By Thomas Palmatier
Anyone who has ever attended the Midwest Clinic is familiar with the dizzying array of clinics, workshops, and stellar performances by instrumental performers of all types and ages.
For those who only get sucked into the maelstrom of the exhibits (easy to do, but don’t forget to visit SBO+!) or are frantically running from clinic to clinic, it’s easy to miss the new programs Midwest has been rolling out to address the needs of so many music educators.
The Emerging Music Educators Program (EME) is our future: the up-and-coming teachers of tomorrow’s classrooms. Designed for those in college and the first five years of their professional career, the EME program offers opportunities to help bridge the gap between graduation and a career in music education.
The EME Program (formerly called GenNEXT) launched at the 2023 Clinic with a track specifically designed for those ages 18-25. Those over age 25 who are beginning a second/new career in music education are also encouraged to participate in EME events.
String Teaching Simplified for Those New to String Teaching
From the basics of teaching strings to refining your pedagogical string knowledge, this 4-hour immersive session will provide those new to teaching strings with the information, tools, and resources needed to effectively teach orchestra. This informational and practical session will focus on the foundational principles of string playing and teaching including instrument position, tone production, shifting, and vibrato. Participants will select a primary string instrument to learn during this hands-on workshop and can elect to join either beginning or intermediate level breakout sessions based on experience and interest. The Midwest Clinic and American String Teachers Association have come together to sponsor this exciting opportunity.
This pre-conference event will take place at McCormick Place West in Chicago on Tuesday, December 17 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM CT.
Attendees will be able to add registration for this event at the end of their Midwest Clinic Conference Registration. Due to limited seating, only professional and college student registrants are eligible to attend.
Reynolds Conducting Institute
The art of conducting has been a lifelong passion of music educator and conductor H. Robert Reynolds. Through his commitment to the advancement of conducting he has inspired countless students around the globe to discover their own passion for the art form. The Midwest Clinic is committed to supporting the art of conducting by presenting an in depth conducting symposium for outstanding selected participants. Taking place during the 78th annual conference, the Reynolds Conducting Institute will be held Thursday, December 19 through noon on Friday, December 20 at McCormick Place West in Chicago. Clinicians for the 6th annual Institute will be H. Robert Reynolds and Mark Scatterday.
The Institute ensemble will include the finest musicians from The Eastman Wind Ensemble Chamber Players performing a variety of chamber repertoire appropriate for the highest levels of personal growth and professional learning. Any Midwest Clinic attendee is welcome to sit in and observe the Reynolds Conducting Institute at no additional charge.
Institute for Composer Diversity (ICD)
ICD has created searchable resources for attendees to The Midwest Clinic to locate works by composers from underrepresented groups in concerts, reading sessions, and the exhibit hall.
Where to find us at Midwest! You can find us December 20 through December 22 at our booth #1929 in the Midwest Exhibit Hall!
The Midwest website has a great tool to search for works composed or arranged by women & non-binary composers/arrangers and composers/arrangers of color. Go to the ICD booth and filter your search for works performed at Midwest concerts and reading sessions or works that can be found in the exhibit hall.
High School Leadership Institute
For just $25, students can take part in The Midwest Clinic’s High School Leadership Institute, an exclusive one-day program for high school leaders interested in pursuing a career in music education. An experience that promises not to disappoint, the music education clinic offers the chance to connect with like-minded students as well as world-class leaders in the profession.
To create an intimate, personalized environment, we have limited registration to the first 50 attendees. Once those spaces are claimed, registration will be closed.
To register students, directors will need to provide their registration confirmation number. Directors do not need to attend the sessions with their students, but they do need to be a registered attendee.
College Night
College Night provides an opportunity for students and teachers to learn more about music degree programs and visit with representatives of the nation’s leading colleges, universities and branches of the United States military. College Night is FREE and open to the public.
CSO Brass and CSO Concerts
Special pricing for Midwest Clinic attendees at the CSO Brass concert and 15% off regular prices for Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts Dec 18 – 21, 2024.
Use promo code MIDWEST and pricing will be reflected in your cart at checkout. Or call (312) 294-3000 and mention code MIDWEST. Tickets on sale July 24.
All of this in addition to over 50 performances from middle school, high school, college, professional, and community music groups in the areas of jazz, concert band, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and percussion ensemble. Featured performing groups include the U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors, the United States Coast Guard Band, the Barcelona Clarinet Players, the Lithuanian Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Dallas Brass, h2 Quartet, Kittle & Co., and Seraph Brass.
MidwestClinic.org
