2024 Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference

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• Access the 2024 Biennial NAfME Conference program overview guide
• Access the 2024 Biennial NAfME Conference detailed program (searchable PDF – program as of September 4, 2024)

The 2024 Biennial National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Music Research and Teacher Education Conference will take place September 25-28, 2024, at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Biennial NAfME Conference welcomes the participation of future, current, and retired music educators, music teacher educators, administrators, and community and corporate partners who are passionate about the critical role of music education for all. With the NAfME Strategic Plan and A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession as guideposts, attendees will benefit from current research, policy discourse, and dialogue concerning the human experience in music teaching and learning. Add your voice to the conversation and join in moving the culture of music education forward by attending!

Learn more about this event, register for the conference, and book your hotel reservation today!

 

Conference Registration

Registration is required to attend this event. Register now at 2024 Biennial NAfME Conference registration.

Hotel Information

Make your hotel reservations early! Conference registration fees do not include hotel stay. Attendees must book their own hotel reservations. The NAfME room block rates per night are $225 (Single), $245 (Double), $265 (Triple), or $285 (Quad) at the Westin Peachtree Plaza, 210 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia, which includes Wi-Fi in the hotel room. Hotel room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes in effect at the time of checkout.

Book your room today at The Westin Peachtree Plaza by calling 1-800-937-8461 or by using the reservation link https://book.passkey.com/e/50682068. The deadline to make your reservation was extended to September 1, 2024. Sign up for a free Marriott Bonvoy membership to obtain complimentary Wi-Fi in your guest room. 

Conference Schedule

NAfME will post regular updates with more details about the conference as they become available.

Wednesday, September 25

• Onsite registration opens
• Preconference Forum
  Transforming Music Teaching and Learning Together
  This forum offers four sessions across two strands which are designed to engage attendees in meaningful discussions and group tasks toward transforming and strengthening the profession.
  • Cultivating Leadership from the Beginning

• • • 1:00 – 1:50 PM      Tapping the Potential of Pre-Service Music Teachers (Steve Kelly, Nick Matherne, Majoris Regus, Robert Bryant)
      This session will be an interactive conversation with attendees, discussing how the profession can and should draw on the energy, enthusiasm, brightness, and imagination of undergraduates as they pursue a career in music education. Attracting, educating, and retaining more potential undergraduates from a variety of backgrounds and experiences with an eye toward remodeling music education curricula will be addressed.
    • 2:00 – 2:50 PM       Championing Early Career Music Teacher Educators (Linda Thornton, Krissie Weimer, Greg Springer, Roy Legette)
      This session will be an interactive conversation with attendees, discussing implementable ways to approach improving the experience of all early career music teachers, particularly those in years 1-5. Special attention will be paid to identifying the advantages of teaching students in underserved communities as well as in rural and geographically distanced schools. Ways to connect veteran and novice music educators in meaningful ways will be discussed.

• • Unity, Strength, and Community in Music Education

• • • 3:00 – 3:50 PM      Succeeding Together Through Mentorship and Affinity Groups (Matt Koperniak, Shane Coquhoun, Johnathan Hamiel)
      This session will be an interactive conversation with attendees, discussing the benefits of mentorship for all – mentors and mentees. Models of mentoring processes will be shared and suggestions for implementing helpful mentoring programs will be solicited. The value of affinity groups will have a strong focus in this session, especially as it relates to belonging, shared life and work experiences, and strength through professional camaraderie.
    • 4:00 – 4:50 PM       Drawing on the Power of Partnerships (Cecil Adderly, Emily Marcado, Kelly Parkes, Amanda Karhuse, Scott Sheehan)
      This session will be an interactive conversation with attendees, discussing the wellspring of resources and support that can come from developing strong relationships between educators and partners who share similar vision and goals. Working effectively together will be a primary focus along with productive means for starting and nurturing robust alliances with music teaching and learning as the centerpiece.

• Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) and Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE) meetings; NAfME journal editorial committee meetings

Thursday, September 26

• Presentation and poster sessions (starting 8:30AM ET)
• NAfME strategic sessions, including sessions focused on the NAfME A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession and Strategic Plan focused on:
  • What It Means to Be a Music Educator Today
  • Working with Faculty to Effect Curricular Change
  • Planning and Realizing Research toward Blueprint Goals
• Welcome reception
• Keynote Speaker: Omar Thomas, acclaimed jazz musician, educator, arranger, and award-winning composer

Friday, September 27

• Presentation and poster sessions (starting 8:30AM ET)
• NAfME strategic sessions (continued)
• Plenary Session: SRME Business Meeting and NAfME 2024 Senior Researcher Address by Christopher Johnson, Professor of Music Education and Music Therapy at the University of Kansas

Saturday, September 28

• Presentation and poster sessions (starting 8:00AM ET)
• NAfME strategic sessions (continued)

Conference FAQ

Presenters

NAfME staff have been in regular communication with all presenters. If you are a presentation or poster session presenter and have a question, please contact John Donaldson at johnd@nafme.org.

Airport, Local Transportation, and Parking

• The Westin Peachtree Plaza is located at 210 Peachtree St. NW, in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, about 10 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
• The closest subway station is MARTA-Peachtree station, which is about a 2-minute walk from the hotel. Rideshare services and taxis are also available from the airport.
• Parking at the hotel is valet only, at a daily rate of $55.00.

Local Restaurants, Activities, and Amenities

• Learn about restaurants at The Westin Peachtree Plaza and near the hotel.
• Visit Discover Atlanta to learn more about Atlanta, including things to do and places to eat.

Conference Planning Committee

• Deb Confredo, NAfME President and Conference Chair
• Scott Sheehan, NAfME Immediate Past President
• James Daugherty, Immediate Past President, Southern Division; NAfME National Executive Board Executive Committee Member
• NAfME Music Teacher Profession Advisory Committee Co-Chairs
  • Cecil Adderley, NAfME President-Elect
  • Carlos Abril
• Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) Conference Co-Chairs
  • Wendy Sims, SRME Chair
  • Philip Hash, SRME Chair-Elect
  • Beatriz Ilari, SRME Executive Committee member
• Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE) Conference Co-Chairs
  • Ann Marie Stanley, SMTE Chair
  • Jay Dorfman, Immediate Past Chair, SMTE Communications