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Session 3: 11:00 - 12:00

Room: Richmond C
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Mia Gazley
Careers in Music: Not Just the Obvious
A discussion/presentation on possible career options outside of performing and teaching in music, a subject that is not often discussed. This session aims to illuminate various other career paths in music that music teachers may be able to suggest and encourage their students to pursue.

Room: Richmond D
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Susan Kiddie
Diversity and Inclusion in the elementary Kodály-inspired, Orff and RULER classroom
In this workshop, Susan explores her educational philosophy on how she includes her diverse student population in both her Music classes, and her extra-curricular activities, such as the December school show, Intermediate Choir and Karate Recorder Club. From her choice of repertoire (BIPOC) to the implementation of the RULER program, an emotional intelligence program from Yale University (RULER stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating Emotion), Susan takes us through her process of embedding D & I into her practice, which results in higher student engagement, better self-regulation, improved social skills and greater academic success. It also results in the Music classroom being a safe place for all students no matter their differences in race, creed, nationality, language, values, beliefs, gender, and ability.

Room: Richmond E
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Kevin Hamlin
Practical techniques and tips for students to develop perfect tone production on their instrument.
Far better sounds and happier students! Put these time-tested tips and tricks to work, and the results will pay HUGE dividends in both your class and your band. Your students, ALL of them, will develop gorgeous tone production, be much happier with their progress, and be far more likely to carry on for multiple years in your music program!
Sponsored by: Yamaha Canada Music

Room: Richmond F
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Elizabeth Riegert
Teaching String Orchestra as a Non-Strings Musician
Let's talk about how to handle teaching a string orchestra when you haven't studied a string instrument professionally.
​Sponsored by: BCMEA

​Room: Richmond G
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

David Sabourin & Bob Rebagliati
Building a Culture for Success with your Instrumental Program: What They Didn’t Teach You in Music School
David Sabourin, along with long-time friend and colleague, Bob Rebagliati, will be leading a round-table discussion that covers creating a program culture, parent involvement, and tips from past programs that can help yours not only survive but thrive.
Sponsored by: Tapestry Music

​Room: Steveston F
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Sam Shumka & Kris Werner
Designing Our New Normal
Assessment and curriculum design under the new ministerial order using descriptor based grading.

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Session 4: 12:15 - 1:15

​Room: Richmond C
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Stuart Beatch
Queering the Choral Canon: Ideas for Programming & Repertoire
Choir is often promoted as a safe space for all singers, but the choral canon has been slow to evolve. Where can we find music that reflects the diversity of our singers – and what are the challenges we face in the process? Join composer Stuart Beatch as he shares ideas and resources for diversifying your choral programming and celebrating queer voices. It’s not just for Pride Month.

​Room: Richmond D
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Tori Beil
SEL in the Music Room
This clinic acknowledges the impact social-emotional learning can have on students, and how to incorporate SEL in your music lessons. Explore and discuss music activity ideas you can use with K-7 students to help build meaningful connections and encourage Social-Emotional Learning.

​Room: Richmond E
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Hannah Salmon
World Music: Irish Music and Dance in your Music Room
Explore the vibrant world of Irish music and dance with this engaging course designed for elementary music educators. Learn the basic steps of Irish dance and group set dances suitable for students from Kindergarten through grade 7. Discover traditional Irish songs that will captivate and motivate your students, enhancing their musical experience and participation. This workshop provides practical techniques and resources to incorporate Irish cultural elements into your classroom, fostering a lively and inclusive musical environment.

​Room: Richmond F
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Ellie Smith
Violins aren't scary, I promise!
Come and see some easy tips, tricks and tools to make String Orchestra more accessible for players. We will focus on classroom techniques for Strings, engagement tips and fun ideas to explore with your students back home.

​Room: Richmond G
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Kari Turunen
A Good Rehearsal
80-95% of the time any choir is together is spent in rehearsals. For the well-being and motivation of the singers, rehearsals are the key. Choral conducting studies concentrate mostly on gestures and musical analysis and cover rehearsing less comprehensively. This is at least partially due to rehearsal technique being very difficult to teach, and each conductor will, over time, accrue their own way of rehearsing based on following other conductors and through their own experience. But when the focus is turned to an individual rehearsal, the big murky picture becomes much clearer. This session will concentrate on how to shape an individual rehearsal, give ideas about how to approach rehearsing, address the challenges of a simultaneous individual-group dynamic, and end with some practical hints that might help avoid some structural problems that are typical for the choral setting. The session aims to be equally 
approachable for both seasoned professionals and choral conductors just finding their feet.

​Room: Steveston F
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Dr. Anita Prest, Janine Webster, and Alice Maundrell
Vital Conversations: Gender Bias in Secondary Instrumental Music Education
This is the first installment of the Vital Conversations series, where important and sometimes overlooked voices and perspectives are highlighted through stories, lessons, and conversations. This year's panel comprises three excellent educators, all of whom understand what it is like to be a woman teaching in a still-male-dominated area of the profession: directing middle and high school bands. Featuring Janine Webster, Alice Maundrell and Dr. Anita Prest, this clinic will involve panelists sharing experiences that illustrate unique issues and barriers women have faced and continue to encounter as ensemble directors. It will be a chance for attendees to learn about ideas that can help empower female directors, especially those new to the profession or young in their careers, and that can build a new, better path forward for everyone. People of all genders can benefit from discussions like these as we all have a role to play in the future of music education. Please come prepared to listen, to share, and to learn what they didn't teach you in university about sexism in secondary instrumental education.

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Session 5: 2:30 - 3:30

​Room: Richmond C
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Stuart Beatch
Reading Session: Choral Music of Stuart Beatch
Join composer Stuart Beatch as he leads attendees through a reading session of his newest works for high school and amateur community choirs. Come sing some brand-new SAB and SATB music... and take it home with you! The first 25 attendees will receive a free packet of music sponsored by Cypress Choral Music, including both published and unpublished works. 
Sponsored by: Cypress Choral Music

​Room: Richmond D
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Madeleine Humer and Duncan Frater
Why Kids Need to Sing and How to Get Started
Why singing is important for young students, how to get kids engaged in singing well, tips to teach them to sing in a healthy way. Teachers/ Musicians who may want to learn more about singing with children, getting kids to sing in a group…classroom or choir, and making it fun.  Will include information about falsetto, repertoire, harmony, warm ups, healthy sounds.

​Room: Richmond F
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Matthew Martin
Another Opening, Another Show! Putting on an elementary music production
(Repeat Session - Also presented on Saturday, Session 9)
Putting on a musical production at the elementary school level can feel absolutely daunting and out of reach. In this session, Matthew Martin will take you through the process of putting on a show. From show selection and performance rights, to casting, rehearsing, staging, costuming, technology, and everything up to the final bows, Matthew will take a step by step approach to putting on a successful show. 
​Sponsored by: BCMEA

​Room: Richmond G
Location: West Tower, Second Floor

Jonathan Krueger and Colleen Sheridan
What about my Instrument? - Extension activities for enhancing foundational skills.
​In this hands-on exploratory session Jon and Colleen will lead participants through ways to develop musicianship through extension activities that reinforce foundational concepts used in choral and band rehearsals. Special emphasis will be put on the skills associated with sight reading/singing and rhythmic literacy.

​Room: Steveston A
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Steve Kaldestad
Demystifying Jazz Soloing. Part 1: Rhythm
(Part 2: Using Melody being presented on Saturday, Session 6)
By putting more emphasis on rhythm before discussing scales and theory, I will demonstrate fun ways to get every one of your students to take the leap of faith and start improvising. While scales and theory are obviously still important, approaching improv from a rhythm-first method is a great way to get more of your students over their fears of the unknown, and onto taking part in their own creativity.

​Room: Steveston B
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Clinton Ryder
Cultivating Musicianship: Building a Strong Musical Culture Through Improvisation
Explore the transformative power of improvisation as a tool for fostering a vibrant, creative learning environment. By integrating improvisation into music education, students can unlock creativity, deepen their understanding of music theory, and improve their ability to collaborate with others. This session will focus on practical strategies for incorporating improvisational techniques into lessons and rehearsals, helping students build confidence, listen actively, and express themselves musically.

​Room: Steveston F
Location: Conference Centre, East Foyer

Michael Beauclerc
Essential Styles for Drum Kit
“How do I make this Funky?” “Why doesn’t this swing?” Michael Beauclerc will break down and demonstrate popular styles on the drumset in a simple and easy-to-replicate method.
Sponsored by: Yamaha Canada Music

​Room: Cedar Bridge
Location: Conference Centre

Scott MacLennan
Setting the tone: Warm-ups that work: Become a Lisk-ian
In the struggle to find enough time in band rehearsals to work on the chosen repertoire, a lengthy warm-up may become a low priority for music directors. To respond to this “race to the repertoire,” Dr. Scott MacLennan discusses the importance of a quality warm-up session and suggests some effective ways to set the tone for productive rehearsals with your wind band. Special attention will be given to the ideas of Ed Lisk. As well, there should be time for attendees to share their suggestions for warm-up ideas and strategies with colleagues.