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Choosing an idea 

• What are you interested in? 

• Anything you think about or wonder about related to your teaching? 

• Is there a specialty or unique experience you have that you would like to share with other teachers? 

• After this, come up with the general topic you want to talk about (e.g. Using mobile apps in lessons, improvisation in classical music) and then narrow down if possible 

 

Types of Presentations 

• Differences in presentation types, and some might fit your preferences and topic better than others 

• Collegiate Symposium 

  • Lightning Talk

  • Full Session 

  • Poster Presentation

  • Networking Session

• MTNA National Conference 

  • Individual submissions (as a member, outside of a collegiate chapter) 

    • Full presentation 

    • Poster presentation 

  • Collegiate chapter submissions

    • 25-minute sessions 

    • Poster presentations

 

Look up the Requirements for the Proposal  

• Each is different 

• Copy the guidelines into a document so you have them always visible for easy reference 

 

Creating an Outline 

• Start with very broad points that you know you will cover 

• Usually, think of this order: 

  • State why you are doing the topic (think of a review of literature, statement of the issue) 

  • Explain your take on it/your experience/viewpoint 

  • Give some specifics on what you will cover 

  • Explain what you will do in the session/poster (e.g. will there be audience activities? Will there will be pieces played?)

  • End with strong statement 

 

• Outline Example: Mobile apps in lessons 

  • Why it’s important 

  • Kids like technology 

  • What apps I’ve used 

  • How to use apps for different tasks 

  • What I will do in this presentation (little teaser of what session will look like) 

 

Fill in Outline 

• Your outline should give you some general ideas 

• Fill in details 

 

Peer/Advisor Review 

• Ask a friend and/or advisor/mentor to look over it 

• Read your proposal out loud to yourself (easier to catch mistakes that way) 

 

Choose a catchy title

• The title hook is an important component of your proposal! 

• Here are some examples from our chapter and chapter members’ past presentation titles: 

  • Teaching Transfer Students from the YouTube Conservatory

  • Keyboard DJ: How to Remix Any Tune for Your Group Piano Class

  • Cheat Sheet to Spreadsheets: How to Use Excel like a Pro in Your Music Studio

  • From Bartok to TikTok: How to Prevent Teen Students from Losing Interest in a World of Distractions

  • Apes and Apps: How to Keep Active Students Engaged (so you don’t go bananas!)

  • Fresh Vibes: Connecting with Generation Z and Alpha Students in your Modern Music Studio

  • The Education, Experience, and Enjoyment of Jazz in Piano Lessons

  • Engaging with Living Pedagogical Composers of Today