APME Miami 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to the APME Miami 2026 Conference!
Here you can register and update your Sched profile. A draft schedule will be available March 1, when you’ll be able to explore sessions and build your agenda.

Questions? Visit our website or email [email protected].

Join us June 4–6 at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, as we celebrate the rhythms, relationships, and revolutions shaping popular music education.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

arrow_back View All Dates

8:00am EDT

🥐 Acoustic Café Featured Frost Performer! LIAM DEMARY

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT

Hormel Music Innovation @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
Hormel Music Innovation 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🌴 FEATURED FROST PERFORMANCE

8:00am EDT

☕️CONFERENCE CHECK IN & COFFEE

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Hormel Music Innovation @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Daily ☕️Coffee, 🍪Snacks, 📣Exhibitors, 🪘Acoustic Performances, and a space for conference goers to🛋️socialize :)

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Hormel Music Innovation 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🎉 Social

8:30am EDT

🥐 Acoustic Café Featured Frost Performer! BRIANNA BRAUN

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Hormel Music Innovation @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Saturday June 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT
Hormel Music Innovation 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🌴 FEATURED FROST PERFORMANCE

9:00am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

9:00am EDT

Using SongHub to Collaborate & Register Song Rights

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT

Volpe 103 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

❤️ Sponsor session by SongHub

Live demo of the SongHub (www.songhub.co) platform, a creative collaboration and music rights registration platform that connects Music, Film & Game Development students - who use music in their projects. SongHub is a profit center through its revenue sharing model, and serves instructors as a solution for handling collaborative assignments.

Speakers

Steve Stewart

CEO & Co-Founder, SongHub

Former Stone Temple Pilots manager. Helping musicians collaborate across film, gaming and media programs, and to register their songs properly in order to collect royalties for their work - with SongHub (www.songhub.co) Please reach out to me at [email protected]

Joe Berman

Co-Founder / COO, SongHub

Sponsors

SongHub

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

❤️ Sponsor Session

9:00am EDT

Beyond the Band Room: Assessing '21st Century Musician' Competencies in a University-Based Music Production Lab

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT

Volpe 106 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

See how the CPS/ODU SmithTech Lab School redefines music assessment! Learn to use project rubrics that measure audio engineering, digital collaboration, and computational thinking, moving beyond performance. Get a replicable framework to justify and elevate your K-12 popular music program through measurable student outcomes.

Speakers

Dr. Helen Sapieka

SmithTech Lab School Administrator, Chesapeake Public Schools

Dr. Helen Sapieka is currently the administrator of SmithTech: School of Computer Science, Innovation and Design, a Virginia Laboratory School in Chesapeake, VA. She is passionate about integrating computer science into all contents, including music, bringing a new elective, “Music... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), HPME

9:00am EDT

Teaching for Vulnerability in Popular Music Performance

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT

Volpe 102 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Vulnerability is often viewed as a liability in school music performances, but it can also be a powerful asset for musicians to forge feelings of connection amongst audience members. This presentation explores how teachers could approach discussing vulnerability in a popular music classroom for the benefit of students.

Speakers

M. W. Degan

Doctoral Candidate, Boston University

M. W. Degan is a public-school music teacher in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and a doctoral candidate in Music Education at Boston University, where he also earned Masters in Music Education and Ethnomusicology. His research interests include investigating how individuals conceptualize... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:25am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), Culture and Belonging

9:00am EDT

From Waveform to Meaning: Teaching Music in the Age of AI

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am EDT

Volpe 203 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This panel explores how artificial intelligence categorizes and represents music. The session introduces practical tools such as segmentation, mix assistants, style transfer, stem separation, and adaptive practice while offering educators critical perspectives for thoughtfully integrating AI into popular music education.

Speakers

Dylan Gorenberg

Director of Music Technology, Golden West College

Dylan Gorenberg is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, composer, and educator who has toured extensively across the U.S., EU, and U.K., performing in venues ranging from intimate clubs to arenas with over 50,000 attendees. He has also served as principal guitarist of the San Bernardino... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

👯‍♀️Panel (55), HPME

9:00am EDT

Projects in Action: Real-World Release Strategies for Music Educators and Emerging Artists

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am EDT

Volpe 207 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This panel showcases real-world release projects from classrooms and independent artists. Panelists share strategies, timelines, and case studies that demonstrate how release planning supports learning, creativity, and industry readiness. Attendees will gain practical tools for integrating equitable, sustainable release practices into diverse educational contexts.

Speakers

Kat Reinhert

Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators

Kat Reinhert is a genre-defying songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. She has released five independently produced albums and collaborated with artists like Anat Fort, Jo Lawry, Ross Pederson, Michael Leonhart, Josh Logan, Stephen Lit, and David Cook. Her songwriting... Read More →

Sarah Gulish

CEO, Songwriting for Music Education

Dr. Sarah Gulish is the CEO of F-Flat Books in Philadelphia, PA where she is also a professor at West Chester University and an active songwriter and performer with her band New Enemies as well as composer for film and musical theatre including the Broadway Musical “Amazing... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am EDT
Volpe 207 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

👯‍♀️Panel (55), Culture and Belonging

Audience Performance

9:00am EDT

🎊Jam Session!

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

PLF North 330 @ 5501 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frost School of Music Facilities

Come make music with your APME friends!

Speakers

Dr. Kristian Wahlström

PhD, Lecturer in electric guitar and band performance, Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory

Dr. Kristian Wahlström is an established guitarist and has played professionally for over 25 years in the Finnish music scene. As a freelancer, he has performed live with, e.g., Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks) and Perttu Kivilaakso (Apocalyptica) as well as recorded with Darude among... Read More →

Dr. Tom Zlabinger

Associate Professor of Music, York College / CUNY

Dr. Tom Zlabinger is an Associate Professor of Music at York College in New York City and a leading figure in popular music education, serving as Founding President of the Association of Popular Music Education's New York Chapter (APME-NY). With a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
PLF North 330 5501 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frost School of Music Facilities

🎉 Social

9:30am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:30am - 9:55am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ 5501 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frost School of Music Facilities

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:30am - 9:55am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

9:30am EDT

Authentic Drum Kit Pedagogy: New resources available for modern band teachers

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:30am - 9:55am EDT

Volpe 103 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

In this session, the authors will discuss the content and various uses for the forthcoming book "Authentic Drum Kit Pedagogy" from OUP, and share the play-along tracks and supplementary demonstration videos we created, along with other features and resources. We will also be on hand to answer questions.

Speakers

Virginia Davis

Professor of Music Education, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Dr. Virginia Wayman Davis is Professor of Music Education at thse University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and serves on the APME board. Her research interests include drums and percussion, meaningful music education practices, secondary general music, and popular music education. She... Read More →

Gareth Dylan Smith

Assistant Professor of Music, Music Education, Boston University

Gareth Dylan Smith is a drummer and Assistant Professor of Music at Boston University. Alongside his scholarly activity, Gareth has performed and recorded internationally with punk and alt rock bands and with classical pianist Austina Lee. Gareth’s solo album (of duets) – Pe... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 9:30am - 9:55am EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

10:00am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

10:00am EDT

Feed It Forward: Embedding Reflective Practice and Evaluation into Music Education Assessment

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Volpe 106 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Effective reflection and self-evaluation are critical to the development of autonomous, resilient, and progression-focused music learners. In this demonstration, I will explore how embedding structured evaluation and target-setting into the assessment process can empower students to take ownership of their learning, improve creative outcomes, and maintain forward momentum across projects.
Drawing on learner work from UAL’s Music Performance & Production qualifications, this session will showcase a practical approach to integrating ‘feedforward’ techniques into the learner journey. This model goes beyond conventional assessment by treating feedback not as a summative end point, but as a catalyst for the next phase of learning. Students are supported to reflect critically on their outcomes, identify areas for growth, and set meaningful targets - looping feedback directly into the planning of future projects.
The session will include examples of student reflections, feedback templates, and progression tracking tools used in a real-world Further Education context. I will also highlight how this approach enhances student motivation, self-efficacy, and creative agency - core values in popular music education.

Speakers

Nicolas Sykes

Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production, University of the Arts London Awarding Body

Nicolas Sykes is the Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production at UAL Awarding Body, overseeing assessment, moderation, and qualification design. As a performer, composer, and educator, he has contributed to curriculum development and innovative course design in music education... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

10:00am EDT

What Makes Songs Sound “Substantially Similar”? A Music-Generative AI Approach

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Volpe 102 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This study examines perceived musical similarity using Suno AI to generate controlled cover versions with systematic changes to pitch, rhythm, harmony, lyrics, and genre. Unlike prior work relying on simplified stimuli, this approach preserves full production fidelity while revealing that lyrics and genre transformation influence listener judgments.

Speakers

Joseph J. Avery

Assistant Professor, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami

Joseph J. Avery is an Assistant Professor at the Miami Herbert Business School, with additional appointments in the University of Miami’s Department of Psychology and Institute for Data Science and Computing, and he is an Affiliated Fellow at Yale Law School’s Information Society... Read More →

Tom Collins

Associate Professor, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Tom Collins is Associate Professor of Music Engineering at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, and Principal Investigator of the Music Computing and Psychology Lab. His research bridges music perception, artificial intelligence, and creative technologies, with applications... Read More →

Sam Courtney

Graduate Student, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Sam Courtney is a graduate student in Music Engineering Technology at the University of Miami, working under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Bennett and Dr. Tom Collins. His research interests span digital signal processing, machine learning, and acoustics. He is a member of the... Read More →

Mike Schuster

Associate Professor, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia

Mike Schuster is an Associate Professor of Legal Studies at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia. His research empirically analyzes behavior within the intellectual property system, with a growing focus on digital and AI-driven environments. His work has appeared in... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), Songwriting/Production

10:00am EDT

Building Urban Music Programs: What Colleges Aren’t Preparing You For

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Volpe 203 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Building a music program from scratch in an urban school is a challenge colleges rarely prepare educators for, and it’s a conversation we need to have. This session dives into the realities of advocacy, scheduling, community-informed design, and creating student-centered programs that thrive where music has historically been overlooked.

Speakers

Aaron Di Pilla

Music teacher, school leader, STEM Beats & Philadelphia Charter School

Known for founding and creating the STEM Beats program, Aaron began his teaching career in Holyoke, Massachusetts, an underserved urban district where he later became the music department head.
Aaron grew up in New Jersey and struggled in school, always feeling disconnected from teachers. His school’s music program wasn’t strong, but it gave him a reason to show up. Drumming became his source of confidence, and his involvement in drumlines and Drum Corps such as The... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🛠️Workshop (25), HPME

10:00am EDT

The Neuroscience of Better Practice

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Volpe 103 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This session challenges several concepts that many music educators regard as sacrosanct, such as slow practice, perfect practice, repetition, and reading music. I will be introducing neuroscience-backed practice methods for at-tempo practice, deliberately imperfect practice, and interleaved practice, and applying these methods to popular music pedagogy.

Speakers

Tim Fullerton

DMA Student, University of Southern California

Tim is pursuing a DMA in Studio Guitar at the University of Southern California, with a mission of bringing a popular music program to a university that does not have one. Splitting his time between San Diego and Los Angeles, Tim teaches and performs throughout Southern California... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🛠️Workshop (25)

10:00am EDT

Segregated Sounds: Subalternity within Contemporary Salsa Dancing

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am EDT

Volpe 207 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

A panel presentation on how contemporary salsa dance's
segregated representation
isolates marginalized identities and obscures salsa’s political history and serves to
legitimize existing hierarchies of wealth, geography, race, and status.

Speakers

Nina Gumatay Diaz

PhD Student, University of Miami

Nina Gumatay Diaz (she/her) is a PhD student studying Literary and Cultural Studies in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Miami. Prior to the program, she received her MA in English and Comparative Literature from the American University in Cairo... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am EDT
Volpe 207 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

👯‍♀️Panel (55), Culture and Belonging

10:30am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

10:30am EDT

Orchestration for Pop Creators: Adding Dorico to the Arranger’s Toolkit

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT

Volpe 203 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This session demonstrates how popular music students, comfortable with lead sheets, rhythm sections, and basic arranging, can use Dorico to add effective orchestration to their charts. It touches upon instrumental ranges and transpositions but focuses more on voicings, tessitura, and color combinations, offering practical strategies to make arrangements shine.

Speakers

Kevin Wilt

Chair, Department of Music, Florida Atlantic University

Kevin Wilt is a classical music evangelist. He composes music to introduce new audiences to the joy, drama, and adventure of classical music through familiar colors and lush textures, while engaging seasoned audiences with an underlying craftsmanship and sophistication. Composer John... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), HPME

10:30am EDT

Student-Led Ensembles in Middle and High School

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT

Volpe 102 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Middle school students love forming their own bands. If we aren’t careful, the enthusiasm can be sucked out of the project before it gets started. In this session, Eric Songer will show how to make these bands shine. Philosophy, scheduling, collaboration, rehearsal techniques, and performance will be discussed.

Speakers

Eric Songer

Middle School Music Educator, Chaska Middle School West

Eric Songer has taught music in Chaska, Minnesota since 1997. He has a Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His middle school program includes jazz, rock, country, hip hop, and marching. Mr. Songer teaches privately, composes and arranges music, and... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🎈Pop 10! (55)

10:30am EDT

Amplifying Access: Rock Ensemble as a Catalyst for Inclusive Popular Music Education

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT

Volpe 106 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This research surrounds the concept of cultural capital and how the structures of music programs in higher education are built upon antiquated class distinctions. The session analyzes how the creation of a rock ensemble within a predominantly classical music department can serve as a transformative pedagogical intervention.

Speakers

Jesse Tyler Moore

Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Admissions Coordinator, Rock Ensemble Director, Instructor of Guitar and Bass Guitar, The Pennsylvania State University

Jesse Tyler Moore is an accomplished musician, administrator, and educator specializing in guitar and bass guitar instruction. With a deep passion for popular music genres such as rock, blues, funk, and metal, Jesse brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his teaching. His... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), HPME

10:30am EDT

Navigating The Fog: A Feminist Ethical Framework for AI

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT

Volpe 103 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This research argues that AI itself cannot be good or evil because it has no subjectivity or freedom. Drawing on feminist ethics and Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialism, it examines responsibility, ambiguity, anthropomorphism, and systemic harm, and considers implications for music educators navigating AI in teaching and learning contexts.

Speakers

Nick Filotei

Assistant Lecturer, University of Southern California

Nick Filotei is a dedicated educator and researcher passionate about inclusive learning and social justice in music education. He brings a diverse background in music technology, performance, and teaching to his role as an assistant lecturer at the University of Southern California... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 10:30am - 10:55am EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25)

11:00am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

11:00am EDT

Relationships between Perceived Popularity, Desirability, Social Media Use, and Musical Role Choice with Adolescents Not Enrolled in Music Programs

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Volpe 203 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This presentation is on a research study using Social Role Theory which shows how perceived popularity and social media use influences musical role choices with early adolescent students not enrolled in music programs.

Speakers

Dr. Christopher Burns

Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist, School District of Osceola County

Dr. Christopher Burns is a music educator and arts-education leader whose work bridges creativity, technology, and access. As the Fine & Performing Arts Resource Specialist for the School District of Osceola County (FL), he supports K–12 music, theatre, visual art, and dance programs... Read More →

Patrick Cooper

Assistant Professor of Music Education, Florida International University

Dr. Patrick K. Cooper serves an assistant professor of music education at Florida International University. He teaches courses in research, curriculum development, philosophy, and creativity. He holds degrees in music education from Arizona State University (B.M., M.M.) and University... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

11:00am EDT

Repertoire/Genre Selection in Modern Band Classrooms

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Volpe 103 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

There remains a gap between the music students enjoy outside the classroom and the music in school music programs. Modern band might be a way to bridge this gap; however, what music and genres are teachers using, and how are they selected? In this session, we share our findings.
There remains a gap between the music students enjoy outside the classroom and the music in school music programs. Modern band might be a way to bridge this gap; however, what music and genres are teachers using, and how are they selected? In this session, we share our findings.

Speakers

David Dockan

Assistant Professor of Music Education, Louisiana State University

David Dockan, PhD (he/him/his) is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Louisiana State University, where he teaches courses in elementary music methods, popular/commercial music techniques, and teaching music in diverse settings. Committed to helping teachers design curricula that reflect students’ musical... Read More →

Rachael Sanguinetti

Associate Faculty/Program Director, Masters of Music Education, Immaculata University

Rachael earned her bachelor’s degree at the Eastman School of Music in 2015 where she majored in Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis and Musical Arts with a thesis focused in arts journalism. She also minored in Social Psychology and completed an Arts Leadership Certificate. Rachael... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), Culture and Belonging

11:00am EDT

Self-Produced Songs: Technology, Agency, and the Shifting Pulse of Popular Music

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Volpe 207 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

How does self-production reshape the pulse of popular music? Drawing from experiences as both artist and educator, this session explores how technology empowers autonomy, blurs traditional roles, and transforms the creative and pedagogical landscape of popular music and songwriting today.How does self-production reshape the pulse of popular music? Drawing from experiences as both artist and educator, this session explores how technology empowers autonomy, blurs traditional roles, and transforms the creative and pedagogical landscape of popular music and songwriting today.

Speakers

Kat Reinhert

Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Volpe 207 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25)

11:00am EDT

Strengthening Improvisation Practices in the Orchestra Classroom

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Volpe 106 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This action research study explored middle school students' perspectives on an improvisation unit in their orchestra class. It sought to identify strategies that enhance learning and foster community through improvisation. The results revealed students' gains and challenges, providing valuable insights for educators to improve instruction and strengthen social dynamics.

Speakers

Jose Santana

Graduate Student (PhD Music Education) / 5-12 Orchestra Teacher, University of Iowa

Jose Santana is a PhD candidate at the University of Iowa, focusing his research on improvisation and composition in the instrumental orchestra classroom. He has taught orchestra in public schools across the United States. He also worked as an orchestra director with the El Sistema... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

11:00am EDT

The Marginalized Voice of East Asian Immigrant Musicians

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT

Volpe 102 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This presentation examines the music learning and making experiences of three East Asian immigrant musicians in relation to their intersectional identities of race, ethnicity, gender, and language. This session may benefit music teachers and music teacher educators who wish to better support Asian music students and embrace social justice. This presentation examines the music learning and making experiences of three East Asian immigrant musicians in relation to their intersectional identities of race, ethnicity, gender, and language. This session may benefit music teachers and music teacher educators who wish to better support Asian music students and embrace social justice.

Speakers

Jonathan Sang-Joon Lee

Graduate Student (DMA), Boston University

Jonathan Sang-Joon Lee is a K-12 music educator in Vancouver, Canada and a doctoral candidate in music education at Boston University. His research interests encompass cultural diversity, popular music education, and music education within special education contexts. He has delivered... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), Culture and Belonging

11:30am EDT

♥️ FOCUSRITE/MARTIN AUDIO IMMERSIVE SOUND DEMO

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT

Music Engineering Classroom 130 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT
Music Engineering Classroom 130

♥️ Sponsor Demo Session

11:30am EDT

Crafting Fan Personas: A 3-Step AI Prompting Model

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT

Volpe 102 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

This session shows an AI-driven teaching system for detailed music fan profiling, moving beyond demographics. We use a three-stage approach analyzing music data to define fan psychographics and media habits. Attendees will receive prompt templates for AI collaboration in music marketing.

Speakers

Arnaecia Alridge

Founder/CEO, Methix/A Jam Records

Arnaecia Alridge has shaped the careers of GRAMMY Award-winning and nominated talent and is now reshaping the future of the music business for the rest of the industry. With a background in talent management and communications for independent artists such as Paul Wall, Yolanda Adams... Read More →

Jessica Muñiz

Assistant Professor of Music Business, University of North Texas

Jessica Muñiz is a music career consultant, composer/producer, and Assistant Professor of Music Business at the University of North Texas. She is also the Founder/Owner of NIZCO Music – a music career consulting company that helps musicians compose their careers to their own B.E.A.T... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25)

11:30am EDT

Informally Educated vs. Formally Educated Musicians in Music Institutions: A Sense of Belonging

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT

Volpe 203 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Students’ music education backgrounds shape belonging in higher education. Survey results show informal/non-formal learners feel more belonging than formally trained peers. Comfort with Western theory wasn’t a strong predictor, though a negative trend emerged. Findings suggest Western theory requirements may undermine inclusion, highlighting the need for curricula that value diverse musical literacies.

Speakers

Rhian Bristol

Student, University of Southern California

Rhian Bristol is a dynamic musician, educator, and multi-instrumentalist. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Music Teaching and Learning at USC after completed her masters in Popular Music Teaching and Learning at the USC and earning her BFA in VoiceArts Performance, with... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), HPME

11:30am EDT

Loop Lottery: Creating Beats without Sound

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT

Volpe 106 @ Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

Roll the dice on creativity! In this hands-on workshop, participants play Loop Lottery—a chance-based songwriting game where random loops become complete songs. By removing control and expectation, this process opens new pathways for creativity, equity, and fearless exploration in teaching songwriting and popular music production.

Speakers

Kate Falconer

Sound Arts Program Developer, foundry10

Kate Falconer is a pop producer, performing artist, and program developer passionate about helping young people find their voice through music. She believes popular music is an essential tool for engagement, creativity, and equity in education. At foundry10, Kate designs innovative... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 11:55am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🛠️Workshop (25)

11:30am EDT

🎊Jam Session!

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

PLF North 330 @ 5501 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frost School of Music Facilities

Come make music with your APME friends!

Speakers

Dr. Tom Zlabinger

Associate Professor of Music, York College / CUNY

Dr. Kristian Wahlström

PhD, Lecturer in electric guitar and band performance, Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory

Saturday June 6, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
PLF North 330 5501 San Amaro Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 Frost School of Music Facilities

🎉 Social

12:00pm EDT

✨CLOSING SESSION

Saturday June 6, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT

Newman Recital Hall @ 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Speakers

Dr. Christopher Burns

Fine and Performing Arts Resource Specialist, School District of Osceola County

Raina Murnak

Head of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry, University of Miami

Dr. Raina Murnak serves as President of the Association for Popular Music Education and as Assistant Professor and Studio Director of Contemporary Voice and Performance Artistry at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she also leads the MA in Popular Music Ped... Read More →

Candice Mattio

Assistant Professor, USC Thornton School of Music

Dr. Candice D. Mattio is Vice President of APME, and Assistant Professor of Music Teaching & Learning at USC’s Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles where she leads the graduate program in Popular Music Teaching & Learning .

She is a music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and music technology specialist. Candice's research focuses on creative thinking and representation in music technology education, and socio-political issues in contemporary and popular music education. She recently served as the inaugu... Read More →

Bryan Powell

Associate Professor, Montclair State University/Music Will

Dr. Bryan Powell is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University where he teaches classes in music education, music technology, popular music, and directs the Montclair State... Read More →

Stacey Swanson

PhD Student, Music Education, University of Miami

Stacey Swanson is a PhD student in Music Education at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, researching the intersection of artificial intelligence, music business, and music education. She serves as Director of Operations for the Association for Popular Music Education... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT
Newman Recital Hall 5513 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146

🎉 Social