NAfME 2020 Request for Proposals
for PreK–12 Conference Sessions

Amplify 2020: Bringing the Future into Focus

November 4–8, 2020
Orlando, Florida

November 1: Call for Proposals Open
February 3: Proposals Due
Feb 5–26: Review Proposals
March 15: Acceptance Notice

In 1999, MENC, the precursor to NAfME, hosted the Housewright Symposium, drawing together teachers, music supervisors, advocates and researchers into a discussion about where music education was headed in the 21st Century. The outcome of the Symposium was Vision 2020, where music education was examined in community, across cultures, via standards-based learning, and with technology, among other topics.

As we reach 2020 with music education still strongly part of American public schools, what should we celebrate about music education today? Knowing that not all students have access to music education, and that access is often equated with tradition, funding, and privilege, what must we address to strengthen music education for all students moving forward? What can we forecast about the future direction of music, of education, of society, that will impact music education over the next three decades?

Guidelines for Proposals: 

The following questions about the next decade of music education should be used to focus the proposals:

1. What do music educators need to do to achieve total student participation by 2030?
2. What current music-making practices are potential precursors to music-making practices in 2030?
3. What are the current reforms and movements that will shape the educational sphere of 2030?

Amplify Themes: 

Amplify themes have been determined with guidance from Vision 2020 and the 2014 Music Standards. Cliff Madsen, in the Vision 2020 preface states, “society, technology, and music will always be in constant flux, necessitating continuous attention from concerned professionals; lack of personal involvement will surely erode the hard-fought accomplishments of the past.” The Housewright Declaration stands true today as to the importance of music education and what to consider to keep music at the forefront of educational reforms.  

• Amplify: Change – What is needed to advocate, collect data, and influence decision-makers? How do technological, societal, educational, and professional expectations for teachers in the classroom influence the profession and student learning? 
• Amplify: Music for Life – What role can schools and music educators play in creating a music-centered community that fosters lifelong music-makers?
• Amplify: All Music, All Students – How does music education reach all students, those currently in music classrooms and those who are not? Refer to NAfME Equity and Access Position Statement.
• Amplify: Creating and Responding – What can music educators do in their classrooms to engage reflection, creativity, and critical thinking, that ensures lifelong music making?
• Amplify: Student Centered Learning – How do we co-create music education experiences with students while maintaining rigor and relevance?
• Amplify: Urban Music Education –How do music educators in urban settings support, educate, and meet the needs of all students given the varying environments?
• Amplify: Rural Music Education – How do music educators in rural settings support, educate, and meet the needs of all students given the varying environments?
• Amplify Inspiration Showcase – In addition to the Amplify themes, there will be a showcase of high-quality classroom practices in an informal, “poster session” format.

2020 Call for Proposals Guidelines:

• Each proposal submitted must connect with only one Amplify strand. While we realize that high-quality instruction should overlap in multiple areas, please select the strand that best fits the focus of your content. Multiple proposals are welcome.
• Sessions must be hands-on, standards-based, interactive, and engaging.
• Multiple presenters per proposal are welcome.  
• Proposals are welcome in all existing and expanding pathways of PreK–12 music education.
• Address the barriers identified in the NAfME Equity and Access, and the NAfME Inclusivity and Diversity Position Statements. 
• Provide information about when and where this session was previously presented, if applicable. 
• All sessions will be 60 minutes.
• This call for proposals is for individual, member-proposed sessions only. If you are interested in corporate-sponsored session opportunities, please email Ashley Wales (ashleyw@nafme.org) for more information.
• Those submitting the proposal must be a member of NAfME at the time of submission, and if accepted, presenters must be members of NAfME at the dates of the conference, November 5–7, 2020. Please join/renew here.
  • Exceptions to the membership requirement may be made by the President of NAfME for individuals whose areas of expertise are outside music education.
• We are committed to representing diverse voices at our conference. We encourage those who identify as people of color, gender nonconforming, having a disability, LGBTQIA+, and other under-represented members to apply.  
• NAfME encourages professionals of all ages and experience levels to submit and values the diversity this brings to our events.

Presentation Outline Requirements:  

1. Select which Amplify theme best addresses your presentation. Realizing that high-quality instruction should overlap to multiple areas, please decide the theme which best supports your session focus. (Drop down menu of Amplify themes).
2. Explain how your session addresses the selected Amplify theme. (75 words)
3. Identify specific learning objectives. (75 words)
4. Bullet the sequence of your presentation outline. (300 words)
5. Explain how your presentation impacts the future of music education. (Vision 2020). (75 words)
6. Identify how attendees will actively engage in your session as a part of their professional learning. (75 words)
7. Identify action items or strategies that attendees will take with them that will impact instruction. (75 words)
8. Identify the 2014 Music Standards used in your presentation. (300 words)
9. Identify what technology will be integrated into your session, if applicable. (75 words)

Address the barriers identified in the NAfME Equity and Access, and/or Inclusivity and Diversity Position Statements. In addressing the Inclusivity and Diversity Position Statement, specifically identify how you will intentionally address diversity — those who identify as people of color, gender nonconforming, having a disability, LGBTQIA+, and other under-represented community members. (75 words)

Application Steps: 

1. Complete presentation requirements through the online application. 

    Each of the requirements will have a separate section with word count limitation. 

2. Record and provide a link to a 2-minute video created specifically for this proposal.
   

• • Uploaded videos should identify how you intend to engage the audience, strategies and key objectives of the presentation.
  • The video should be uploaded to the platform of your choice (Google Drive, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) with a link provided that allows individuals with the link access to the video. Proposals with broken video links will not be considered. 
  • Those submitting a proposal for inclusion in the Amplify Inspiration Showcase only are not required to submit a video. If you are submitting one proposal but would like to be considered for a presentation and the Showcase, a video is required.

Timeline:

November 1: Call for Proposals Open
February 3: Proposals Due
Feb 5–26: Review Proposals
March 15: Acceptance Notice

If you have questions about or problems with the submission process, please contact JJ Norman (johnn@nafme.org).

Please note the following: 

1. The NAfME Professional Development Committee reserves the right to select session proposals that best address the given criteria.
2. Accepted proposals will be invited to submit a webinar for inclusion in NAfME Academy.
3. NAfME will provide the following for all session rooms: LCD projector, screen, microphone, and audio playback equipment. Additionally, instruments may be requested through the online application.
4. For the Amplify Inspiration Showcase, NAfME will provide 3 feet of cloth-covered tabletop for the presenter. The presenter can bring a tabletop poster to display or use an iPad/computer/digital device. No power will be guaranteed; therefore, presenters should come prepared with power to last for 90 minutes during the Showcase. Please download documents/videos in advance, as Internet connectivity is not guaranteed.

Click here to view the rubric for evaluating Amplify 2020 session proposals.

Click here to submit.

Call for proposals for 2020 biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference