When: September 25, 2026
Where: Northern Michigan University
Headliner: Ashleigh Lore
The MMEA Upper Peninsula Professional Development is a one-day professional development event, hosted at Northern Michigan University, designed for educators and pre-service teachers working in general music classrooms at any grade level. This engaging workshop offers hands-on learning, practical teaching strategies, and fresh ideas to inspire and support music instruction across a diverse array of students and settings. Participants gain valuable tools to enhance their practice, connect with colleagues, and explore current trends and research in general music education.
Award-winning educator and state of Michigan’s 2022-23 Region 6 Teacher of the Year, Ashleigh Lore teaches K-4th elementary general music in mid-Michigan. She is an Orff-Schulwerk certified instructor, First Steps in Music (FAME) Certified, Google Educator Certified, and has completed Kodaly Level I. She is author of The Music Educator’s Guide to Grant Writing (2019) and Recorder Boot Camp (2021). Ashleigh is currently the Secretary of the Michigan Music Education Association, a Past-President of the Mid-Michigan Orff-Schulwerk Association, Member-At-Large Representative of NAfME’s Council for General Music Education, adjunct professor at Anderson University, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s Education & Outreach Coordinator.
Non-member: $65
Students: $15
SCECH fee: $10
Attendees are asked to wear comfy clothing and bring recorders and ukes
Schedule
8:30 – 9:00
On-site Registration
9:00 – 10:00
Headliner – Ashleigh Lore: Back to Basics
TFA 111 (first floor, music ed. classroom)
10:10 – 11:10
Theresa Camilli: Piano Technique for the Music Educator (TFA 117 Piano Lab)
Rose Schmidt-Riley: TBA (TFA 250, 2nd floor Choir Room)
11:10 – 12:10
Amorette Languell-Pudelka: Current Issues in Music Education (TFA 111)
12:10 – 1:00
Lunch
1:00 – 2:00
Student Recital (Recital Hall, located across the parking lot)
2:10 – 3:10
Patrick Booth: Creativity (TFA 111)
Keri Lee Pierson: Vocal Health and Technique for the Young Student (and You!) (TFA 250)
3:20 – 4:30
Headliner – Ashleigh Lore: Uke Can Do It (TFA 111)
Parking is in lot 62. Please use this link to create a guest account and register for/print a free parking permit for the day:
https://nmu.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal