Convention Session Proposals

2025 Convention: February 12-15 in San Antonio, Texas

Proposal Period: May 1–June 1, 2024

The 2025 TMEA Clinic/Convention will feature approximately 260 clinics for current and future music educators and music showcases throughout the convention center. To present a clinic or music showcase, you must complete an online proposal by the June 1 deadline. The link to submit is below the following important information on proposing.

Our Commitment to Music Education for All
  • All students at every level deserve a well-balanced education that includes a comprehensive, high-quality, sequential program of music taught by teachers who are certified in music education. All students should have this opportunity regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, disability, economic status, religious background, or other unique characteristics. TMEA is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We stand with all those we serve. We are committed to providing professional education that promotes these principles. All session verbal, visual, and written content must adhere to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
Our Convention Inclusivity Pledge
  • TMEA is committed to providing a positive experience for all convention attendees. We expect every participant and presenter to adhere to our association’s commitment to offering an inclusive, respectful convention environment that invites participation from all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, disability, or other unique characteristics. Participants should report any behavior inconsistent with the principles outlined here, to TMEA staff.

Clinics

There are two types of clinics, both one hour in length:

1) Invited: A clinician's attendance is not sponsored by a company.
2) Industry/TMEA Exhibitor Sponsored: A clinician's attendance is paid for by a company that will be a convention exhibitor. Content is still expected to be primarily pedagogical, and sponsorship does not guarantee selection. Sponsoring companies of clinics must exhibit during the convention to be listed as a sponsor in the clinic description.

Read all sections below for more information on clinician requirements and clinic selection factors. A link to apply follows this information (available as of May 1.)

Music Showcases

Individuals and small groups offer short acoustic performances in open-area venues throughout the convention center.
Learn More about Music Showcases and Apply

Membership/Registration Requirements

If selected, clinicians, demonstration group directors, and music showcase group directors and musicians must comply with these requirements:

  • Texas music educators/musicians must be current members of TMEA and pay convention registration fees.
    Join or renew now, or register if already active.
  • Out-of-state educators/musicians must:
    • pay convention registration fees but, are not required to become TMEA members, or
    • if industry sponsored must get their convention badge through their sponsoring exhibitor (not for Texas music educators/musicians).

Exceptions: The following are provided convention badges and are not required to register:

  • Students (any level) in a clinic demonstration or Program Spotlight group
  • Students (any level) performing in an Invited Ensemble concert
  • K–12 students performing in Music Showcases

Online membership and convention registration will be available in May. Find more Membership and Registration Information here.

Information Needed for a Complete Proposal

Document the following in a different application and save it before you submit online (in case you have technical issues when submitting):

  • Meaningful title that directly conveys the presentation content.
  • Concise description of the presentation content (for published schedule).
  • Details on the clinic learning objectives and how the objectives will be presented to the attendees.
  • Your TMEA ID along with your cell phone number, gender, and race/ethnicity. For non-TMEA members, your name, school/company, email, cell phone number, gender, and race/ethnicity.
  • The TMEA ID of your co-presenters along with their cell phone number, gender, and race/ethnicity. For non-TMEA members, their name, school/company, email, cell phone number, gender, and race/ethnicity.
  • All co-presenters must be submitted on the proposal. They may not be added later.
  • Each clinician's credentials and experience that qualify them as an authority on the session topic and the details that will be presented.
  • Short biographical statement for each clinician (the spoken introduction, so keep it brief).
  • If applicable, demonstration group name, director contact information, and number of participants. A demonstration group must be submitted on the proposal. They may not be added later.
  • Sponsoring industry name and contact information (if applicable).

Scheduling Agreement

You must be available to present your one-hour clinic on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday of the convention (or Wednesday, for technology clinics). You will not be asked for a day preference.

Clinic Selection Factors

The TMEA Executive Board considers these important factors when evaluating proposals (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Applicability/Value
  • Commercial Content (Attendees do not want to attend clinics that are primarily product commercials.)
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Compatibility
  • Pedagogical Merit
  • Program Compatibility (Even proposals with merit are sometimes not selected because of the need to create a balanced program.)
Attendees identified the following as their highest-priority topics:
(Listed in priority order for each division. Scroll right to see the full chart.)

OVERALL BAND ORCHESTRA VOCAL ELEMENTARY COLLEGE FACULTY COLLEGE STUDENTS
  1. Rehearsal techniques
  2. Teaching methods
  3. Instrument methods
  4. Classroom management
  5. Repertoire selection
  6. Recruiting/Retention
  7. Technology integration
  8. Conducting techniques
  9. Mental health & wellness
  10. Inclusion, diversity, equity & access
  1. Instrument methods
  2. Recruiting/Retention
  3. Repertoire selection
  4. Teaching methods
  5. Classroom management
  6. Technology integration
  7. Small school strategies
  8. Conducting techniques
  9. Advocacy & administrative support
  10. Mental health & wellness
  1. Rehearsal techniques
  2. Instrument methods
  3. Repertoire selection
  4. Conducting techniques
  5. Recruiting/Retention
  6. Teaching methods
  7. Technology integration
  8. Classroom management
  9. Mental health & wellness
  10. Inclusion, diversity, equity & access
  1. Rehearsal techniques
  2. Repertoire selection
  3. Recruiting/Retention
  4. Classroom management
  5. Teaching methods
  6. Conducting techniques
  7. Music theory
  8. Inclusion, diversity, equity & access
  9. Technology integration
  10. Advocacy/Administrative Support
  1. Teaching methods
  2. Classroom management
  3. Special needs instruction
  4. Inclusion, diversity, equity & access
  5. Technology integration
  6. Rehearsal techniques
  7. Instrument methods
  8. Repertoire selection
  9. Mental health & wellness
  10. Music theory
  1. Teaching methods
  2. Rehearsal techniques
  3. Recruiting/Retention
  4. Instrument methods
  5. Conducting techniques
  6. Inclusion, diversity, equity & access
  7. Technology integration
  8. Research methods & results
  9. Private lesson strategies
  10. Repertoire selection
  1. Rehearsal techniques
  2. Instrument methods
  3. Teaching methods
  4. Repertoire selection
  5. Classroom management
  6. Conducting techniques
  7. Mental health & wellness
  8. Music theory
  9. Private lesson strategies
  10. Composing/arranging

Notes:

  • Proposals focused on marching band will not be accepted.
    Consider submitting your marching band clinic propopsal for the Texas Bandmasters Convention.
  • While products may be mentioned, clinics must be educational, not commercial.

Clinic Proposal Status

Proposal status is emailed to submitter and primary clinician by August 15.

Clinicians must verify acceptance by responding to the invitation email by September 1.

For accepted clinics, schedule information will be available by the first week in October. A link to this information will be provided via the email you submit in the proposal.

Audio/Visual and Equipment

Understand that TMEA provides only the following equipment for clinicians:

  • One cordless lavalier microphone and one stationary microphone on a podium
  • An LCD projector and screen (HDMI connection)
  • A connection to a sound system (Mini-plug connection – plugs into the headphone port on your device.)
  • An electronic piano keyboard (only if requested)

Clinicians must bring any adapters to connect to our equipment and all other equipment needed for the session.

A laptop computer is the recommended method of playing audio files, video files (including DVD), and using white-board/Power Point type programs on this equipment. A CD or MP3 player could also be used to play audio files.

Internet Access Alert

TMEA does not provide Internet access. Do not rely on Internet access during your presentation. TMEA cannot guarantee the center's WIFI reliability or speed. Download all relevant material to your computer and present it from there exclusively.

Uploading Handouts and Visual Aids

You must submit an electronic copy of session materials and visual aids to TMEA by January 10. You are responsible for providing published versions of your handouts if you so choose.

Audio/Video Recording Permission

TMEA will record the audio portion of all sessions and may record video of selected sessions. TMEA will make the recordings available to convention registrants who choose to purchase this service. You must agree to allow TMEA to record the session for this purpose to submit a proposal.

Proposal submission for the 2025 TMEA Clinic/Convention begins May 1, 2024.

Need Help?

If you have comments/questions/issues with the technical portion of the submission process, please email Frank Coachman.