Friday, October 20, 2023
Session 1 - 8:30 - 9:30am
Thompson Room
Luke McAndless-Davis
Not about nerves: surviving and thriving with an anxiety disorder in the music classroom
We all know the transformative and positive impact music can have on our mental health, but the music classroom can also be a fraught space when you suffer from clinical anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. Join me as I share my own personal story of navigating music education as both a student and now as a teacher, while managing my challenging mental health. Together we will unpack some of the misconceptions about anxiety, how it shows up in the music classroom, best practices for supporting students who struggle with their mental health, and how you can manage your own anxiety as a music teacher.
Whistler Ballroom A
Jennifer Hansen
Pop Song Arrangements for the General Music Classroom
Grade 6/7 can be the hardest grade to plan for in the general elementary music program. Jenny will share some arrangements of pop songs that work to engage upper elementary musicians. Attendees will receive access to 5 song arrangements and hopefully leave inspired to get students singing, playing, and performing. Please come prepared to play through the arrangements - a ukulele would be useful!
Whistler Ballroom B
Diana Clark and Will De Sousa - Presented by Long & McQuade
Elementary 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.
Whistler Ballroom C
Gordon Foote
Performing swing and working with the time concept.
How to have the horns and voices place notes in time and style, with jazz articulations, accents and inflections to achieve the concept. Learning to speak/play/sing in the dialect of swing. The rhythm section will also get some help here (drum feel and setups, walking bass lines, and for keyboard chord voicings, plus comping rhythms for keyboard and guitar).
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Kristina Nand
Gamifying the Classroom: Classcraft
Learn how to use Classcraft to combine the power of gamification with a variety of easy-to-use classroom management tools to make for happier and more engaged students. We will discuss alleviating the pressure from performing in front of peers and transforming it into gaining experience points (XP), working together as a team, and creating different powers and rewards/consequences. This is the most effective for middle school classrooms.
Lillooet Room
Brent Jarvis
Jazz Piano: Concepts in Harmony
This presentation addresses chord structure and voicing strategies for beginners in jazz piano. After a brief review of harmonic function, a systematic approach to chord-voicings, range, and voice-leading will be discussed. Examples will be applied to common jazz repertoire.
Upper Lobby 1
Sharon Fitzsimmons
What the Adjudicator wants to See and Hear
As an adjudicator at many festivals and currently the Chair of the Concert Band Division of MusicFest Canada, Sharon has first hand knowledge of what adjudicators want to see and hear from the bands and small ensembles that enter festivals. From entering the door to finishing the clinic , Sharon will help you in your quest to make the festival experience a great one. She will also share a list of " musts" gather from adjudicators from across Canada and the United States.
Upper Lobby 2
Becky Clark
The Seven Sacred Teachings Through the Arts
In this session, we will explore the Seven Sacred Teachings (also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings) from Indigenous culture. Learn how these topics can be approached through the primary music curriculum. A list of resources will be shared and a demonstration lesson will be taught.
Fraser Room
Kevin Hamlin - Presented by Yamaha Canada
Beginning Band: Start them RIGHT!
When beginning to learn an instrument, the first few months are critical for your students to develop proper technique and habits. This session will provide very practical solutions for the teacher to directly employ in their class; solutions that will look at each instrument and what is necessary to give your students the BEST start possible. After the session, you’ll leave with a wealth of techniques that have been developed and refined over the past 30 years. Your bands will improve greatly, as will your student's enjoyment of the instrument, leading to much stronger enrolment and retention!
Luke McAndless-Davis
Not about nerves: surviving and thriving with an anxiety disorder in the music classroom
We all know the transformative and positive impact music can have on our mental health, but the music classroom can also be a fraught space when you suffer from clinical anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. Join me as I share my own personal story of navigating music education as both a student and now as a teacher, while managing my challenging mental health. Together we will unpack some of the misconceptions about anxiety, how it shows up in the music classroom, best practices for supporting students who struggle with their mental health, and how you can manage your own anxiety as a music teacher.
Whistler Ballroom A
Jennifer Hansen
Pop Song Arrangements for the General Music Classroom
Grade 6/7 can be the hardest grade to plan for in the general elementary music program. Jenny will share some arrangements of pop songs that work to engage upper elementary musicians. Attendees will receive access to 5 song arrangements and hopefully leave inspired to get students singing, playing, and performing. Please come prepared to play through the arrangements - a ukulele would be useful!
Whistler Ballroom B
Diana Clark and Will De Sousa - Presented by Long & McQuade
Elementary 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.
Whistler Ballroom C
Gordon Foote
Performing swing and working with the time concept.
How to have the horns and voices place notes in time and style, with jazz articulations, accents and inflections to achieve the concept. Learning to speak/play/sing in the dialect of swing. The rhythm section will also get some help here (drum feel and setups, walking bass lines, and for keyboard chord voicings, plus comping rhythms for keyboard and guitar).
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Kristina Nand
Gamifying the Classroom: Classcraft
Learn how to use Classcraft to combine the power of gamification with a variety of easy-to-use classroom management tools to make for happier and more engaged students. We will discuss alleviating the pressure from performing in front of peers and transforming it into gaining experience points (XP), working together as a team, and creating different powers and rewards/consequences. This is the most effective for middle school classrooms.
Lillooet Room
Brent Jarvis
Jazz Piano: Concepts in Harmony
This presentation addresses chord structure and voicing strategies for beginners in jazz piano. After a brief review of harmonic function, a systematic approach to chord-voicings, range, and voice-leading will be discussed. Examples will be applied to common jazz repertoire.
Upper Lobby 1
Sharon Fitzsimmons
What the Adjudicator wants to See and Hear
As an adjudicator at many festivals and currently the Chair of the Concert Band Division of MusicFest Canada, Sharon has first hand knowledge of what adjudicators want to see and hear from the bands and small ensembles that enter festivals. From entering the door to finishing the clinic , Sharon will help you in your quest to make the festival experience a great one. She will also share a list of " musts" gather from adjudicators from across Canada and the United States.
Upper Lobby 2
Becky Clark
The Seven Sacred Teachings Through the Arts
In this session, we will explore the Seven Sacred Teachings (also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings) from Indigenous culture. Learn how these topics can be approached through the primary music curriculum. A list of resources will be shared and a demonstration lesson will be taught.
Fraser Room
Kevin Hamlin - Presented by Yamaha Canada
Beginning Band: Start them RIGHT!
When beginning to learn an instrument, the first few months are critical for your students to develop proper technique and habits. This session will provide very practical solutions for the teacher to directly employ in their class; solutions that will look at each instrument and what is necessary to give your students the BEST start possible. After the session, you’ll leave with a wealth of techniques that have been developed and refined over the past 30 years. Your bands will improve greatly, as will your student's enjoyment of the instrument, leading to much stronger enrolment and retention!
Thank you to our Session 1 Sponsors!
Session 2 - 9:45am - 10:45am
Thompson Room
Jace Saplan & Nicholle Andrews
Conductor as Weaver: Curating Cross-Cultural Collaborations
This session will be an open and honest conversation between Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan and Dr. Nicholle Andrews on how conductors can facilitate ways to connect the broader community to music by giving voice to underrepresented composers and cultures. This will be a discussion based session where everyone is welcome to ask questions and collaborate.
Whistler Ballroom A
Susan Kiddie
RULER Workshop #2: Creative Composition in the Kodaly-Inspired, Orff, and RULER Classroom
In this workshop, a sequel to her RULER workshop from the 2022 BCMEA Conference, Susan will present how she develops sequential creative composition skills in her K-5 students within the context of her Kodaly-inspired, Orff and RULER classroom. Susan uses the social-emotional learning approach from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, RULER, as the foundation of her music program; RULER promotes emotional literacy, which includes Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions (the RULER skills). She demonstrates how she takes her students from sound to symbol, and from Orff arrangements and song games to composition manipulatives and templates, using tools such as solfege, the poison rhythm game, and the 2-line, 3-line and 5-line staff. With this approach, Susan has seen her students during the pandemic and post-pandemic become increasingly engaged and literate.
Whistler Ballroom B
Diana Clark and Will De Sousa - Presented by 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 elementary choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Whistler Ballroom C
Gordon Foote
Improvisation: combine ears, brain, technique, theory and creativity.
This will deal with tools and information students need to improvise with their ensembles. Chords/Scales, function, rhythmic concepts, blues versus cycle progressions, what works and why, what doesn't and why, experimenting/creating, and the general ideas on how to get that unfamiliar language moving.
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces - Navy - Presented by The Naden Band
How to begin your beginners: Trumpet and French Horn
Tips and Tricks to start your beginners!
Lillooet Room
Brent Jarvis
Jazz Piano: Concepts in Rhythm
This presentation addresses the rhythmic vocabulary of jazz piano with specific attention to accompaniment. Topics will include: swing, common rhythms heard in jazz music, riffs, rhythmic independence, interaction, and call and response.
Upper Lobby 1
Sharon Fitzsimmins
An Earful...a Reboot
In the reboot of An Earful teachers will be led through the process of incorporating daily music listening in their classrooms with diverse listening examples and activities. Students, with their growing knowledge of music elements, will be motivated when music is presented that speaks to them.
Upper Lobby 2
Becky Clark
A Journey Through Na’tsa’maht
What is Na'tsa'maht? How can we foster reconciliation in music classes? What does it look like to include Indigenous perspectives in the music room? In this session, I will share my journey through Na'tsa'maht, of ignorance and acceptance, and how it has transformed me personally and professionally. We will explore together what it means to include Indigenous perspective in your music class. Discover how music education can progress to include true Na'tsa'maht. A list of resources will be shared and discussion is welcome.
Fraser Room
Kristina Nand
Gamifying the Classroom: Classcraft
Learn how to use Classcraft to combine the power of gamification with a variety of easy-to-use classroom management tools to make for happier and more engaged students. We will discuss alleviating the pressure from performing in front of peers and transforming it into gaining experience points (XP), working together as a team, and creating different powers and rewards/consequences. This is the most effective for middle school classrooms.
Jace Saplan & Nicholle Andrews
Conductor as Weaver: Curating Cross-Cultural Collaborations
This session will be an open and honest conversation between Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan and Dr. Nicholle Andrews on how conductors can facilitate ways to connect the broader community to music by giving voice to underrepresented composers and cultures. This will be a discussion based session where everyone is welcome to ask questions and collaborate.
Whistler Ballroom A
Susan Kiddie
RULER Workshop #2: Creative Composition in the Kodaly-Inspired, Orff, and RULER Classroom
In this workshop, a sequel to her RULER workshop from the 2022 BCMEA Conference, Susan will present how she develops sequential creative composition skills in her K-5 students within the context of her Kodaly-inspired, Orff and RULER classroom. Susan uses the social-emotional learning approach from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, RULER, as the foundation of her music program; RULER promotes emotional literacy, which includes Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions (the RULER skills). She demonstrates how she takes her students from sound to symbol, and from Orff arrangements and song games to composition manipulatives and templates, using tools such as solfege, the poison rhythm game, and the 2-line, 3-line and 5-line staff. With this approach, Susan has seen her students during the pandemic and post-pandemic become increasingly engaged and literate.
Whistler Ballroom B
Diana Clark and Will De Sousa - Presented by 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 elementary choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Whistler Ballroom C
Gordon Foote
Improvisation: combine ears, brain, technique, theory and creativity.
This will deal with tools and information students need to improvise with their ensembles. Chords/Scales, function, rhythmic concepts, blues versus cycle progressions, what works and why, what doesn't and why, experimenting/creating, and the general ideas on how to get that unfamiliar language moving.
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces - Navy - Presented by The Naden Band
How to begin your beginners: Trumpet and French Horn
Tips and Tricks to start your beginners!
Lillooet Room
Brent Jarvis
Jazz Piano: Concepts in Rhythm
This presentation addresses the rhythmic vocabulary of jazz piano with specific attention to accompaniment. Topics will include: swing, common rhythms heard in jazz music, riffs, rhythmic independence, interaction, and call and response.
Upper Lobby 1
Sharon Fitzsimmins
An Earful...a Reboot
In the reboot of An Earful teachers will be led through the process of incorporating daily music listening in their classrooms with diverse listening examples and activities. Students, with their growing knowledge of music elements, will be motivated when music is presented that speaks to them.
Upper Lobby 2
Becky Clark
A Journey Through Na’tsa’maht
What is Na'tsa'maht? How can we foster reconciliation in music classes? What does it look like to include Indigenous perspectives in the music room? In this session, I will share my journey through Na'tsa'maht, of ignorance and acceptance, and how it has transformed me personally and professionally. We will explore together what it means to include Indigenous perspective in your music class. Discover how music education can progress to include true Na'tsa'maht. A list of resources will be shared and discussion is welcome.
Fraser Room
Kristina Nand
Gamifying the Classroom: Classcraft
Learn how to use Classcraft to combine the power of gamification with a variety of easy-to-use classroom management tools to make for happier and more engaged students. We will discuss alleviating the pressure from performing in front of peers and transforming it into gaining experience points (XP), working together as a team, and creating different powers and rewards/consequences. This is the most effective for middle school classrooms.
Thank you to Session 2 Sponsors!
Lunch Available in the River Rock Buffet and Casino: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Session 3 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Thompson Room
McKenna & Bryan Stenson
The Power of Movement: Enhancing Rehearsal & Performance through Physicalization
This session teaches how to organically incorporate movement into the choral rehearsal and performance. It will be a session of active participation focusing on creating and developing a vocabulary of gestures and strategies to maximize rehearsal time and enhance expression in performance. This session will explore free-form and choreographed movement and is geared toward directors of all age levels. Both free-form and choreographed movements hold a specific purpose to enhance the musical output of any ensemble. Participants will walk away with content they can immediately implement in their rehearsals.
Whistler Ballroom A, B, C
No Clinics
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces - Navy - Presented by The Naden Band
How to begin your beginners: Saxophone and Low Brass
Tips and Tricks to start your beginners!
Lillooet Room
Brent Kellas
Using BC’s New K-12 Student Reporting Policy Effectively in the Music Classroom
Are you concerned about how to follow BC’s new Student Reporting Policy? Does using the Proficiency Scale seem difficult and vague? Do you feel like you’re stuck in your old ways of assessing students in your music classroom? This session will be dealing with all these concerns! Brent will share his journey through learning to teach with a standards or proficiency-based mindset and will help to alleviate your worries regarding the new ministry requirements. His school district has been a pilot district for the Reporting Policy since 2018, so he has seen the challenges and the advantages of using the new assessment model. Brent is currently completing a masters of Education Leadership, and his thesis research is focused on effective educational assessment, BC’s new K-12 Student Reporting Policy, and the use of proficiency and standards-based instruction and assessment. Brent uses the Proficiency Scale with all his students from grades 8 through 12. He will explain how he sets this up and will offer some solutions when faced with converting reports to letter grades and percentages for senior students.
Upper Lobby 1
Michael Meroniuk
Exploring the Intersection of Music and Technology
Upper Lobby 2
Rossi Tzonkov
Ukulele to the Next Level
We will explore lesson structure, planning, and sequence for more experienced ukulele players: how to move beyond the strum and sing along songs, learning about advanced strumming techniques and their relation to music theory, and rhythm and notation. Includes right hand plucking technique, single-note melodies written in standard notation, and assessment and small group classroom presentations.
Fraser Room
Jen Hill, Jenn Treble & Alana Johnson
Slowing Down to Decolonize: Drum Circle & Song Sharing
Bring your drum and/or rattle (some will be provided) and enjoy some time learning drum teachings, singing, and sharing songs together. All are welcome!
McKenna & Bryan Stenson
The Power of Movement: Enhancing Rehearsal & Performance through Physicalization
This session teaches how to organically incorporate movement into the choral rehearsal and performance. It will be a session of active participation focusing on creating and developing a vocabulary of gestures and strategies to maximize rehearsal time and enhance expression in performance. This session will explore free-form and choreographed movement and is geared toward directors of all age levels. Both free-form and choreographed movements hold a specific purpose to enhance the musical output of any ensemble. Participants will walk away with content they can immediately implement in their rehearsals.
Whistler Ballroom A, B, C
No Clinics
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces - Navy - Presented by The Naden Band
How to begin your beginners: Saxophone and Low Brass
Tips and Tricks to start your beginners!
Lillooet Room
Brent Kellas
Using BC’s New K-12 Student Reporting Policy Effectively in the Music Classroom
Are you concerned about how to follow BC’s new Student Reporting Policy? Does using the Proficiency Scale seem difficult and vague? Do you feel like you’re stuck in your old ways of assessing students in your music classroom? This session will be dealing with all these concerns! Brent will share his journey through learning to teach with a standards or proficiency-based mindset and will help to alleviate your worries regarding the new ministry requirements. His school district has been a pilot district for the Reporting Policy since 2018, so he has seen the challenges and the advantages of using the new assessment model. Brent is currently completing a masters of Education Leadership, and his thesis research is focused on effective educational assessment, BC’s new K-12 Student Reporting Policy, and the use of proficiency and standards-based instruction and assessment. Brent uses the Proficiency Scale with all his students from grades 8 through 12. He will explain how he sets this up and will offer some solutions when faced with converting reports to letter grades and percentages for senior students.
Upper Lobby 1
Michael Meroniuk
Exploring the Intersection of Music and Technology
Upper Lobby 2
Rossi Tzonkov
Ukulele to the Next Level
We will explore lesson structure, planning, and sequence for more experienced ukulele players: how to move beyond the strum and sing along songs, learning about advanced strumming techniques and their relation to music theory, and rhythm and notation. Includes right hand plucking technique, single-note melodies written in standard notation, and assessment and small group classroom presentations.
Fraser Room
Jen Hill, Jenn Treble & Alana Johnson
Slowing Down to Decolonize: Drum Circle & Song Sharing
Bring your drum and/or rattle (some will be provided) and enjoy some time learning drum teachings, singing, and sharing songs together. All are welcome!
Thank you to our Session 3 Sponsors!
Session 4 - Feature Performance - 11:45am - 12:45pm
Whistler Ballrooms
Feature Performance: BCMEA Provincial Honour Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Feature Performance: BCMEA Provincial Honour Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Keynote Presentation - 1:00 - 2:00pm
Whistler Ballrooms
Taes Leavitt
Big Heart Journey for Educators - Presented by MusiCounts
Teaching music is a rewarding and enriching experience, but it can also be emotionally demanding. As a music teacher, it's essential to take care of your own well-being so that you can provide the best possible support for your students. Together, we'll explore strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and finding balance in the classroom and beyond. We'll also discuss how to support the emotional needs of your students, from recognizing and responding to signs of distress to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment. By prioritizing our own emotional health and learning to support our students in meaningful ways, we can create a positive and impactful music education experience for everyone involved.
Taes Leavitt
Big Heart Journey for Educators - Presented by MusiCounts
Teaching music is a rewarding and enriching experience, but it can also be emotionally demanding. As a music teacher, it's essential to take care of your own well-being so that you can provide the best possible support for your students. Together, we'll explore strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and finding balance in the classroom and beyond. We'll also discuss how to support the emotional needs of your students, from recognizing and responding to signs of distress to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment. By prioritizing our own emotional health and learning to support our students in meaningful ways, we can create a positive and impactful music education experience for everyone involved.
SESSION 5: 2:15pm-3:15pm
Thompson Room
Dr. Hyejung Jun
Rehearsal Techniques and Preparation
Dr. Jun will discuss how she prepares for a performance. She will focus on what a conductor needs to do before rehearsal, during rehearsal, and after rehearsal in order to achieve excellence.
Whistler Ballroom A
Jeff McPherson
Ukulele - A Great First Year
This session will cover everything you need to run a successful first-year ukulele program. We will cover warm-ups, note reading, chord playing, strumming, simple songs built for success, and incorporating the ukulele in an Orff Ensemble. Please bring your instrument! Jeff will incorporate instruction on baritone and conventional tuning.
Whistler Ballroom B
N/A
Whistler Ballroom C
Judy Lea
Ti Tis and Tas and Bears, Oh My!
Have fun teaching and exploring musical concepts through movement, poetry and storytelling. Primary teachers will receive an enjoyable jumpstart to various ways of teaching and helping students explore basic music concepts through revisiting familiar folk tales, seasonal songs, and fun rhythmic rhymes. Active participation is very much encouraged and attendees are asked to contribute their own ideas as well. You can expect to smile and laugh (and possibly get a bit of exercise!) :- ) Hand out provided.
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Danny Najjar & Friends
The Practice of Student Connection: Vulnerability & Boundaries. An Interactive Panel
Everyone remembers the formative moments that gave them an unbreakable connection to music. But as modern teachers, how do we instigate those moments? Join a panel of 7 young music educators on the threshold between 'student' and 'teacher' as they reflect on the connections they've made with students of today! Inquire as Gen-Z/Millenial teachers explore the art of boundary-setting with Gen-Alpha/Gen-Z students, and challenge yourself with first-hand accounts from teachers who are making the classroom more compassionate for today's students than it was for themselves in the '90s/2000s. Moderated by Danny Najjar, the panel (consisting of Luke McAndless-Davis, Will Cournoyer Clements, Tyler Baek, Amber Tsang, Sofia Avelino, and Adrian To) furthers the dialogue from last year's interactive panel, 'What Makes a Choir Kid?', and offers a wider breadth of accounts from both choral and instrumental focal areas. This clinic will include (and encourage!) opportunities for discussion and Q&A driven by attendees who wish to examine their teaching philosophies with recent students familiar with educative lingo and priorities. All educators are welcome.
Lillooet Room
David Flello
Jazz Programs in Schools
Comprehensive music education in the Jazz Band classes from Middle School to Graduation. Curriculum development: the scope and sequence of musical development with measurable outcomes.
Upper Lobby 1
Mandart Chan
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression - where do I start as a teacher?
This session has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Upper Lobby 2
Coalition for Music Education BC
Harmonizing Tomorrow: Exploring the Future of the Coalition for Music Education in BC
The CMEBC is seeking to reconnect with BC Music Educators and welcomes all to this exploratory meeting. Discovering where the CMEBC can be of assistance to music educators in BC can only happen if we hear from you. Please come out and make your voice heard.
Membership to the CMEBC is $25 ($15 for students) and is available to purchase from the CMEBC Marketplace Booth.
Fraser Room
Ben Litzcke
Taking the Lead: Exploring advanced musicianship and musical decision-making in ensemble settings
Conductors are forever trying to get their groups to play better together, but what exactly does that mean and why is it so difficult? Good ensemble playing is this nebulous skill that most of us seem to develop somewhat subconsciously through experience, but we could be doing much more to define and teach it in concrete ways.
This workshop will discuss:
- What skills musicians use to play well as an ensemble
- Ways to identify the source of students’ difficulties with ensemble playing
- Strategies for building students’ ensemble skills
- The role of a conductor in ensemble cohesion
Dr. Hyejung Jun
Rehearsal Techniques and Preparation
Dr. Jun will discuss how she prepares for a performance. She will focus on what a conductor needs to do before rehearsal, during rehearsal, and after rehearsal in order to achieve excellence.
Whistler Ballroom A
Jeff McPherson
Ukulele - A Great First Year
This session will cover everything you need to run a successful first-year ukulele program. We will cover warm-ups, note reading, chord playing, strumming, simple songs built for success, and incorporating the ukulele in an Orff Ensemble. Please bring your instrument! Jeff will incorporate instruction on baritone and conventional tuning.
Whistler Ballroom B
N/A
Whistler Ballroom C
Judy Lea
Ti Tis and Tas and Bears, Oh My!
Have fun teaching and exploring musical concepts through movement, poetry and storytelling. Primary teachers will receive an enjoyable jumpstart to various ways of teaching and helping students explore basic music concepts through revisiting familiar folk tales, seasonal songs, and fun rhythmic rhymes. Active participation is very much encouraged and attendees are asked to contribute their own ideas as well. You can expect to smile and laugh (and possibly get a bit of exercise!) :- ) Hand out provided.
Capilano/Birkenhead Room
Danny Najjar & Friends
The Practice of Student Connection: Vulnerability & Boundaries. An Interactive Panel
Everyone remembers the formative moments that gave them an unbreakable connection to music. But as modern teachers, how do we instigate those moments? Join a panel of 7 young music educators on the threshold between 'student' and 'teacher' as they reflect on the connections they've made with students of today! Inquire as Gen-Z/Millenial teachers explore the art of boundary-setting with Gen-Alpha/Gen-Z students, and challenge yourself with first-hand accounts from teachers who are making the classroom more compassionate for today's students than it was for themselves in the '90s/2000s. Moderated by Danny Najjar, the panel (consisting of Luke McAndless-Davis, Will Cournoyer Clements, Tyler Baek, Amber Tsang, Sofia Avelino, and Adrian To) furthers the dialogue from last year's interactive panel, 'What Makes a Choir Kid?', and offers a wider breadth of accounts from both choral and instrumental focal areas. This clinic will include (and encourage!) opportunities for discussion and Q&A driven by attendees who wish to examine their teaching philosophies with recent students familiar with educative lingo and priorities. All educators are welcome.
Lillooet Room
David Flello
Jazz Programs in Schools
Comprehensive music education in the Jazz Band classes from Middle School to Graduation. Curriculum development: the scope and sequence of musical development with measurable outcomes.
Upper Lobby 1
Mandart Chan
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression - where do I start as a teacher?
This session has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Upper Lobby 2
Coalition for Music Education BC
Harmonizing Tomorrow: Exploring the Future of the Coalition for Music Education in BC
The CMEBC is seeking to reconnect with BC Music Educators and welcomes all to this exploratory meeting. Discovering where the CMEBC can be of assistance to music educators in BC can only happen if we hear from you. Please come out and make your voice heard.
Membership to the CMEBC is $25 ($15 for students) and is available to purchase from the CMEBC Marketplace Booth.
Fraser Room
Ben Litzcke
Taking the Lead: Exploring advanced musicianship and musical decision-making in ensemble settings
Conductors are forever trying to get their groups to play better together, but what exactly does that mean and why is it so difficult? Good ensemble playing is this nebulous skill that most of us seem to develop somewhat subconsciously through experience, but we could be doing much more to define and teach it in concrete ways.
This workshop will discuss:
- What skills musicians use to play well as an ensemble
- Ways to identify the source of students’ difficulties with ensemble playing
- Strategies for building students’ ensemble skills
- The role of a conductor in ensemble cohesion
Thank you to our session 5 sponsors!
Session 6 - Feature Performance - 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Whistler Ballrooms
Feature Performance: BCMEA Provincial Honour Jazz Ensemble
Feature Performance: BCMEA Provincial Honour Jazz Ensemble