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.

11:50am EDT

Ukulele in the Classroom: A Survey of Elementary General Music Teachers in North Carolina and Virginia

Thursday June 4, 2026 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT

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

The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic characteristics of ukulele teachers in North Carolina and Virginia, to explore the perceived benefits and challenges of implementing ukulele in the classroom, and to identify the curricular resources teachers employ in instruction.

Speakers

Jacqueline Secoy

Associate Professor, Music Education, Longwood University

Dr. Jacqueline Secoy is Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Education Program Coordinator at Longwood University. Her research interests include ukulele instruction, participatory music-making, popular music education, musician identity development, aural music learning... Read More →

Raychl Smith

Associate Professor of Music Education, East Carolina University

Dr. Raychl Smith is Associate Professor of Music Education at East Carolina University. Dr. Smith has previously served as Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Instructor of Music Education at Elon University. Prior... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 11:50am - 12:15pm EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

4:30pm EDT

Beyond the Stand: Lessons From a Podcast Exploring the “Both/And” of Popular Music Education

Thursday June 4, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm EDT

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

Beyond the Stand analyzes themes emerging from educator and student interviews on popular music education. This session presents findings revealing a strong “both/and” philosophy (where PME enhances, rather than replaces, traditional programs) and highlights the roles of student voice, belonging, and teacher agency in expanding meaningful music-making opportunities.

Speakers

Jeremy Bryant

Commercial Music Instructor, Battle Ground Academy

Jeremy Bryant is a commercial music educator at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, where he teaches guitar, music production, and popular music ensemble courses. He holds a Master of Music Education from Belmont University, where his capstone project explored teacher agency... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

10:50am EDT

Reinforcing Music Theory Understanding with Popular Music in Choir

Friday June 5, 2026 10:50am - 11:15am EDT

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

This session demonstrates a unit project for middle or high school choir that incorporates popular music as the basis for reinforcing literacy. Students transcribe, arrange, then perform a pop song. The presenter will outline seven lessons then ask the attendees to create an initial list of songs they could use.

Speakers

Tina Beveridge

Assistant Professor/Director of Undergraduate Music Education, George Mason University

Dr. Tina Beveridge is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at George Mason University. Her diverse teaching experience includes choir, band, elementary general, jazz, and general music in the secondary school. At Mason, Dr. Beveridge teaches undergraduate methods classes in choral... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 10:50am - 11:15am EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

10:50am EDT

Toward an Expanded Music Will Framework: A Collective Case Study of Music Will’s Influence on Music Teacher Identity in Early Childhood Music Education

Friday June 5, 2026 10:50am - 11:15am EDT

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

Many Music Will (MW) teachers self-report working with elementary aged students, which can include early childhood (EC) through 5th grade. However, how might engagement with MW influence EC music education? In this study, EC music educators described how engagement with MW influenced their musicking experiences for EC music students.

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 →

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 →

Macy Bell

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama

Dr. Macy Bell is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at The University of Alabama. Dr. Bell is an Orff-Schulwerk Certified music educator with twelve years of professional experience in music education. Dr. Bell’s research agenda centers on critical consciousness and informal... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 10:50am - 11:15am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

3:30pm EDT

Is Popular Music Education Too Creative? A Philosophical Argument for Balance

Friday June 5, 2026 3:30pm - 3:55pm EDT

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

This session examines whether popular music education has leaned too heavily on creativity, informality, and student-driven exploration while neglecting essential "traditional" musicianship skills. Using Deweyan philosophy and research in popular music pedagogy, it argues for a more intentional balance of formal and informal learning to strengthen modern band instruction and long-term musical development.

Speakers

Eli Yaroch

First Year Ph.D. & Associate Instructor, Indiana University

Eli Yaroch is a first-year Ph.D. student and Associate Instructor in Music Education at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Music Engineering Technologies from the University of Miami, where he also led the MusicReach Contemporary Department... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 3:30pm - 3:55pm EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

📚Research (25), K-12

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

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