Present at the Inaugural Music Teacher Guild Conference, Accelerate

This Is Not a Typical Conference—and This Is Not a Typical Call for Presenters

The Music Teacher Guild Conference was created in response to a clear, research-backed reality:

Many of the most pressing challenges music educators face today have emerged alongside changes in the profession and are not always addressed in depth through formal training or traditional conference models.

This event is designed to change that.

We are building a professional learning experience that treats music educators as skilled practitioners—and treats presenters as architects of transformation.

If you have spent years developing expertise that actually works in the real world, this conference was built with you in mind.

I PROMISE NOT TO READ MY SLIDES

Why Music Educators Choose to Present at Accelerate

Presenters are not selected for novelty, trends, connections to sponsors, or surface-level tips.

They are selected because they:

  • Have built or rebuilt sustainable programs

  • Have solved problems most teachers were never trained to solve

  • Understand the realities of time, funding, equity, burnout, and retention

  • Want to share work that changes practice, not just inspires ideas

Educators who present with us are often motivated by:

  • A desire to teach at depth, not rush through slides

  • A sense of responsibility to pass on hard-won knowledge

  • The opportunity to contribute to something foundational, not derivative

  • Professional recognition among peers who take the work seriously

This 2-day workshop is not about exposure for exposure’s sake.
It is about belonging to a small group of educators shaping the future of the profession.

I’M READY TO BUILD SOMETHING BETTER

Why This Format Is Different—and Why That Matters

Most conferences rely on a 50-minute session model: a tasting menu that informs and inspires educators, but often leaves out some of the most essential elements for actual skill transformation.

We are intentionally doing the opposite.

Our Workshops Are:

  • 4–6 hours in length

  • Designed around specific, measurable outcomes

  • Built for implementation, not inspiration

  • Structured to allow depth, dialogue, and applied learning

These workshops are not submitted as open proposals.

Instead, they are curated in advance based on research into:

  • What music educators need now

  • What they were potentially left untrained for in college

  • What actually improves sustainability, effectiveness, and student experience

Presenters apply to teach one of these defined workshops, ensuring:

  • Alignment between presenter expertise and participant need

  • Clear expectations for scope and outcomes

  • Meaningful impact for attendees

This flipped model allows presenters to focus on what they do best: teach well, deeply, and with purpose.

FINALLY—A CONFERENCE THAT GETS IT

How Learning Actually Happens at Accelerate

We take instructional design seriously—especially online.

Presenters are trained and supported to teach using a four-stage learning model designed for real transfer into practice:

  1. Information & Explanation
    Presenters introduce concepts with clarity, context, and purpose.

  2. Demonstration
    Skills and strategies are modeled live—not described abstractly.

  3. Implementation
    Participants actively apply what they are learning during the session.

  4. Evaluation & Feedback
    Presenters assess learning in real time and offer targeted guidance.

This structure transforms workshops from passive viewing into active professional learning—the kind that actually changes practice.

I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS

Quality Instruction, Real Impact.

Quality Instruction, Real Impact.

Why Presenting at the Inaugural Conference Matters So Much

This is the first Music Teacher Guild Conference.

That matters.

Inaugural presenters:

  • Help establish the intellectual and ethical foundation of the event

  • Shape the culture, tone, and expectations for years to come

  • Are recognized as founding contributors, not interchangeable speakers

For many educators, this represents:

  • Professional distinction

  • Long-term visibility within a growing national organization

  • Meaningful leadership beyond their local context

This is not a repeatable speaking slot.
It is a chance to help build something that does not yet exist.

Who Should Apply

You should consider applying if you:

  • Have deep expertise aligned with one of the listed workshops

  • Want to teach in a format that allows real impact

  • Value professional contribution over performative presenting

  • Are excited by the opportunity to shape something new

  • Believe music educators deserve better professional learning models

If that resonates, we would be honored to review your application.

THIS IS MY JAM

Compensation & Support: Transparency Up Front

The Music Teacher Guild is a nonprofit organization, and this inaugural conference is both our first major event and our primary fundraiser and membership drive.

Because of this, we cannot guarantee standard speaker honoraria at this time. We believe it is essential to be transparent about that reality—and equally clear about what we do and do not believe.

I WANT TO HELP MAKE THIS LEARNING POSSIBLE

    • Professional expertise has value

    • No one should ever pay to present

    • No one should feel obligated to present without compensation

    • Compensation models should evolve as organizations become sustainable

  • All presenters receive:

    • Full complimentary access to the conference (live + evergreen)

    • A complimentary three-year Music Teacher Guild membership

    • Complimentary Mentorship 101 Training & Certification

    • Professional promotion through conference and organizational channels

    • Invitations to presenter-only networking opportunities with sponsors and peers

    • A curated thank-you gift in recognition of their contribution

    These benefits are offered as recognition and support—not as a substitute for compensation.

  • While speaker fees are not guaranteed, we are actively pursuing multiple compensation mechanisms:

    Session Sponsorships

    Individual workshops may be sponsored by aligned organizations. When this occurs, sponsorship funds are directed first toward speaker compensation.

    Presenter-Identified Sponsors

    Presenters may identify organizations interested in sponsoring their session. With permission, we will explore those partnerships together.

    Speaker Revenue Distribution Fund

    A percentage of conference revenue will be allocated to a shared speaker distribution pool, with funds distributed based on defined criteria such as instructional hours delivered.

    As the conference grows, our goal is to move toward consistent, fair speaker compensation as a standard practice.

  • We want to be explicit about how this conference operates:

    • We will never require presenters to pay to speak

    • We will never require presenters to purchase registration or membership

    • We will never treat presenters as marketing assets

    • We will not rely on unpaid expert labor as a permanent model

    This conference is being built with integrity, transparency, and respect for the profession.

Teaching at a Global Scale (Without Losing Depth)

The Music Teacher Guild Conference is not limited to a single region, system, or subject matter.

Educators participate from 15+ countries, representing public schools, private studios, community programs, and higher-education settings around the world.

For presenters, this means:

  • Your work reaches educators working in diverse cultural, funding, and instructional contexts

  • Your ideas are tested and refined through truly global dialogue

  • Your contribution supports teachers who rarely have access to high-quality professional learning

This is not mass exposure.


It is meaningful reach—educators who are actively investing in their practice and prepared to engage deeply with your work.

I WANT MY INSTRUCTION TO ACTUALLY MATTER

You Probably Have Questions. Here are answers.

  • We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

    No—and yes, in the right way.

    We trust you as the subject-matter expert. You will bring the expertise, perspective, and practical knowledge that make the workshop valuable.

    We will provide:

    • A clear workshop outline and learning objectives

    • Guidance on interactive activities and applied learning

    • Support for delivering the session effectively in an online format

    • Coaching with one of our board members or the Executive Director

    The final session is developed collaboratively. The resulting workshop content will be considered joint intellectual property, reflecting both your expertise and the instructional design support provided by Music Teacher Guild.

  • We are still finalizing the exact technology stack.

    The platform may vary depending on session needs, but presenters should be comfortable with Zoom-like functionality, including:

    • Screen and audio sharing

    • Muting and participant management

    • Multiple cameras or viewpoints

    • Chat and Q&A tools

    • Whiteboards or shared documents

    • Uploading or referencing materials

    We will provide onboarding and support so expectations are clear well in advance.

  • Yes.

    All presenters will sign a formal agreement before the event. This protects both you and Music Teacher Guild and ensures:

    • Clear expectations

    • Intellectual property clarity

    • Transparency around compensation and use of recordings

    Our goal is alignment, not restriction.

  • We want to be transparent.

    While we cannot guarantee ongoing royalties for evergreen content, we are committed to ethical use of presenter work. The evergreen course will be retired after one year, and presenters will be first in line for future paid projects, workshops, and collaborations as the organization grows.

    We see this as a relationship, not a one-off transaction.

  • Not being selected does not mean your expertise isn’t valued.

    If a full workshop is not the right fit, you may be invited to:

    • Contribute recorded micro-content to supplement the evergreen experience

    • Participate in lighter-lift instructional contributions

    • Be considered for future workshops or events

    With your permission, we will keep your information on file for future opportunities.

  • This workshop is designed for active classroom music educators across various contexts, and those training for a role in classroom music education.

    Participants are music educators who:

    • Have intentionally registered for a multi-hour intensive

    • Are seeking practical, applicable learning

    • Are prepared to engage actively

    This is not a passive or casual audience.

  • You can reach the Music Teacher Guild team by emailing:

    hello@musicteacherguild.org

  • No.

    Applications are open to any qualified music educator or professional development provider. Membership is not required to apply or to present.

  • No.

    We recognize that some of the most effective instructors are:

    • Former educators

    • Administrators

    • Researchers

    • Consultants

    • Specialists

    We value expertise based on relevance and depth—not current job title or placement.

  • Workshops are designed collaboratively to be focused and efficient.

    You should expect:

    • Structured planning support

    • Clear timelines

    • A reasonable preparation commitment aligned with the depth of the session

    We are mindful of workload and do not expect unpaid, open-ended labor.

  • Yes.

    Live sessions will be recorded for on-demand access for registered participants. Recording details, access duration, and usage are clearly outlined in the presenter agreement.

  • Yes.

    Presenters will not be responsible for managing the technical aspects of the session alone. Support will be available to assist with logistics so you can focus on teaching.

  • Yes—with boundaries.

    Presenters may reference relevant resources where appropriate. The focus of the workshop must remain on learning and implementation, not promotion. Expectations are clearly outlined during onboarding.

  • Selections are based on:

    • Alignment with the specific workshop

    • Depth and relevance of experience

    • Ability to teach effectively in an applied format

    • Overall program balance

    This is a curated process, not first-come, first-served.