GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PROPOSALS & APPLICATIONS

​

Event Consideration

​

Select the event(s) for which this session should be considered 

• Fall In-Service Only - Friday, October 18, 2024

• Annual State Conference Only - Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, 2025

• Either Conference - The committee will decide where the session may be best scheduled if selected. 

 

Length of Session

​

Time slots listed below are for the full presentation and should include the presentation and time for Q&A. 

• Fall In-Service (October) - 45 minute sessions

• Annual State Conference (February) - 60 minute sessions

​

MMEA/NAfME Membership

​

• MMEA/NAfME membership is encouraged, but not required, for all clinicians/educators/directors/conductors applying to present or conduct/perform. Please join/renew here.

• If selected, MMEA/NAfME membership is required for all clinicians/educators/directors/conductors in order to confirm their selection (September) and to present/perform (October and/or March) 

  • Additional Notes

    • MMEA/NAfME Membership must be active through the dates of the conference. 

    • Exceptions to the membership requirement may be made by the MMEA President for: 

      • Invited/sponsored presenters

      • Individuals from outside of the field of music education

• Sponsored Sessions

  • MMEA/NAfME will be required for presenters of sponsored sessions, where a music industry or partner is covering the presenter’s costs.

  • MMEA/NAfME membership is not always required of presenters of sponsored sessions where music industry partners or other companies are also a sponsor for the conference. 

 

Conference Registration/Commitment 

​

• Selected Presenters as well as educators/directors/conductors of selected ensembles will be expected to register/pay to confirm participation (September): 

  • Fall In-ServiceConference Registration Required 

  • Annual State Conference (three-day) - Minimum of a one-day conference registration for the day(s) during which presenters are presenting/performing. Full Conference registration and participation is encouraged. 

  • A discounted rate will be provided for all selected presenters/conductors.

• Each presenter and conductor/assistant conductor/guest conductor must be registered to attend the conference on the day of the scheduled sessions/performance.

• Demonstration or Performance Groups/Ensembles 

  • Performers in selected ensembles will have a limited pass to the conference. The pass will allow for attendance at other performances and to visit the exhibits on performance day only.

    • All selected ensembles will be asked to schedule a window to visit the conference exhibits. 

    • If ensemble members wish to attend sessions and other conference events, they will need to register as a conference attendee. 

​

​

SESSION PROPOSALS GUIDELINES 

​

Type of Session Proposal

Sessions may be one of the following:

• Session Presentation

• Sponsored Session Presentation 

• Presentation with Demonstration Ensemble/Group 

​

Strands

Sessions should align with one or more of the following content strands. Applicants will be asked to choose the one area that could be considered a Primary Strand, as well as additional strands applicable for session consideration.

• Classroom Music

• Band

• Chorus

• Orchestra

• Emerging Ensemble

• Emerging Practices

• TI:ME/Music Technology 

• Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Access (DEIA)

• Collegiate/Pre-Service (Student) 

• Higher Education (Faculty)

• Music Administration

​

Levels/Contexts

Sessions should be applicable to one or more grade level(s)/contexts:

• Elementary School

• MIddle School

• High School

• College

• Community 

• Other

Session Proposal Information

​

• Sessions can be submitted for consideration for the Fall In-Service (October), the Annual State Conference (March), or allow the committee to choose where the session is most needed. 

• Each session proposal submitted must focus on one or more strands/performance type/level.

• Multiple proposals are welcome. A separate submission form entry should be created for each proposal/application. 

• All sessions should be interactive and engaging.

• Multiple presenters, up to three (3), per proposal are welcome.  

• Proposals are welcome in all existing, expanding, and emerging pathways in PreK–12 music education, music teacher education, higher education, and music administration.

• MMEA has a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access. Proposals should identify strategies on how the session would be accessible to ALL participants.

• Professionals of all ages, cultures, and experience levels are encouraged to submit.

Sponsored Sessions

All music industry partners and other music education focused companies can submit for a sponsored session at two sponsorship levels. 

• Sponsored Session  - The sponsor is aware and will assume the responsibility of the associated logistics, costs, transportation, lodging, etc. The partner will receive notation on the session description that “This Sessions is sponsored by _________”

  • Special Notes 

    • MMEA/NAfME Membership is required (if selected) of the presenter/conductor at this level of partnership. 

    • This level does not include an additional sponsorship package and the sponsor covers the presenter’s expenses to register and attend the conference. 

    • These sessions go through the committee review process and may or may not be selected. 

 

• Sponsored Session with Partnership - This sponsor will be able to select Conference Sponsorship or Sustaining Partner packages that support MMEA. Sponsor will receive additional advertisement, promotion of company logo, hyperlink to the company website, and acknowledgement  on the MMEA Website for one year. 

  • Special Notes

    • MMEA/NAfME Membership is encouraged, but not required, of the presenter/conductor at this level of partnership. 

    • These sessions do not go through the committee review process and are approved by the Executive Board.

    • Consult the “Become a Partner Page” for package details. 

Presentation with Demonstration Group/Ensemble

 

• Presentation with Demonstration Ensemble/Group is focused on the presentation’s concept, and the ensemble is present to support the presentation. 

• Sessions can be submitted for consideration for the Fall In-Service (October), the Annual State Conference (March), or allow the committee to choose where the session is most needed. 

• These sessions will be billed as “Session Title” featuring the “Ensemble Name.”

​

​

PERFORMANCE APPLICATION GUIDELINES 

​

Performance Type

​

Performances should feature ensembles/groups classified as: 

• Classroom Music

• Band

• Chorus

• Orchestra

• Emerging Ensemble (e.g., Steel Pan, Ukuleles, Modern Band)

• Other

 

Performance Levels

​

Ensembles can come from: 

• Elementary School

• Middle School

• High School

• College

• Community

• Professional

• Other

 

Performance Information

​

• Featured ensembles during the Conference are billed as a “Ensemble Name Concert”

• Applications will be reviewed and considered for featured performances at the Annual State Conference (March) only. 

  • Time slots for performances will be a maximum of 60 minutes.  

• MMEA acknowledges the wide diversity of performing ensembles and encourages the submission of traditional, emerging, innovative, and alternative ensembles of all ages, experience levels, program sizes, cultures, and genres.

​

​

REQUIRED INFORMATION

​

Call for Proposals Required Information

​

• Session Proposals

  • All presenters wishing to be considered, must submit a Session Proposal. This application will ask for the following information/materials:

    • Presenter(s) name(s), headshot, bio, contact information

    • NAfME membership number (Optional during proposal process) 

    • Event Consideration - Fall In-Service and/or Annual Conference

      • Fall In-Service Only - Friday, October 18, 2024

      • Annual State Conference Only - Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, 2025

      • Either Conference - The committee will decide where the session may be best scheduled if selected. 

    • Title and Description of the proposed session 

    • Summary of specific needs for proposed sessions, such as AV, equipment, etc. 

    • Scheduling preferences/constraints

• Sponsored Sessions

  • Sponsor’s name and contact information (Sponsored Session)

  • Sponsor’s name, contact information, and Logo (Sponsored Session with Partnership)

• Presentation with Demonstration Ensemble/Group

  • Director/Conductor name and contact information

  • MMEA/NAfME Membership Number (if different than primary presenter - optional during proposal process)

  • Ensemble/Institution Name

  • Recent concert program (2023-2024 academic year)

  • Summary of how the ensemble/group will participate in this session

  • Two (2) audio recordings of two (2) representative performance selections by the ensemble from the current school year (2023-2024)

    • Audio file only - No video

    • Do not include any recorded words, announcements, titles, or thumbnail slides that would identify the group or its conductor on the recording.

  • Prediction of equipment and other logistical needs

  • School/Institution Administrator Contact Information

​

Performance Application Required Information

​

• All performing ensembles wishing to be considered for the 2025 MMEA State Conference (March) must complete an Application for Performance. This application will ask for the following information/materials:

  • Director/Conductor name, contact information, headshot, bio, & MMEA/NAfME Membership Number (if different than primary presenter)

  • Ensemble/Institution Name

  • Recent concert program (2024-2025 academic year)

  • Two (2) audio recordings of two (2) representative performance selections by the ensemble from the current school year (2024-2025)

    • Audio file only - No video

    • Do not include any recorded words, announcements, titles, that would identify the group or its conductor on the recording. 

  • Prediction of equipment and other logistical needs

  • School/Institution Administrator Contact Information  

​

​

APPLICATION STEPS

​

Application Steps

​

• Read the guidelines and requirements.

• Create a free account in the online submission platform, or sign in to an existing account. When creating an account, you will be asked to provide an email address and create a password.  

• If your proposal has co-presenters (three (3) maximum), one person should complete the season proposal and be the main point of contact.

• Click “Submit” to finalize your submission.

• Upon successful submission of a proposal, an automated confirmation email will be sent to the email address associated with your account. Please forward this to any co-presenters and save a copy for your records.

• After a proposal is processed, the status will be "In Progress” through the review process.

​

Review/Selection Process

​

• Submissions/Applications will go through a multiple-step review process beginning with a blind review. The MMEA Conference Committee, consisting of board members, component officers, and selected general members, will make the final selections.

• The MMEA Conference Committee reserves the right to select session proposals that best address the stands/levels according to the given rubric. 

• MMEA reserves the right to edit session titles and descriptions. 

​​

Notification/Acceptance Process

​

• After the reviews are completed, an email updating you on the status of your proposal will be sent to the email address used in the session proposal. Communication will occur by mid August.

• If selected, presenters/conductors will need to reply within the Submittable platform, confirm MMEA/NAfME membership, and register/pay for the conference(s) in which they will present/perform/attend. This will be expected by mid September. 

 

Submittable Help

​

1. Click here for support or contact support@submittable.com for all technical/navigation issues. 

2. If you need to edit your proposal after submitting it, you may make this request through the Submittable platform. Edits may be made only through the deadline for submission. 

3. If you need to edit your submitted proposal before the deadline, you may do so using these instructions. Edits will not be allowed after the submission deadline.

​

​

FORMS & RUBRICS 

The call for proposals and performance application window is now closed.​

​

Rubrics
Click here for the rubrics.