Workshops + Gatherings
As members and teachers of the Music Teachers Association of Clark County, we strive to encourage and support each other through networking, meetings, social events, and professional music opportunities for our teachers. The attendance and participation of all of us remains vital for a thriving chapter.
We offer one-hour workshops every other month after our business meetings designed for teachers of all levels and specialties! Come join our exciting team and be inspired in your own teaching!
FREE for MTACC members; $20/person for non-members.
Creative + Confident
Presenter | Sarah Lightfoot
Event Date | September 12, 2025
Event Time | 10:30-11:30am
Business Meeting | 9:30-10:15am
Location | Elizabeth's Music School, Camas
Fees | FREE to MTACC Members! $20 for Guests
A session exploring the wider scope of creativity and arts-based practices to support social-emotional wellness and mental health. With the intentional use of arts and music experiences, we can create a safe atmosphere for exploration, discovery, and acceptance of self and others. We'll explore the power of creativity to empower young people to find their own voice, grow in confidence, and contribute positively to the world around them. Building an understanding of the creative process on the psyche helps us advocate for the importance of arts experiences to be rich, diverse, and accessible in our schools and communities.
Concert Planning Mtg
Moderator | Elizabeth Morris, NCTM
Event Date | October 10, 2025
Event Time | 9:30-10:30am
Business Meeting | 10:45-11:30am
Location | Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver
Fees | FREE to MTACC Members! $20 for Guests
MTACC hosts an annual Scholarship Fundraising Concert every year. Come be a part of the fun and join our great team of entrepreneurs!
Round Table Discussion
Moderator | Elizabeth Morris, NCTM
Event Date | January 9, 2026
Event Time | 10:30-11:30am
Business Meeting | 9:30-10:15am
Location | Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver
Fees | FREE to MTACC Members! $20 for Guests
Come learn from some of the best! Engage in conversation, share ideas, and be freshly inspired for the new year!
The Sustainable Studio
Presenter | Dr. Lisa Neher
Event Date | February 13, 2026
Event Time | 9:30-10:30am
Business Meeting | 10:45-11:30am
Location | Elizabeth's Music School, Camas
Fees | FREE to MTACC Members! $20 for Guests
Most music teachers experience burnout and overwhelm. How can we create and maintain a studio that is sustainable for our economic needs and our personal and family well-being? This presentation will offer best practices for designing studio policies and practices to ensure stable finances for you and your family, protect your time and energy, and provide clarity and professionalism to your students and studio families. Topics include: tuition models, billing and scheduling software, studio contracts and policies, the ever-present "makeup lesson" question, healthy and joyful boundaries, and more. We will have time to address your questions and share strategies with one another.
Gesture, Emotion, and Physical Intention in Music Teaching
Moderator | Erin Guinup
Event Date | March 13, 2026
Event Time | 10:30-11:30am
Business Meeting | 9:30-10:15am
Location | Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver
Fees | FREE to MTACC Members! $20 for Guests
What if your student's pitch inconsistency is actually a tension problem, and that tension is rooted in self-judgment or physical disconnection? This hands-on session explores how working with gesture, emotional awareness, and physical intention helps students break through technical plateaus and deepen their interpretive work.
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We'll start with a short physical warm-up, then move into exercises that combine breath, words, and movement. You'll try out simple gestural and emotional prompts that can unlock technical freedom during skill-building and help students explore interpretive nuance when polishing a performance.
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I'll introduce playful, low-pressure tools that cut through overthinking and invite exploration. We'll practice coaching questions that sharpen students' thinking about character and intention without pushing them to manufacture feeling. Along the way, we'll address some familiar teaching challenges: the technically solid student who doesn't connect emotionally, the overthinker stuck in their head, the performer who does everything right but something's still missing.
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The session is practical and designed for immediate use, whether you're addressing breath support or helping someone prepare for an operatic or musical theatre role. It's less about perfection and more about creating space for students to take risks and communicate more clearly through their singing.
