Performing and Presenting Opportunities

Unique opportunities for presentations and performances are available each year at NCPP. Please be sure to read below regarding opportunities for this year’s conference. 

 
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Presentation Opportunities

The National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy will take place at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas on May 17-19, 2026. The purpose of the conference is to explore the status of percussion pedagogy in the United States as well as to outline strategies for improving the teaching and learning of percussion instruments. The conference will provide a forum to increase awareness of “what is happening,” guide us toward identifying “what should happen,” and provide the means for “making it happen.” The Board of Advisors invites you to submit a proposal for participation in one of two formats: 

HOW-TO PEDAGOGY SESSION: This session will feature individual presentations addressing a pedagogical topic. Each presenter will begin with an overview of the topic, no longer than 12 minutes. A typical 12-minute presentation would include practical solutions or guidance for the pedagogical challenges that we face in our field.
Then, each presenter will move to an assigned room for more in-depth discussion and/or hands-on demonstrations. Attendees will have time to move between rooms to learn more about topics of interest. Presenters should plan to provide attendees with handouts, roughly 75, or access to handouts (e.g., QR code). Please include a short overview of your topic as part of your proposal.  

RESEARCH SESSION: This session will provide an opportunity to share completed research or research in progress that informs our understanding of a range of topics related to percussion pedagogy. This is a great opportunity to share and get feedback on your research. The session will be organized around brief presentations; 30-minutes per presenter with an additional 10 to 15 minutes for questions for each presenter. Please include an abstract of your research as part of your proposal. If you are accepted to present, you should plan to provide attendees, roughly 75, with a brief handout or access to a handout (e.g., QR code) that summarizes your study. 

The last day for submissions is MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026. Submissions should be emailed to Kathleen Kastner (kathleen.kastner@wheaton.edu). The subject line should indicate NCPP How-To Proposal or NCPP Research Session Proposal. Include your contact information in the body of the email and attach the proposal as a .pdf that includes the title, session format, equipment requests for demonstration purposes, and session overview/abstract (but does not include your name). 

In your proposal, please include specific implications of your session for percussion pedagogy. Additionally, only large percussion equipment (e. g., marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, timpani, and drumset) and basic technology requests for demonstration will be considered. You will receive notification of your proposal’s status by WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026. 

Receipt of your proposal will be acknowledged by Kathleen Kastner within a week of submission. In order to make sure all proposals are received, if you do not receive a response within a week, please contact Lisa Rogers (lisa.rogers@ttu.edu).  

Click here for a pdf of this information.

Performance Opportunities

GENERAL

  • Applications must be submitted from 12:00 pm (CST) on Monday, February 2, 2026 to 12:00 pm (CST) on Monday, February 16, 20256 for full consideration, as each recital will be filled on a first come/first serve basis. Applications received prior to 12:00 pm on February 2, 2026 will not be considered.

  • Application Link: https://forms.gle/ZaxiatAMHviXjo1y6

  • All performers must register for NCPP by May 4, 2026 in order to perform.

  • Program notes (250 words max.) must be prepared and submitted with the application to be considered.

  • Confirmation of submission will be auto-generated, and an acceptance decision will be emailed within 2 weeks.

  • Provided instruments limited to marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, bass drum, timpani, tam tam, concert toms, and drumset.

PROFESSIONALS

  • *NEW - ONLY unaccompanied pedagogical solo works suitable for beginning and intermediate levels will be considered. 

  • *NEW - Performers will have a total stage time of 5 minutes, this includes any set-up/tear-down as well as addressing the audience regarding the pedagogical rewards/challenges associated with performing this work.

STUDENTS 

  • Unaccompanied solos preferred.

  • Accompanied solos, small chamber ensembles, and pieces involving playback electronics ONLY will be considered. 

  • Selections from underrepresented composers preferred.

  • Performers will have a total stage time of 7 minutes, this include any set-up and tear-down

Click here for a pdf of this information.