We are pleased to announce a competitive program to select a group of undergraduate and graduate music education majors for the 14th Annual Music Technology Leadership Academy (MTLA). Since the inception of the MTLA program in 2012 over 200 music education students have participated as interns in the Academy with continued support from the NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) and TI:ME. The Music Technology Leadership Academy will be held in association with the TI:ME (www.ti-me.org) and Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday through Saturday, February 12-15, 2024. 

The Music Technology Leadership Academy is a program for undergraduate (juniors and seniors), masters, and doctoral music education majors. MTLA’s focus is on strategies for engaging non-traditional middle and high school students through technology-based music programs.  For more information on strategies and schools that serve as exemplars as well as more information on the MTLA program and its past interns, refer to https://musiccreativity.org.

Academy interns are selected through a review of video essay submissions. Those accepted will participate in leadership academy sessions (Wednesday through Saturday) that focus on strategies for using technology to reach non-traditional music students. Interns will also attend conference sessions related to music technology. After the conference, interns will be asked to share their experience with pre- or in-service teachers in their community and with music teachers and researchers in general.

The MTLA staff are nationally known music educators who specialize in technology-based music learning. They include Drs. William I. Bauer (University of Florida), Rick Dammers (Rowan University), V. J. Manzo (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), and David Brian Williams (Illinois State University, Emeritus) as well as invited guest presenters. 

Selected interns will have their registration, three nights of hotel accommodations, and travel (up to $450) covered by TI:ME through the NAMM program grant. All accepted program participants are required to complete pre-academy assignments and participate throughout the program from Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. through Saturday morning.

Application steps. In selecting interns, a minimum of music technology experience is expected. Strongest consideration is given to your overall music education training and philosophy as well as music teaching and outreach experiences. 

Please do the following and submit using the web link provided below:

1. Cover letter. Provide a one-page, single-spaced cover letter justifying the benefits of participating in the Academy for you professionally, i.e., why you want to participate, what you might contribute, etc. Also provide your name, school, year in school, email address, and confirm that you are a music education major at the undergraduate or graduate level.
2. Complete the applicant survey form (see link below).
3. Video.  Complete a video essay of some four minutes in length. The video should:
   • tell us about yourself and your music education training and teaching,
   • share any hands-on experience broadening the reach of music education to all students, especially K-12 non-traditional music students, through activities using non-traditional instruments and/or music technology, and 
   • briefly describe your use of music technology software, if any.
4. Letter of reference. Provide a letter of reference from a professor in the music education program at your institution.

To submit your application, use the online form available at tinyurl.com/mtla2025 (Google login required). Email questions to mtla@musiccreativity.org.  Applications must be received by midnight Sunday, December 8, 2024. Participants will be notified by December 20, 2024.

Music Technology Leadership Academy (MTLA): A 14th Year Progress Report

What is it? The Music Technology Leadership Academy (MTLA) is designed to provide a highly select group of music education majors the opportunity to immerse themselves in studying instructional strategies for using music technology to reach students in secondary schools who are non-participants in traditional music ensembles. The strategy and philosophy of this initiative is aligned with the website musiccreativity.org and its focus on using technology to reach “The Other 80%” in secondary school music.

Leadership: Drs. William I. Bauer (University of Florida), Rick Dammers (Rowan University), V. J. Manzo (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), and David Brian Williams (Illinois State University, Emeritus) and select guest presenters. 

About the NAMM Foundation. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9,000+ members. The Foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org. 

About TI:ME Technology in Music Education. TI:ME is a 501c3 founded over a quarter of a century ago to help bring best practices standards of applying the latest technology for music to the world of music education at all grade levels. TI:ME teaches teachers to integrate technology into traditional and non-traditional music programs, across genres, disciplines and instrumental and vocal programs. For more information, please visit ti-me.org.

Activities:

• Pre-academy assignments to prepare for the MTLA activities.
• Four-day​ ​event​ ​embedded​ ​within​ ​the​ ​music​ ​education​ ​conference​ ​from Wednesday through Saturday.
• Training sessions on technology tools, strategies, and research related to non-traditional music (NTM) students.
• Attendance​ ​of​ ​conference​ ​sessions​ ​related​ ​to​ ​music​ ​technology​ ​and​ ​its​ ​application​ ​to instructional​ ​settings. 
• Social​ ​networking​ ​times​ ​for​ ​participants​ ​to​ ​share​ ​experiences.
• Final​ ​capstone​ ​project​ ​tailored​ ​to​ ​NTMs​.
• Follow​ ​up​ ​activities​ ​after​ ​the​ ​Academy​ ​experience.

Value:

This project provides unique experiences in support of music making, learning, and teaching. The MTLA offers:

• A unique format for blending music technology study with real-life music teaching experiences giving student interns not only insights from the MTLA instructors but from music education and the music industry at large. 
• Networking opportunities for student interns—chosen competitively from diverse music education programs across the nation—with their student colleagues as well as conference presenters and attendees. 
• Training on instructional strategies for using technology to reach a critical student population within secondary music education, the estimated 80 percent of students nationally who do not participate in traditional music ensembles.
• Exploration of research related to non-traditional music students, especially for the graduate-level interns.
  

History:

The first MTLA was held in Louisville, KY (January 2012) with the TI:ME National Conference and the Jazz Educators Network Conference. Subsequently, nine MTLAs have been held in San Antonio, TX (2013-2015, 2016, 2018-2020, 2023-2024) with the TI:ME National Conference and the Texas Music Educators Association.  

The 2017 conference was held in Cleveland, OH with TI:ME and Ohio Music Educators Association support.  For the years 2021-2022 Virtual Music Technology Academies were held online with TI:ME, NAMM, and industry support. The last two MTLAs were held back in San Antonio, TX (February 2023-2024) with the TI:ME and TMEA conferences.  

All 14 of the Music Technology Leadership Academies has been generously supported by funding provided by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation and the TI:ME organization. More details on the interns selected, the schools represented, and a gallery of photos from the fourteen years of MTLA programs and activity available from the website musiccreativity.org.