Session Proposals

Dr. Raiber has enjoyed 13 years teaching public school in Missouri and Oklahoma prior to 25 years in collegiate ensemble leadership and music teacher education at Oklahoma State University, The University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City University. Raiber has also served as the Director of Teacher Support and conductor of Orquesta Esperanza at El Sistema Oklahoma. In 2019, Dr. Raiber opened Mustang Central Middle School in Mustang Oklahoma as an instrumental music educator. In 2022, he accepted his current position as Director of Fine Arts for Mustang Public Schools.

Dr. Raiber was honored to be inducted to the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Oklahoma Music Education Association Hall of Fame in 2025.

Dr. Raiber received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees
from the University of Tulsa and his Ph.D. in music education with an emphasis in conducting
from the University of Oklahoma. He currently resides in Norman, Oklahoma with his wife Lisa and enjoys all the time he can with his grandchildren Theo, Eliza, Murphy, and Georgia.

Dr. David Teachout, Professor of Music Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Student stress is at an all-time high, and when learners are in "survival mode," their biology inadvertently blocks the high-level listening and nuanced music-making that directors crave. This session translates cutting-edge brain research into podium-ready tools designed to "quiet" the survival brain and reopen the neural pathways necessary for true artistry. By bridging the gap between "soft" culture and hard science, attendees will discover that building a high-trust ecosystem isn't just an additive to learning—it is the foundation on which great music making is built.

Participants will explore:
- The Neuroscience of the Podium: Understand how the amygdala can trigger a "threat" response that shuts down the prefrontal cortex, effectively halting complex learning like phrasing and intonation.
- Polyvagal Theory in Practice: Learn to recognize the "Ladder of Responses," moving students from "Fight or Flight" (Sympathetic) into the "Social Engagement" (Ventral Vagal) state where the brain is physically capable of handling complex musical tasks.
- Metabolic Efficiency: Discover how "Social Baseline Theory" allows students to "outsource" metabolic work, making musical challenges appear smaller and more achievable through collective work.
- The "Brain-Informed" Blueprint: Leave with practical strategies, such as "Data, Not Drama" error normalization, synchronized breathing, and inclusive language to foster a culture of psychological safety.

Ultimately, this session demonstrates that by prioritizing a culture of safety over the perfect attack, you aren't lowering standards—you are giving your students' brains the biological permission to be brilliant.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Choral - Middle School
• Choral - Secondary
• Orchestra - Middle School
• Orchestra - Secondary
• Collegiate