Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium XVI
Musical Wellbeing; Mind, Body, and Spirit
Location:
- Center for Music Education Research, 糖心Vlog, Tampa, Florida and Livestream
Date(s) of Meeting:
- February 3rd-6th, 2027
Keynote Speaker:
- Frank Diaz
Description of Meeting:
Focusing on a holistic view of mindfulness, health, and wellbeing within music performance practice and music education, we seek research that recognizes music learning and teaching as embodied, emotional, social, cultural, and ethical practices, and that considers the wellbeing of students, teachers, and communities as a central pillar of music.
In response to increasing awareness of mental health, burnout, performance anxiety, and inequitable learning environments, this symposium aims to create space for critical, reflective, and action-oriented research to drive conversations about mindfulness and wellbeing. We seek to deepen understanding, challenge assumptions, and inspire thoughtful approaches to nurturing wellbeing in and through music. This symposium aims to attend to music through a contextualized lens by uniting music researchers, music educators, music therapists, musicians, psychologists, neuroscientists, and arts advocates interested in fostering sustainable, humane, and reflective music education environments.
Edited Volume
To ensure a broad impact, we plan to generate an edited book comprised of selected manuscripts, and reports from panel discussions. If you wish to contribute to the edited volume, please indicate your intent to submit a manuscript for consideration as a book chapter for the edited volume. Chapters will be peer-reviewed by two external reviewers.
Types of Submissions Sought:
On-site Research Paper Presentations, Virtual Research Paper Presentations, On-site Research Posters, and Virtual Research Posters
Description of Types of Submissions Sought:
A. Oral Research Presentations (on-site or virtual): 15-minute presentations, arranged around similar topics, followed by a 20-minute discussion period per topic
B. Posters (on-site or virtual): Time-slot(s) dedicated for sharing
C. Either an oral presentation or a poster
Presentation Requirements: All presenters must register to attend the symposium by the pre-registration deadline so their names will be included in the program.
Research Topics Sought:
Topics could include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Advocacy
- Artificial intelligence
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Cognition
- Community wellbeing and engagement
- Creativity
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Culturally diverse music
- Environmental responsibility (hearing loss, recycling)
- Inclusivity
- Identity development
- Learner-centered pedagogy
- Lifelong learning
- Mental health
- Mindfulness
- Music interventions
- Music therapy
- Motivation
- Motor control
- Neuroscience
- Neurorehabilitation
- Performance
- Policy
- Practice
- Professional sustainability
- Psychology
- Teacher education
- Technology integration
- Therapeutic music programs
- Trauma-informed practices
- Wellbeing
- Wellness-informed curriculum design and pedagogy
Submission Information:
Abstract Submission: Up to 250 words for oral presentations and posters. At the time
of the conference, the study should be completed; however, at the time of submission
studies may be in progress. Please specify in the submission whether the study has
been presented elsewhere (if so, when and where), and anticipated date of study completion.
Studies may not be previously published at the time of the conference. Literature
reviews are only being considered for poster sessions. Any use of AI must be acknowledged
within the submitted abstract.
Choose a preferred and a secondary choice:
- On-site
- Oral presentation only
- Research poster only
- Oral presentation or poster
- Virtual
- Oral presentation only
- Research poster only
- Oral presentation or poster
The Executive Board of the Center for Music Education Research serves as the blind review panel for all presentation types. Submit abstracts to Suzanne Charney at scharney@usf.edu.
Attach an anonymized PDF or Word file that includes the proposal title, abstract, and type(s) of presentation formats for which you are applying. Please indicate whether you intend to submit a manuscript for consideration to the edited volume. In the body of the email provide all proposer name(s), email, current position, institutional affiliation, and proposal title. Please type "Suncoast 2027 Submission" in the Subject field. All communications will be with the lead author for collaborative submissions.
Deadline for Submissions and Timeline for Acceptance of Proposals:
November 2nd, 2026 submission deadline
Acceptance decisions will be made by November 27th, 2026
Suzanne Charney, Ph.D.
Professor of Instruction of Music Education
Assistant Director of Bands
糖心Vlog