Session Descriptions

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Mi'kmaq Honor Song: 

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Creating Musical Low Brass Players: In this session, Nathan will address the dull, repetitive low brass and woodwind parts that hinder the development of musicality in young students playing large instruments. As a low brass player himself, Nathan is very familiar with how challenging it is to foster attention to detail in players whose typical band parts lack…well…detail. Nathan will explore several techniques, choices, and a philosophy of music-making that help young students of larger instruments think like musicians while maintaining the bass line. There will be music-making involved in this session; if you would like to bring your large instrument (bass clarinets, baritone saxes, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, etc.), please do. Secondary instruments are most welcome. (INSTRUMENT RECOMMENDED.)

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Healthy Guitar Techniques for Music Education: Taking place at the 2026 NLMEA conference, Ben Diamond will demonstrate a variety of topics about playing and teaching guitar in a healthy, approachable, and applicable way to ensure that music educators are equipped to teach beginner guitar with the right tools in place. With topics ranging from posture and positioning, to left and right hand techniques, Ben will provide the workshop in a group class setting so that participants of the conference can try demonstrations for themselves in real time, and ask personalized questions throughout the lecture.

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Pass the Pumpkin: Are you looking for a new elementary Orff activity that’s fall related and not strictly Halloween?  If so, then this session is for you.  Jessica will be teaching the song, “Pass the Pumpkin.”  This simple passing game offers a wealth of teaching opportunities: minor/major tonality, simple solfege, beat vs. rhythm, and internal singing. Jessica will play the game with you and teach you the Orff accompaniment. This activity is best for grades 3-5, but as a group, we will discuss options for scaffolding up or down depending on the grade level you teach. This is a tried and true Elementary lesson that the students will ask for again and again!  

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Orff - Back to Basics: Sometimes the most powerful musical experiences begin with the simplest ideas. Orff: Back to the Basics invites music educators to reconnect with the foundational principles of Orff Schulwerk and rediscover the creativity, playfulness, and accessibility at the heart of the approach. Participants will explore practical ways to build meaningful musical experiences using elemental form. Together, we will look at how simple musical building blocks can be layered and developed to encourage exploration, creativity, collaboration, and student ownership. Designed with the elementary music classroom in mind, this hands-on session will return to the basics. Participants will leave with adaptable activities, repertoire, and ideas that can be taken directly into the classroom: experience first, concept later, music-making at the centre of it all.

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Commissioning New Works - Tips for Ensemble: In this session, Nathan will discuss the primary reasons he believes you should commission new works for your students and ensembles. He will then present several lessons that he has learned to help the process of working with a composer go smoothly. Nathan has been involved in 10-15 commissioning projects for student bands, choirs, and orchestras, as well as for solo and ensemble performances over 34 years of teaching.

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Getting into String Business: This session discusses how to set up a string program: sizing instruments to fit your students, buying instruments, selecting music to suit your students, easy repairs and more!

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The Joy of Collective Singing - Resources for Engaging and Inclusive K-6 Choirs: This session will highlight practical approaches to leading primary/elementary choirs that foster joyful, inclusive, and meaningful collective singing experiences. Topics will include warm-ups and vocal development, selecting and preparing repertoire, incorporating movement, creating inclusive rehearsal environments, and strategies for nurturing confidence, musical growth, and a lifelong love of singing in young choristers.

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Learning Through Movement and Play in Primary-Elementary Classroom: Bring comfortable shoes that are ready to move.  Together, we will explore a variety of movement activities and games that assist students in developing a strong sense of beat as well as creating their own movement both independently and collaboratively.

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Stepping Toward a Culture - First Nations music in Settlers Classrooms: Most provinces in Canada have established mandates to incorporate the music of First Nations peoples into their curriculum documents. However, many have not provided any guidance for music educators to facilitate this mandate in a manner that respects the cultural property and traditions of First Nations peoples. In this session, Nathan will present the results of a study examining four possible frameworks for engaging with the music of First Nations peoples, encouraging music educators to approach this music thoughtfully and respectfully.

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Starting Strong - An introduction to Beginning Band: This presentation introduces teachers to the fundamentals of a Beginning Band program and the experience of learning an instrument in a school setting. The presentation will offer insight into instrument selection, classroom routines, student expectations, and ways teachers can support and encourage young musicians throughout their first years

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From Scratch to Spotlight - Producing a Musical in a Rural Newfoundland School: What happens when you have a big vision, a rural school, and no blueprint? You build it from scratch! Follow my journey of mounting a full-scale Arts and Culture Centre musical in a rural Newfoundland school and community—from my vision to a production powered by students, colleagues, families, and community members. I’ll share the hurdles, lessons, tips, and tricks I discovered along the way, including what I learned directing and producing my first major production. Most importantly, we’ll explore how a musical became more than a show—it became a powerful way to connect, celebrate, and bring a community together.

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Step Into The Circle - Folk Dance Through an Orff Lens: Folk dance and Orff Schulwerk are natural partners - both rooted in movement, music, play, and the joy of creating together. In this active session, participants will step into the circle and explore a collection of engaging folk dances that can be brought directly into the elementary music classroom. Grounded in the elemental and experiential nature of Orff Schulwerk, this session celebrates folk dance not simply as repertoire to teach, but as a starting point for deeper musical exploration, creativity, and community.

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Everything Matters - Thoughts on Surviving Music Education: Music education is an all-consuming career. In this session, Nathan will discuss his overarching philosophy that everything we do as music educators matters. This is not to say that everything must be perfect, but instead that decisions like how we treat ourselves matter. This session arises from Nathan’s book, Everything Matters: 50 Essays on Music Education (available at the conference, he says, in a shameless plug). Nathan will discuss issues including repertoire selection, work-life balance, trust, agency, and ice cream.

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Guitar and Drum Maintenance: This session is focused on maintenance and care for programs that use guitar and various kinds of drums and percussion instruments. Teachers are welcome to bring in instruments that they need fixed as they may be used for demonstration during the session.

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The Brass Button Man - A Newfoundland Ghost Story: Are you familiar with the ghost story from Duck Island? Legend tells of a mysterious figure who travels the length of Duck Island threatening to trip anyone who comes too close to his shore. This beautiful song by Eric West opens the door to a wealth of creative opportunities for students in grades 3-5. Jessica will share with you the Orff accompaniment she has developed, and explore options for extending this song through art and creative writing.