Whether you’re a first year teacher or a veteran teacher, so often the professional development provided by our schools is not created with specials teachers in mind.  Too often, we’re an after thought and are asked to make connections to content that doesn’t apply to us.  Attending a music education conference is a great way to get the professional development you need to grow as an educator and musician!

1. Professional Development

The most valuable reason for attending a music education conference is that you get to attend professional development specific to our content area.  So often, we’re the only music teacher in our building and only get to collaborate with our peers at departmental meetings.  When we attend a music education conference, we’re surrounded by hundreds (if not thousands) of music teachers.  We can attend sessions from Social Justice in the Music Room to Folk Dances from Around the World.  The breadth of sessions broaden our perspective, give us pause for thought, and give us practical activities to use in our music classrooms!

2.  Different Approaches to Teaching

Another thing I love about music education conferences is that I get to explore a variety of approaches to teaching music.  So many of us have to pursue specific approaches to teaching – Orff, Kodaly, Music Learning Theory, etc. after our degree programs.  How do you know which one speaks to you?  Go check out presenters who use these approaches at your state music education conference!  Even if you’re set in your approach to teaching, go see another presenter talk about their approach!  You’ll make connections to what you do in your own room and find ways to integrate techniques, processes, etc.  Good teaching is good teaching!  There’s always something you can learn!

3. Diverse Perspectives about Teaching

At each conference, I always push myself to go to sessions about things I know very little about.  There are experts on every topic regarding music education at conferences  You may not teach in an urban setting, but go see someone who does.  They have phenomenal information to share with you about building relationships, working with at risk students, and making music relevant to students.  You may not teach children with disabilities, but go see someone who does!  They have amazing techniques for differentiation, modifications, and are a wealth of information of valuing every child is your music program.  I love hearing passionate people talk about their diverse experiences working with children!  I always come away with an idea to use with my own students even if our populations or circumstances are different!

4. Exhibit Halls

This is honestly one of my favorite things about conferences (and not just for the free samples and pens)!  I love going through the exhibit hall and seeing all of the new instruments, manipulatives, music, puppets and books.  And let’s be honest – I cannot go to a conference without buying new children’s books!  Getting to see, touch, open up, read, or play with materials gives me a better idea of how I might use them in my classroom!  I don’t have a budget, so much of what I buy for my room is purchased with my own money.  I want to make sure I get the best bang for my buck!  Also, if you go back to the exhibit hall in the final hours of the conference, sometimes vendors will cut you a deal so that they don’t have to pack and ship items back. 

5. Networking

The final reason for attending a music education conference is the opportunity to network with other music teachers.  Music education conferences are great ways to connect with friends from college, colleagues from other districts, and acquaintances from various groups you may belong to (e.g. Orff chapters).  Networking is so important as music teachers.  Whether it’s learning about what’s happening in another district, potential job opportunities, commiserating about scheduling, or discovering someone is struggling with a similar issue as you – networking helps us build relationships with others just like us.  It helps to build a community of support around us in a position that can sometimes feel very lonely.

Did you go to your state music education conference this year?  What’s your favorite session or thing you learned?  Leave me a comment below!

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