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.

10:20am EDT

Words & Music: Embedding Popular Music Education and Social and Emotional Learning Through Songwriting

Thursday June 4, 2026 10:20am - 10:45am EDT

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

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music teaching method supports songwriting and social emotional learning in the music classroom. This innovative approach provides teachers with intentional, embedded teaching strategies that help students craft original lyrics, build an emotional vocabulary, and learn how to compose music.

Speakers

Aaron Helvig

Director of School and Music Programs, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Aaron Helvig is the director of school and music programs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In this role, he guides curriculum-based programs for school audiences, as well as music-centered programs that serve schools, community organizations and general museum visitors. Among his... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 10:20am - 10:45am EDT
Volpe 203 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

4:30pm EDT

Tradition Meets Today: Bad Bunny as a Springboard for Exploring the Musical Heritage of Puerto Rico

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

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

This two-part workshop is inspired by Bad Bunny’s 2025 album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToSE, which showcases his Puerto Rican musical heritage by fusing traditional genres with contemporary styles. Participants will explore bomba y plena and música jíbara through the Smithsonian Folkways Collection and hands-on lessons designed for the music classroom.

Speakers

Sandra S. Adorno

Associate Professor of Music Education, Florida International University

Dr. Sandra Sanchez Adorno is an associate professor of music education at Florida International University. She teaches courses in elementary general music, assessment and evaluation in music education, music psychology, and modern band. Sandra is certified in Orff-Schulwerk and World... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 4:30pm - 4:55pm EDT
Volpe 103 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

10:50am EDT

Revitalizing K–12 Popular Music: Lessons from Music Will’s Lab School

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

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

Over the past 25 years, Music Will has worked with educators around the country to incorporate popular music to their K-12 programs by donating instruments such as guitar, keyboards, drums, and more, as well as curriculum. After observing and reflecting on the growth and direction of popular music programs, they instituted a Lab School initiative this year, donating specific gear, hands on instruction, and clinics with industry professionals. This discussion will be centered around what we have learned through this intensive program, and how classes with renewed focus on culture, songwriting, stage presence, and hip hop can show us.

Speakers

Dr. Scott Burstein

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Music Will

Scott is Director of Strategic Initiatives as Music Will.

Mary Claxton

Director of Teaching and Learning, Music Will

Mary is Director of Teaching and Learning at Music Will. She is also a drummer, singer, and songwriter, mom of 3, and gluten free.

Friday June 5, 2026 10:50am - 11:15am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

11:20am EDT

Popping with Intention: Understanding the Role of Popular Music Within Your Institution

Friday June 5, 2026 11:20am - 11:45am EDT

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

Popping with Intention explores how planning strengthens popular music education across learning contexts. The session challenges formulaic approaches and emphasizes clarity of purpose, audience, and educator role to support authentic, student-centered courses that reflect institutional goals and the communities they serve.

Speakers

Shane Colquhoun, PhD.

Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Buisness, Alabama State University

Dr. Shane Colquhoun is an Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Contemporary Musical Styles at Alabama State University and a nationally recognized voice in innovative music education. A two-time GRAMMY Music Educator Award quarterfinalist, he centers his work on expanding access... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 11:20am - 11:45am EDT
Volpe 102 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

11:20am EDT

Using Breezin Thru Theory/Composing in your music classroom

Friday June 5, 2026 11:20am - 12:20pm EDT

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

This session explores the many features of Breezin Thru theory. Its comprehensive platform is user friendly for elementary thru higher ed! This program can also assist in your ensembles! Attendees will get an overview of the program and learn how to give assignments and projects !

Speakers

Jackie Martino

Director of Performing arts, Calhoun School

Dr. Jackie Martino is an educator, composer, and musician. She has an extensive career in music education as both a teacher and administrator. . She is currently the Director of Performing Arts at The Calhoun School in New York City. For the last two decades, she built a music and... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 11:20am - 12:20pm EDT
Volpe 106 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

3:30pm EDT

Finding Performance Shangri-La: Developing Methodologies in performance practices for the developing artist

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

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

This workshop explores performance psychology and self-determination in popular music education. Drawing from twelve years of teaching "Performance Shangri-La," it offers practical strategies for developing artistic identity, managing perfectionism, and fostering authentic performance. Attendees will engage in discussion and gain tools to better support emerging artists in evolving industry contexts.

Speakers

Courtney Kaiser-Sandler

Associate Director of Contemporary Music and Collaborative Projects, Director of Singer-Songwriter, Interlochen Center for the Arts

2026 and 2027 Grammy in Music Education quarterfinalist and Associate Director of Contemporary Music at Interlochen Center of the Arts Courtney Kaiser-Sandler is a professional songwriter, vocalist, and musician as well as the founder of the singer-songwriter program at Interlochen... Read More →

Friday June 5, 2026 3:30pm - 3:55pm EDT
Volpe 207 Volpe Building, San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL, USA

🔦Demonstration (25), K-12

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

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