Midwest Clinic

Welcome music educators! Our team is looking forward to meeting you at this year’s Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference and serving your professional needs in any way we can. Ask us about the free resources we have on program planning, advocacy, funding and other teaching and professional development needs.

The Midwest Clinic gives us an opportunity to connect with all of you and to remind you that Yamaha is your partner in music education, not just through our great instruments and professional audio products but also with resources, support and professional development. Learn about ways to expand your music program to meet students where they are.

• Learn about ways to expand your music program to meet students where they are.
• Check out the music technology-focused sessions at Midwest.
• Switching from Finale to Dorico? We have you covered!

Attend our Yamaha Master Educator Sessions at Midwest.

We want to express our appreciation and gratitude for everyone involved in making this conference possible. We want to continue to hear about your programs and learn about you and your specific needs to see how Yamaha can partner with you to help.

Stop by our booth to say hello. We’re eager to talk with you about your needs as a performer or educator. See you in Chicago!

If you need help or have questions, please reach out directly to us at educators@yamaha.com. Sign up for the Yamaha Educator newsletter to access advocacy, professional development, information on instruments, resources, partnerships in education and more.

Getting Their Story Right: What Composers Want You to Know About Interpreting Their Music 
Clinician: Omar Thomas
Wednesday, December 18, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  
Room: W185 

Product Showcase: The Yamaha Harmony Director: HD-300 – The Ultimate Rehearsal Assistant 
Clinician: Michael Pote 
Wednesday, December 18, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  
Room: W176 

High School Band Rehearsal Lab 
Clinician: Dana Sedatole
Thursday, December 19, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  
Room: W183 

Teaching Through Rain, Sleet, Snow, and a 7^th Grade Fire: Individualized Assessment for Beginning Band 
Clinician: Marguerite Wilder  
Thursday, December 19, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  
Room: W187 

A Connected Conductor: The Nexus of Artistry, Technique, and Emotion 
Clinician: Emily Threinen 
Friday, December 20, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 
Room: W183 

REPENT! Shun These Sins…and Make Great Music 
Clinician: Richard Floyd 
Friday, December 20, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
Room: W187 

For a complete list of clinics and performances, visit the Midwest Clinic Schedule.

Learn about the innovative design and manufacturing process behind the new Yamaha marching hardware products, which are scheduled to hit the market in early 2025. 

In an exclusive interview, Joel Tetzlaff, Product Marketing Manager of the drums and percussion team, provides insight into how the new line of carriers and stands were developed. 

Below are five common challenges music educators face and some organizations that offer help and resources. 

CHALLENGE #1: I want my music program to reflect the diversity of my students but finding music that represents their cultures and experiences can be difficult.

SOLUTION: United Sound Composer Project supports emerging composers from diverse and minoritized backgrounds. United Sound helps teachers find and program music that resonates with their classrooms. They make it easy to access new compositions and provide resources to inspire your students to start creating.

• YamahaEducatorSuite blog articles:
  • Build Diversity in Your Repertoire
  • Inclusive Repertoire
  • The Importance of Commissioning Music
  • A DEI Seed Takes Root a a University’s Music Library
  • How DEI Initiatives Influenced UK’s Music Education Program

CHALLENGE #2: I want to include students with special needs in my music program, but I don’t have the staff or specialized training to support them.”

SOLUTION: United Sound removes barriers by providing teacher and student training, peer mentor programs, and a comprehensive curriculum. With their support, music programs can be truly inclusive, giving ever student the chance to play and perform alongside their peers.

• YamahaEducatorSuite blog articles:
  • 10 Tips for Teaching Students with Autism
  • The United Sound Method for Private Lesson Teachers
  • Using Food to Teach Rhythm to Special Needs Students
  • Students Help Teach Music To Students With Disabilities
  • Case Study: See Beyond Disabilities and Find Opportunities to Excel
  • Creatively Reach Special Needs Students

CHALLENGE #3: My students are interested in music technology and production, but I lack the know-how to teach it.

SOLUTION: Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) supports educators with the training and resources needed to integrate music technology into the classroom. From conferences to professional development sessions, they make sure you’re equipped to give students hands-on experiences in music production and technology. 

• YamahaEducatorSuite blog articles:
  • Music Tech Series Part 1: Getting Started Teaching the DAW
  • Case Study: Use Intellectual Discomfort to Expand Music Offerings
  • Music Tech Series, Part 2: Elementary Music Technology
  • Off the Page, Part 1: Bring Creativity Into The Band Room
    

CHALLENGE #4: I’d love to reach more students by integrating guitar glasses into my program but I don’t have the experience or resources to get started.

SOLUTION: Teaching Guitar Workshop provides hands-on training for educators to start or expand guitar programs. NAfME’s Council for Guitar Education offers curriculum, program expansion ideas and professional development. 

• YamahaEducatorSuite blog articles:
  
  • Starting a Guitar Program
  • Pop Guitar as an Entry Point
  • Guitar Education

CHALLENGE #5: I’d love to reach more students by integrating popular music education into my program but I don’t have the experience or resources to get started.

SOLUTION: Association for Popular Music Education (APME) advocates for popular music education at all levels, helping you integrate modern music into your programs. 

• YamahaEducatorSuite blog articles:
  • Case Study: How Popular Music Education Transformed a Texas Program and School
  • Modern Music and Tech in Beginning Strings
  • Incorporate Popular Music Into Traditional Ensembles
  • Case Study: The Power of Pop Music
  • The Nontraditional “Non-semble”
  • The Power of Problem Solving

S.H.O.P Talk: It’s Time to Teach Music Production! Now What? Everything You Need to Know to Get Started 
Clinician: Matthew Lyons 
Thursday, December 19, 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  
Room: W193* 

Inclusion Through Creativity: Games, Activities, and Projects for Learning Digital Composition at the Middle Level 
Clinician: Gillian Desmarais (Yamaha 40 Under 40) 
Friday, December 20, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  
Room: W187 * 

Beyond the Score: Integrating Composition into Rehearsals for Deeper Learning 
Clinician: Theresa Hoover 
Friday, December 20, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  
Room: W179*