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November 2026

November Teacher Toolkit

It's November already, and we know you’re juggling winter concert prep alongside your everyday lesson planning right now, so we’ve gathered exciting new & existing resources to support you and help your students shine. Inside this month’s toolkit, you’ll find our new TeachRock collaboration learning pack, ongoing info for our Songwriting Exhibition, next steps for educators of every experience level in the Teacher’s Manual, performance-focused stage presence lessons, and an early Save the Date for Modern Band Summit, in addition to upcoming professional development and community events. 

New Curriculum

Bring Fresh Content to Class with TeachRock

We are thrilled to release the brand-new TeachRock Learning Pack! This comprehensive, ready-to-use resource is designed to help you seamlessly integrate culturally relevant music history and modern band application directly into your classroom. These materials are built to keep your students engaged and inspired as they connect music history to the songs they love.
Featured Opportunity

Build Creative Confidence: Join the Songwriting Cohort

There is still time to join our Virtual Songwriting Cohort Series! Led by award-winning educator Bob Habersat, this two-part learning experience kicks off on November 17th. You will work through actionable steps to build your own creative confidence, which you can immediately use to guide your students toward the upcoming 2027 Songwriting Exhibition.

Here’s what’s included:
  • Live Virtual Sessions: Join us on Zoom for two collaborative meetings on November 17, 2026, and January 19, 2027, from 6:30–7:30 PM CST.
  • Flexible PD: Complete approximately 18 hours of asynchronous activities at your own pace throughout the school year.
  • Exclusive Resources: Receive a free 6-month Soundtrap for Education license and full access to Shed Studio lessons.


Want to jumpstart your lessons right now? Check out the Shed The Music songwriting video series available on JamZone.

DISCOVER THE MUSIC WILL SONGWRITING EXHIBITION

Curious about the Music Will Songwriting Exhibition? This annual program invites young people to write and share original music in a supportive national showcase. It isn’t about finding the “best” song—it is about giving developing songwriters space to explore their ideas, receive personalized feedback from music industry professionals, and see themselves as true artists.

Whether you are new to the community or just looking for inspiration, we encourage you to read our recap of the 2026 Songwriting Exhibition to see the incredible impact this program has on students.

Ready to get your classroom involved? We hope you'll join us! Download the 2027 Exhibition Readiness Pack to start guiding your students through the creative process today.

Educator Resource

Find Your Next Step with the Teacher's Manual

If you are new to the Music Will community—welcome! We know there is a lot to explore, and we want to help you find your next step. If you’ve been with us for years as part of our incredible 9,000+ educator community, you might have noticed some big updates and changes recently. We are here to help you easily navigate the tools and resources you’ve grown to love.

The updated Teacher's Manual in Music Will Academy features a curated section specifically for new teachers, including our Getting Started with Modern Band course, beginner-friendly JamZone video series, and a helpful tutorial on How to Use JamZone.

There is also a brand-new section for Teacher Favorites—a collection of tried and tested resources from Music Will teachers around the world. We’ve gathered all of the most frequently used and requested materials in one place. Be sure to spend some time digging in!

Save the Date

Mark your calendars! 

The Modern Band Summit returns next summer, July 14–16, 2027. Thanks to the continued generosity of our longtime presenting sponsor, Bohemian Foundation, alongside the support of Let Music Fill My World, we are thrilled to waive registration fees for all educator attendees for the second year in a row!

Interested in sharing your expertise and leading a session?

Our Call for Presenters Proposals submission will be open from December 9, 2026 – January 5, 2027. In the meantime, learn more about presenting at Modern Band Summit by checking out our spotlight on Enrique Andino who led a session on Regional Mexican Music in the Modern Band Classroom at the 2026 Modern Band Summit.

Getting Ready for the Gig

Set the Stage with JamZone

As you prepare for your winter concerts, JamZone has the perfect tools to help your students transition from the practice room to the performance stage. Use our Stage Presence video series to help students build confidence and connect with their audience. Then, check out our Running a Soundcheck guide to walk your modern band through the technical steps of a great live mix.
Conversation corner

WINTER CONCERTS

What are your students requesting to play for their upcoming concerts in winter or spring?
Tell us in the Music Will Academy Community Space! Share your setlists, swap ideas with fellow educators, and get inspired for your upcoming performances.

Workshops

Confident Teachers Create Confident Students

Our in-person and online workshops are designed to instill knowledge and confidence in educators so they can deliver an impactful music program for students

Upcoming Workshops:

DATE WORKSHOP LOCATION
11/7/2026 Modern Band 101 Burlington, VT
11/14/2026 Virtual Modern Band 102 Virtual
11/14/2026 Modern Band 101 Los Angeles, CA
11/17/2026 Songwriting Cohort Series Virtual
11/21/2026 Modern Band 101 Kent, OH
11/24/2026 Modern Band 101 Brooklyn, NY
12/09/2026 Modern Band 101 Galesburg, MI
Coming soon to an MEA Conference near you:
North Carolina, Nebraska, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota

Community

Regional Community Events

Explore events that connect music educators and students to celebrate modern bands! Join fellow teachers to share ideas, collaborate, and build community through local meetups, virtual affinity groups, and student JamFests.

Upcoming Community Events:

DATE WORKSHOP LOCATION
11/16/2026 Rural Educators Affinity Group Meetup Virtual
12/3/2026 Educators of Color Affinity Group Meetup Virtual
12/10/2026 LGBTQIA+ Educators Affinity Group Meetup Affinity Group Meetup Virtual
12/18/2026 NYC Meet Up Winter Gathering New York, NY

Additional Resources from Music Will

Music Will Academy

As you settle into the rhythm of the fall semester, lean on our free, on-demand platforms to support both sides of your classroom. Music Will Academy offers over 40 courses and downloadable materials to help you strengthen your practice and confidently plan tomorrow's lesson.

JamZone

JamZone remains the perfect space to explore over 500 song charts, practice individual parts, and make music independently. Be sure to check out the virtual keyboard and drum machine features! These are fantastic tools for independent practice, allowing students to build rhythmic foundations and explore instrumentation directly from their devices.

We're pleased to continue to upgrade our digital resources for our educators. To provide feedback and share ideas to improve our products, please fill out our feedback form.

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