Outside Room 318

This plenary session will engage in spontaneous human-to-human interaction through music and movement games inspired by the mantras that a) there are no wrong notes, b) all notes are right notes, c) silence is your friend, d) every voice is important, e) listening is the most important job of all musicians, and f) we are all musicians. Take away strategies for cultivating creativity and building musical bridges for children of all ages.

Room 318

Place-based learning (PBL) is the method of using nature and the local environment to assist in learning. Within the early childhood music setting, PBL takes many interactive forms to give representation and build cultural connections that are not only affirming but also fun and easy to accomplish.

Room 207

This presentation includes information about the large public health study called the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) study. The ACEs study created a breakthrough in understanding how childhood experience affects well-being across the life-course. The presentation will view ACEs understanding through the discussion of the “NEAR” sciences of Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs, and Resilience, including connections to strategies to improve health and well-being in early childhood education environments.

Room 318

Kristen Votava

Experience models for using language (familiar words, nonsense syllables, sayings, rhymes, poems, stories) both to develop accessible, flexible musical experiences and to foster vocal, instrumental, and musical skills and expression.  

Room 318

Jay Broeker

Workshop participants will enjoy FIRST THE EGG by Laura Vaccaro Seeger through activities that include singing, listening, moving, playing simple instruments, and reading. Prepare to explore science by moving like a caterpillar/butterfly, changing from seed/flower, and growing from tadpole/frog!

Room 207

Mrs. Rita Whitaker Haun

Outside Room 318

This research examines caregiver perspectives on their children's K-12 music experiences. Through interviews with caregivers of students with disabilities, this research explores barriers to access, educator relationships, and suggestions for creating inclusive music programs.

Dr. Erika Knapp and Dr. Rachel Grimsby

Room 207

This session demonstrates how teachers can use beginning-level ukulele skills to support children’s movement. Activities will show basic ukulele skills (single chords, down strums, up strums, simple picking, etc.) can be used to add variety to responsive listening lessons.

Dr. Ann Harrington

Room 318

Sing, play, and move with others to easily learned traditional songs and singing games in both English and non-English languages as we explore the global instinct of children to create relationships and community through musical play. 

Jay Broeker

Room 318

You can find a list of restaurant options in Grand Forks here.

Food Options Close to UND

Panda Express - Food Court in Memorial Union

Chick-Fil-A - Food Court in Memorial Union

Short & Tall - Across from the parking ramp

Northside Cafe - Short Drive from the Memorial Union

Speedway - Short drive from the Memorial Union

Learn how Seesaw on iPads can support self-administered, research-based measures of singing voice development and self-efficacy in children ages 6–9. This practical session invites dialogue between researchers and educators on using technology for instruction, assessment, and future research.

Ms. Lara Larsson

Room 207

Engage in playful music contexts and strategies designed to develop independent and collaborative musicianship through social music engagement. Experience strategies designed to elicit young children’s vocalizations and movements as springboards for improvisation that deepen music relationships through music skills and understanding. Experience the unexpected joys and wonders possible through improvisation that is based in young children’s vocalizations and movements.  

Dr. Wendy Valerio

Room 318

How did the Grand Cities Children‘s Chorus (GCCC) move from a seed of a dream to a valuable asset to not only the singers it has served, but to the entire greater Grand Forks area? With inspiration from the themes of popular movies, participants will learn the tools to build their own thriving children’s choral program that stands the test of time.

Melanie Popejoy

Room 207

Moving creatively and purposefully can foster musicality from an early age. In this session, Jones will demonstrate Dalcroze-based experiences designed for children ages 0-4 years old. Participants will leave with activities to directly implement into their next lesson.

Dr. Jason Jones

Room 318

IJMEC is the only peer-reviewed international journal pertaining to the intersection of music and young children - and it is dedicated to sharing the work and ideas of those who work with very young children. The purpose of this session is to 1) make IJMEC’s submission and review processes transparent, 2) share writing and publishing tips, and 3) workshop potential article topics with session attendees.

Diana Dansereau

Room 233

This research examines how play-based assessment of musical knowledge and skills can reveal what young children know and can do. From these assessments, teachers gain authentic insight into how children understand music meaningfully, which can inform future instruction.

Dr. Sarah Burns

Room 207

We will discuss research behind singing voice development associated ages 4-7, demonstrate engaging activities using audience participation, and provide classroom examples using video footage of what activities look like with children. A packet of demonstrated materials will also be provided.

Dr. Christina Svec

Room 233

You are invited for an evening of fellowship as we celebrate inducting Dr. Alison Reynolds into the Early Childhood Music and Movement Hall of Honor. Dinner will be served. Entertainment will be provided by the Grand Cities Children’s Choir. Must purchase a ticket to attend.

Room 318

Outside Room 318

Come learn how an interdisciplinary partnership between a university music education program and second-grade classrooms in a local school district motivated student engagement and promoted academic success through musical play and social interaction. Explore the magic of this musical collaboration!

Dr. Sarah Burns and Dr. Renée Baptiste

Room 207

We will share perspectives of caregivers, young children, and preservice music teachers who participated in an early childhood music lab class, including the results of a quality improvement project intended to inform future iterations of this lab connecting college students and community members.

Ms. Sam Webber, Dr. Mara Culp, Ms. Zhilin Zhang, and Ms. Laura Turley

Room 318

This session will consider psychological safety through the lens of implementation science, including discussion of the characteristics of highly functioning teams, stages of psychological safety, and application to education.  Teaming and collaboration will be a focus through examination of how to create an environment of interpersonal trust and respect. 

Kristen Votava

Room 318

Strategies for building bilingual early childhood music communities through Spanishlanguage song and movement. This interactive session uplifts Spanish-speaking educators as cultural and linguistic leaders while supporting all teachers in inclusive, developmentally grounded musical practice.

Mrs. Madeleine Welch

Room 207

Spontaneous parent-child musical moments offer rich opportunities for engagement and connection. Through personal vignettes and audience sharing, participants will practice recognizing and embracing everyday musical moments at home and in classrooms.

Dr. Whitney Mayo

Room 318

Pick up some lunch from the food court downstairs and come back to learn all about ECMMA!

Room 318

Together, we will explore why self-efficacy is an important singing topic with young children and how we can go about encouraging selfefficacy. Most importantly, fun activities and songs shaped to promote positive self-efficacy will be demonstrated and made available to attendees

Dr. Christina Svec and Ms. Lara Larsson

Room 207

Although Down Syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal conditions in the United States, individuals with Down Syndrome may represent an underserved population in music and movement education. In this workshop, the presenter will model strategies that benefit young learners with Down Syndrome.

Ms. Sam Webber

Room 318

Christina Svec