Name: Building Urban Music Programs: What Colleges Aren’t Preparing You For
Start: 2026-06-06T10:00:00-0400
End: 2026-06-06T10:25:00-0400

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.

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

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

Volpe 203

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

Tickets

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APME Miami 2026

Aaron Di Pilla

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APME Miami 2026

Aaron Di Pilla

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