Conference Schedule

September 21 - 24, 2025 virtual via Zoom
September 26 - 28, 2025 live in Los Angeles

All  virtual programming is CENTRAL Time.  

Sunday September 21, 2025 online

6:00pm	Virtual Opening & Newcomer Welcome (4pm PT, 7pm ET)
6:15pm	Virtual Round Robin (4:15 pm PT, 7:15pm ET)

Monday September 22, 2025 online- All times CT

Bridging Books and Beats - Literacy Day

5:00pm	Songswap: Tales and Tunes / hosted by Evalyn Harper
6:15pm	The Power of Prosody: Building Readers Through Meter / Evalyn and Monty Harper
7:30pm	Kidlit 101: Navigating Traditional and Self-Publishing / Julie Hedlund and Nathalia Palis

Tuesday September 23, 2025 online (all times CT)

Play, Pause and Power UP! - Level Up your TECH skills for your music production or classroom

5:00pm	Music Production (at home!) / Ryan Benyo
6:15pm	Podcast Plans with Podcast Pals / Andrew and Polly
7:30pm	AI Yi-Yi! Panel / moderated by Kaitlin McGaw

Wednesday September 24, 2025 online (all times CT)

Reel Rhythms - A Day of Music, Media & Global Voices

5:00pm	Our Global Community / Benny Thatcher and Claudia Robin Gunn
6:15pm	Song Swap: Non-Binary / hosted by Carrie Fergueson
7:30pm	Singing for Justice: Screening of Faith Petric Documentary / Estelle Freedman

Thursday September 25, 2025

Travel Day -- no programming

Friday September 26, 2025 (ALL LIVE PROGRAMMING IS PACIFIC TIME)

Puppet Jamboree: Using Puppets and Music to Connect with Children
sponsored by Silly Goose and Val

8:00am	Breakfast at hotel
9:00am	Travel to Bob Baker
9:30am	Coffee and gather at Bob Baker Theater
10:00am	Welcome and Tour of the Bob Baker Theater
11:00am	Workshop: Bob Baker Marionettes
12noon	Lunch and Shop
1:00pm	Special activity with Sesame Street Puppeteer, Megan Piphus
1:30pm	Break
1:45pm	Panel Discussion: "Creating Connections: Puppetry, Music, and the Art of Engaging Children" Megan Piphus, SNOOKNUK and Red Yarn
2:45pm	Return to hotel

Live Conference Open

4:00pm	Registration and Welcome
5:00pm	Newcomer’s Circle and Welcoming (all are welcome)
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Opening Ceremony
7:15pm	Ella Jenkins Tribute / led by Mega Ran
8:00pm	Break w/ desserts
8:30pm	Round Robin Part 1 sponsored by School Yard Rap / Griot B
10:30pm	Dance Party with DJ WillyWow and Jam Sessions!

Saturday September 27, 2025

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Breakout Session One Challenge your Listeners / Josh Friedman Time Out: Go In / Alphabet Rockers sponsored by Dr. Noize Come on In! Watch an Elementary Music Class in Action / Katie Todd sponsored by Songs for Teaching
10:30am	Breakout Session Two Writing Music for Kids—with Kids! / Fyütch and Aura V Selling Yourself and Your Music-Developing an Elevator Speech / Wendy Morgan (Wendy and DB) Using Children's Music to Support Children and Families from All Faith Communities / Mara Sapon-Shevin
11:45am	Lunch
12:30pm	Annual Meeting
1:30pm	Keynote Presentation with Fyütch sponsored by Star Forest
3:15pm	Breakout Session Three Who Did What Now? / Lucy Kalantari Call And Response: Writing Children's Hip-Hop Songs / Mega Ran Reframing Support for Children Through Music / Nicole Porter
4:30pm	Social Time and daytime Jam Session
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Round Robin Part 2 sponsored by School Yard Rap / Griot B
11:00pm	Late Nite Jams

Sunday September 28, 2025

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Breakout Session Four Make It a Show: Turning Songs into Stories & Setups into Success / Aaron Bertram Collaborations: How To Develop, Sustain, and Thrive / Panel with Tara Trudel, Mista Cookie Jar, Cindy Haws, Kymberly Stewart Song Swap: Bilingual / Teacher Peter
10:30am	PIO! Scholar & Magic Penny presentation honoring Dave Kinnoin sponsored by Love Light Laughter / Chandrika Tandon
12noon	Lunch
1:00pm	Closing Circle