Call for Sessions

   Call For Session Proposals


ECMMA 2026, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
 “Building Relationships and Community”

 

Submit a session HERE  

The Early Childhood Music and Movement Association Biennial International Conference 2026 (ECMMA 2026) seeks proposals for practical and research-related sessions around “Building Relationships and Community.” Topics for presentations should relate to one of the following themes:

 

  • Cross-cultural musical bridges: How can early childhood music and movement create connections across diverse cultural backgrounds, including using family music traditions, multicultural musical representation, and inclusive musical practices that strengthen community bonds? How might shared musical experiences at home and in the community create lasting bonds, support cultural identity, and strengthen caregiver-child relationships?
  • Social science of musical play: How might collaborative activities and movement experiences in early childhood support the development of social-emotional skills, empathy, and peer relationships across interdisciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to music cognition and neuroscience?
  • Intergenerational musical partnerships: What is the impact of programs that connect young children with adults through music and movement, including community collaborations, elder care facility partnerships, or family musical programming that spans generations?  
  • Environmental stewardship: How might shared musical experiences help children develop relationships with their natural environment or local community? What models of successful community music programs exist that build sustainable relationships between schools, families, and local organizations?
  • Multilingual relationships: In what ways might group musical activities support multilingual users, including but not limited to caregivers and children, and create inclusive linguistic communities in early childhood settings?

 

ECMMA 2026 will take place from June 28-30, 2026, on the campus of the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND. Please contact Erika Knapp, Program Chair at eknapp@twu.edu with any questions and/or to confidentially discuss specific accessibility requirements that you may have. 


Submitting a Session Proposal


  • Please carefully follow all submission guidelines when drafting your proposal. Submissions not adhering to the guidelines will not be considered. 
  • It is recommended that you gather the information indicated below before beginning your submission, as your work cannot be saved in the submission form. 
  • The link to submit proposals is https://forms.gle/PBXicETpmBtkpUAk9 and proposals will be due November 1, 2025, 11:59 pm CDT.
  • Prepare to submit the following information: 
  • Author bio(s) (up to 300 characters, approx. 50 words). Up to five authors can be included in a single submission. 
  • Contact information for all authors (email, phone) and which author will receive correspondence regarding proposal status.
  • Description of how your proposal connects to an element of the conference theme. 
  • Intended audience(s) (e.g., early childhood classroom teacher, music specialist, researcher, etc.).
  • Title as it would appear in the convention program (up to 150 characters, approx. 15 words). 
  • Abstract (up to 300 characters, approx. 50 words) as it would appear in the conference program. 
  • Session format and type preferred:
    • Practical workshop
    • Practical poster & lightning talk 
    • Research talk
    • Research poster & lightning talk
  • Summary of your session/talk/poster (up to 1500 characters, approx. 250 words)
  • RESEARCH TALKS AND RESEARCH POSTERS ONLY: At least five relevant references need to be included (not part of the word count). 


Session Format and Type Options


Practical Session Options


Option 1: Practical Workshop: Selected presenters will engage convention participants in an interactive workshop-style presentation focusing on an element of the convention theme.

Option 2: Practical Poster & Lightning Talk: Selected presenters will prepare a poster and a 1-minute lightning talk focusing on an element of the convention theme.


Research Session Options


Option 3: Research Talk: Selected authors will share findings from an original project based on an element of the convention theme. Research must be complete at the time of submission to be considered for a research talk.

 

Option 4: Research Poster & Lightning Talk:  Selected presenters will prepare an original research poster and a 1-minute lightning talk based on an element of the convention theme. Completed or in-progress research will be considered for this option.


Timetable for Review of Proposals


- Proposals due: November 1, 2025

- Reviews due: December 10, 2025

- Acceptance sent out December 15, 2025

- Conference: June 28-30, 2026