ACADEMIC PAPER PRESENTATIONS — Timothy Anderson, moderator 
The Alberta Music Education Foundation sponsors an academic stream open to both academics of all levels and studio teachers, whether private or attached to an institution.  Papers related to music education are selected through a refereed process and presented in a format that allows 20 minutes per paper (roughly 15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for discussion). Each session has room for three papers. Papers of particular merit may be considered for publication in AMEF’s The Clarion. Paper presentation is not a guarantee of publication. Publication guidelines will be made available following the conference.

​Presenters and Topics TBA

STUDIO GENERAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, GENERAL​
A CAPPELLA TECHNIQUE & ARRANGING FOR POP MUSIC — ETown Vocal Music Society 
Do you sing, direct a choir, or are simply interested expanding your vocal technique? The ETVMS vocal coaches will take you through the elements of arranging, preparing, and performing pop music for three or more unaccompanied voices. This session will focus on aspects of pop vocal performance in a small ensemble, including pop vocal technique, exploring the use of microphones, loopers, and beatboxing as creative tools for arranging and performance, and adapting instrument lines for voice. Whether you are an educator, student, performer, or just a lover of vocal music, you will be sure to learn something new!

CHORAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC
ADVOCACY NOW: HOW CAN YOU ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PROGRAM? — Jolene Wong
As music educators we understand the importance of music education, but often others making decisions on budgets and programming do not. This session will offer resources to aid in advocating for your program!

​This session will contain information on how to advocate towards the primary stakeholders of music education: (a) administrators who govern activities within a school, (b) parents who make choices for their children, and (c) students who are the active participants. Advocacy is important so that those who do not currently understand the significance of music in education may come to do so. It is with great hope that this presentation will assist with starting, growing, and maintaining a strong music program in schools.

STUDIO GENERAL, BAND, GENERAL​​
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE: AN INTRODUCTION FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS, STEP ONE* — Gabriella Minnes Brandes
With a focus on awareness, choice and efficiency, the Alexander Technique offers performers tools to be present and available for both self-discovery and instrument-related discovery as they work on their craft and art.  Applying the Alexander Technique to music making entails becoming aware of habitual patterns of response, learning to think in activity, taking into account the internal and external environments, providing the space needed to make new choices at any moment, and improving the overall level of use to become very efficient and effective in performance.  Musicians constantly respond to stimuli, and often these responses are habitual and repetitive. 

Alexander Technique provides musicians with tools to be authentic, and versatile as they respond in “real time”.  With “hands-on” experience, that will heighten the participants’ awareness, we will explore movement, breath, support, and sound using basic principles of Alexander Technique.

*This session is a pre-cursor to the sessions focusing specifically on voice, conducting and pianists.  It is highly recommended that delegates first attend this session.

CHORAL, BAND, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, STUDIO GENERAL, GENERAL​​
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE: A FOCUS ON VOICE, STEP TWO — ​Gabriella Minnes Brandes
We will continue to explore Alexander Technique principles with a particular focus on voice work.  Participants will hone their observation skills as they learn to expose their habits about breath and breathing for singing.  Then we will seek efficient ways to use breath and support to be able to sing and speak with a full voice. We will explore the connections between listening and singing as we connect Alexander Technique principles to intention in order to enhance communication.  Come prepared to sing and speak in this hands-on workshop.

GENERAL​​, CHORAL, BAND, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, STUDIO GENERAL
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE: A FOCUS ON CONDUCTING, STEP TWO — Gabriella Minnes Brandes
We will continue to explore Alexander Technique principles with a particular focus on the art and skill of conducting.  Participants will hone their observation skills as they learn to expose their habits about the use of their arms in conducting.   Then we will apply principles of the Alexander Technique to find efficient ways to have the back support the arms as the conductors listen to and connect with the musicians they are working with.   Come prepared to conduct in this hands-on workshop.

GENERAL​​, CHORAL, BAND, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, STUDIO GENERAL
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE: A FOCUS ON PIANISTS, STEP TWO — ​Gabriella Minnes Brandes
We will continue to explore Alexander Technique principles, with a particular focus on pianists, soloists,  accompanists and collaborators in making music. We will expose our habits about the use of the arms and breathing in playing the piano.  Then we will seek efficient ways to use breath and support to be able to use the arms with ease to play. We will apply principles of the Alexander Technique to find efficiency at the piano, while playing, and accompanying.  Piano teachers will gain some strategies to observe their students, and provide them with feedback using Alexander Technique. Come prepared to play the piano in this hands-on workshop.

GENERAL​​, CHORAL, BAND, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, STUDIO GENERAL
BODY AWARENESS FOR BETTER CONDUCTING — Scott Edgar
Have you ever been sore from conducting following a rehearsal? Have you been accused of “over conducting?” Do you feel you have a complete repertoire of conducting gestures for all styles and dynamics? In this session we will explore body awareness and look at how we are anatomically set up to be better conductors than we currently are. Stretching, exercises, and musical implementation will all be included. ​

BAND, CHORAL
BRAILLE TONES: BRINGING OUT NEW VOICES THROUGH IMPROVISATION — Susan Farrell 
This workshop will highlight a unique choir that was founded by Scott Leithead more than twenty years ago. Many of the singers and section leaders will speak about their experiences and give insight into the methods of the choir, including a focus on improvisation through jazz music, applicable to any choir. Artistic director, Susan Farrell, and resident accompanist and jazz pianist, Vicky Berg, will speak about the social and musical goals unique to the group, and how to balance these successfully in a choir setting.
​
CHORAL, GENERAL​​​
BUILDING AND GROWING YOUR PROGRAM: A MODEL FOR SUCCESS — Kevin Wilms, moderator 
This session will be an interactive panel discussion utilizing the Virtuosi Strings from Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary as the catalyst for discussion about creating an environment for success.

​The panel will include Virtuosi Strings director, Christina Visy, Calgary Separate School District Fine and Performing Arts Consultant, Holly Schile, Nathan Gingrich (William Aberhart High School, Calgary) and others. The session will highlight the recent re-emergence of string programs in a number of Calgary High Schools as a model for program building.

GENERAL​​, STUDIO GENERAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, BAND, CHORAL​
CHILDREN'S CHOIR REHEARSAL LAB 
Rehearsal labs are intended to give delegates the opportunity observe a conductor and their ensemble at work. The conductor will periodically "pause" the rehearsal to explain to delegates which of their tools are in use, and why they've chosen that particular approach. Rehearsal labs are scheduled in extended blocks so as to allow a period for Q&A at the end of the session.  Through the rehearsal labs, delegates will gain insight into rehearsal structure, choral techniques, and educational approaches, as well as learn new choral warm ups and hear excellent choral repertoire.

CHORAL
CHOPIN'S ÉTUDES – LECTURE RECITAL — ​Krzysztof Jablonski
The talent of piano virtuosos goes far beyond the predispositions they were born with, and includes an incredible amount of technical development which must take place to give them the tools to open endless possibilities for a life as concert pianists. Working purely on technical skills is not very common practice these days. Scales and arpeggios are nearly completely gone from music schools even in Eastern Europe, which was unimaginable during my school years. Why do we witness this devastating change and what can be done to improve the situation? Do we need to add scales and arpeggios to our everyday practice routines? Mr. Jablonski will use Chopin’s Études to demonstrate how technical exercises are employed to improve technique, and give a glimpse of what made the Eastern European school so strong in piano performance and helped so many famous virtuosos to develop their skills.

STUDIO PIANO, STUDIO GENERAL, PERFORMANCE ​
CHORAL READING SESSION: CHILDREN'S AND TREBLE CHOIRS — Catherine Glaser-Climie 
Catherine Glaser-Climie will lead a reading session, focussing on choral music for children's and treble choir. The repertoire is comprised equally of recommended works from Glaser-Climie, as well as newly published music from Long & McQuade. A complimentary reading session packet will be available to the first 50 participants courtesy of Long & McQuade Music Ltd. ​

CHORAL
CHORAL READING SESSION: MIXED CHOIRS
This mixed choir reading session focusses on choral music for mixed voices, including high school, youth, and community choirs. The repertoire is comprised equally of recommended works from the session presenter, as well as newly published music from Long & McQuade. A complimentary reading session packet will be available to the first 50 participants courtesy of Long & McQuade Music Ltd. ​

CHORAL
COMMISSIONING FOR WIND BAND — Jason Flammia (Music Consultant, AFA), Raymond Baril, and special guests ​​
Various approaches to the commissioning of new works from composers will be addressed — from the public funding aspect to be covered by AFA music consultant Jason Flammia to opportunities in the private sector principally via consortium.

COMPOSITION, GENERAL​​
COMPOSED BY CANADIAN WOMEN: INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSION — Aaron Addorisio, Catherine Glaser-Climie, and Laura Hawley
The body of choral work composed and arranged by Canadian women has grown exponentially over the past 20 years! Choir Alberta has recently undertaken a project to explore the lives and compositional output by 30 of these women. The project includes pioneers like Violet Archer and Ruth Watson Henderson and extends to early-career composers such as Kathleen Allan and Sarah Quartel. Panelists Catherine Glaser-Clime, Laura Hawley, and project curator Aaron Addorisio will highlight a cross-section of these composers with a discussion about their lives, their compositional voices, and the roles their music plays in present-day concert programs. www.composedbycanadianwomen.ca

COMPOSITION, CHORAL, GENERAL
COMPOSING !01: HOW TO START COMPOSING AND HOW TO START TEACHING COMPOSING FOR BAND — Peter Meechan 
Composing is a key creative output in music, but for most, the idea of composing is terrifying. Whether it be a history of false starts/never finished pieces, a lack of “inspiration”, or the shear horror of a blank sheet of paper!
​
This session will seek to move us beyond those issues, and at the same time install some strategies as to how to help teach composition to our classes.

COMPOSITION, BAND
DELEGATE SING — ​Robert Filion
A time to relax, to energize, to learn, and to simply sing, sing, sing! Come celebrate this rare opportunity to knit voices from all parts of the province together under the inspired leadership of Robert Filion.

GENERAL​​, CHORAL​​
DIGITAL MARKETING IN THE ARTS WORLD — ​Graeme Climie
The way we communicate is shifting – in order to remain relevant and develop lasting relationships with your existing audience, you must be active where your ideal audience is expecting you to be. In this session, we will build a strong foundation of the arts marketing mix while exploring recent trends and power shifts in the digital marketing environment and explore how arts organizations can harness the modern digital market to build a stronger brand. We will also examine best practices in building strong content marketing campaigns and effective social media marketing to enhance your brand experience with a wider audience. Finally, we will look at the social analytics life cycle and understand how arts organizations can measure value in their marketing strategies and build sustainable campaigns.

GENERAL​​, STUDIO GENERAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, BAND, CHORAL​​

EL SISTEMA: THEN, NOW AND WHEN — ​David Visentin
Starting as a music education program for youth in Venezuela in 1975 by Dr. Antonio Abreu, El Sistema has become the 'poster child' for music as a catalyst for social change and has produced some of the world's most-noted classical musicians. With over 1,000,000 active musicians in Venezuela today and a worldwide network of independent programs in over 50 countries, el sistema philosophy has had undeniable impact. But criticism has doggedly followed the program in recent years, with the 2014 release of "El Sistema: Orchestrating Venezuela's Youth by author and arts education activist Geoff Baker. What have been its true successes? What have been the failures and limitations? Most importantly, where will El Sistema go in the future if the question remains, does El Sistema really work as a model for social change? Explore these questions together with Sistema Toronto's founding executive director David Visentin.

STUDIO GENERAL, GENERAL​​
FIRST, WE SING! SONGS AND GAMES FOR KIDS (PART 1) — ​Susan Brumfield
Looking for new songs to add to your repertoire, and new ways to teach familiar favorites? First, We Sing! Songbooks 1, 2 & 3 are packed with children’s songs, rhymes and games from around the world, selected, transcribed and annotated by Dr. Susan Brumfield. In this session, we will explore teaching activities, singing games and new ways to incorporate a fresh batch of songs into your curriculum. First, We Sing Songbooks come with an enhanced CD featuring Inner Voices, a group of 8 – 12 year- old singers from The West Texas Children’s Chorus.

CHORAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC
FIRST, WE SING! SONGS AND GAMES FOR KIDS (PART 2) — ​Susan Brumfield
Looking for new songs to add to your repertoire, and new ways to teach familiar favorites? First, We Sing! Songbooks 1, 2 & 3 are packed with children’s songs, rhymes and games from around the world, selected, transcribed and annotated by Dr. Susan Brumfield. In this session, we will explore teaching activities, singing games and new ways to incorporate a fresh batch of songs into your curriculum. First, We Sing Songbooks come with an enhanced CD featuring Inner Voices, a group of 8 – 12 year- old singers from The West Texas Children’s Chorus.

CHORAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC
FIVE GREAT IDEAS TO GET YOUR STUDENTS COMPOSING — Allan Gilliland
Join renowned composer and educator Allan Gilliland for this fun and interactive session on composition. Using a few simple exercises adaptable for all ages, Allan will show you how easy it is to get your students excited about composing.

COMPOSITION, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, STUDIO GENERAL
FORTY-TWO YEARS TEACHING CREATIVE MUSIC — Reinhard von Berg
A talk with anecdotes, sound files, scores, and possibly a performance.  Emphasis on improvisation and unwritten compositions. Improvisation demo.

Some anecdotes:
  • ​How many piano students turn out to be “closet composers”
  • How children can compose lengthy pieces at the keyboard, even if they can neither read nor write music
  • How improvisation does not have to be jazz
  • How “studying theory” can screw up your creativity
  • How Marek Jablonski once confided to the Edmonton Journal that composing was something “he wouldn’t dare attempting”.  (Glenn Gould was not far behind)

COMPOSITION, STUDIO GENERAL, ELEMENTARY MUSIC, BAND ​
FRANCOPHONE CHORAL REPERTOIRE — Robert Filion 
As a bilingual nation, where can we find interesting, engaging, and satisfying choral music en français? This session from conductor Robert Filion is a presentation providing a curated look at French Canadian choral repertoire. Delegates will gain new insight into the wealth of choral music available, and gain new ideas for how to embrace this music with their own choirs.

CHORAL