NDMTA State Conference
The NDMTA Conference is the time to relax, learn, and to make new and renew friendships with other teachers of music. It’s a time to chat with your peers about teaching music over lunch, go to amazing recitals, and learn new ideas/ways of teaching from the famous teachers/composers. Put the dates on your calendar and plan to attend the NDMTA State Conference!
Highlights from the 2025 NDMTA State Conference in Minot, hosted by the Minot MTA.
2026 NDMTA Mini - Conference in Grand Forks, Aug. 5 & 6
Four great reasons to attend the August NDMTA Mini-Conference in Grand Forks:
- Helen Malias is the presenter
- Special presentation celebrating 125 years of MTNA and 70 years of NDMTA
- Premiere of Commissioned Composer Emily Driscoll's piece
- Popplers Competitions
Scroll down to learn details and to register for the Conference.
Summery of Events:
NDMTA CONFERENCE: WEDNESDAY, August 5th - Thursday, August 6th.
Hosted by Popplers Music Store and Grand Forks MTA
All events are at Popplers Music Store, 1726 South Washington St., Grand Forks
- WEDNESDAY:
•The Popplers Competition will take place at the conference Wednesday, August 5th at 2:00 pm. Use this quick link to see information and registration: https://ndmta.org/student-events/popplers-music-competitions/
•Opening of Conference: Wed. August 5th, at 7:00 pm at Popplers Music Store. Events include the premiere of Commissioned Composer piece and recital by Popplers Competition entrants.
- THURSDAY
•Popplers Fall Piano Clinic - Helen Marlais, Presenter
•Popplers Lunch - free
•Helen Marlais - "Sounds, Physical Gesture, and Imagination".
•Meeting and Presentation of Awards
•IMTF Program: Celebrating 150 years of MTNA and 70 years of NDMTA
For the complete Schedule of Events, click on the form to the right to download and print
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Registration
Registration can be done two ways: Online with PayPal payment by clicking on "Register Online" below or by downloading the registration form below and mailing it in. The registration form is also found in the Spring Newsletter.
When registering online, a fee will be added to the registration total. This is for the PayPal fees that are charged to our account.
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Hotel Reservations for Group Rate
Sleep Inn & Suites Alerus Center
1350 South 42nd St., Grand Forks, ND 58201
(701) 757-2900
NDMTA Group Rate: $94 for a King or 2 Queen Beds.
Deadline for Group Rate: July 26th.
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Dr. Helen Marlais is presenter at the 2026 NDMTA Conference
Dr. Helen Marlais, will present a morning workshop featuring her teaching music and an afternoon session on the topic, "Sounds, Physical Gestures, and Imagination" at the NDMTA Conference.
Marlais' extensive résumé includes the development and publishing of piano peaching materials for FJH Music Company, to support piano teachers as they guide young musicians. Her series includes Succeeding at the Piano, The All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano, Succeeding with the Masters, The Festival Collection, In Recital, and Write, Play, and Hear Your Theory Every Day, all of which have companion recordings. Besides this series, Helen has other series to explore including The Contemporary Keyboard Editions which focuses on piano music by contemporary art-music composers. These teaching resources and more can be explored on her website www.HelenMarlais.com as well as on her YouTube channel, Piano Lessons Helen Marlais.
Dr. Marlais' extensive performance schedule includes concerts and pedagogical sessions both here in North America and world-wide.
Dr. Helen Marlais a NCTM, received her DM in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University, her MTA in piano performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and her BM in piano performance from the University of Toledo where she was awarded the 2008 Outstanding Alumna in the Arts. She was given the Distinguished Contribution to a Discipline Award at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Marlais is a member of the faculty, teaching piano and directing the Piano Pedagogy Certificate program for undergraduate piano majors and for professional piano teachers. She also teaches piano literature on a rotating basis.
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Conference Commissioned composer: Emily E. B. Driscoll
Emily E. B. Driscoll is a mother, pianist, composer, professor, vocalist, music director, piano instructor, conductor, singer/songwriter, and arranger. A native of Williston, North Dakota with over 20 years of experience in music, performance, and drama, she holds an undergraduate degree in music (piano performance emphasis) and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from North Dakota State University. Emily also studied Film Composition at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN under the instruction of Sean MacMahon and Ali Yeshiva.
Driscoll is a freelance composer and singer/songwriter with scores featured in sixteen nationally published audiobooks, a piano book featuring twenty-seven of her original compositions, and three albums featuring herself as a pianist, lyricist, arranger, and vocalist.
Emily has performed nationally and internationally including at the Gospel Music Association of Canada at Calgary, and at the Breakforth Event in Edmonton, Alberta.
Emily is currently an Adjunct Professor at Williston State College in North Dakota, the Director of Music and Marketing at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and the Music Director at Faith Methodist Church. She also serves as the director of the Williston Concert Chorale and is the co-director of the Williston Youth Choir. At home with Emily are her 2 year old son, Theodore, and her husband Alec.
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Independent Music Teachers Forum (IMTF) Presents Celebrating 150 Years of MTNA and 70 Years of NDMTA. Presenters will be Dr. Beth Klingenstein and Upper Valley MTA
A special presentation will be given at the IMTF at the 2026 Conference. MTNA is celebrating 150 years and the NDMTA is celebrating 70 years. Dr. Klingenstein and Upper Vallery MTA are collaborating on a video presentation to highlight these anniversary celebrations. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
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Conference Recitals:
Wednesday, August 5th at Popplers Music Store
- Popplers Competition Participants
- Premiere of composition by 2026 Commissioned Composer, Emily E.B. Driscoll
Rotations
NDMTA Conference Host Rotation: 2025-2026 Grand Forks; 2026-2027 Fargo,
IMTF (Independent Music Teachers Forum) Luncheon Rotation: 2022-2023 Langdon Area MTA; 2024-2025 Minot MTA; 2026-2027 Upper Valley MTA; 2028-2029 Badlands MTA.
Past NDMTA Conferences
| Year | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | August 5-6 | Grand Forks |
| 2025 | June 4-6 | Minot |
| 2024 | August 7-8 | Grand Forks |
| 2023 | June 7-9 | Dickinson at DSU |
| 2022 | June 1-3 | Fargo at NDSU Reineke Hall |
| 2021 | June 2-4 | Virtual Conference hosted by Minot MTA |
| 2020 | June 3-5 | Fargo |
| 2019 | June 19-21 | Grand Forks |
| 2018 | June 13-15 | Dickinson |
| 2017 | June 7-9 | Fargo |
| 2016 | June 15-17 | Bismarck |
| 2015 | June 24-26 | Grand Forks |
| 2014 | June 18-20 | Dickinson |
| 2013 | June 19-21 | Fargo |
| 2012 | June 21-23 | Bismarck State College |
| 2011 | June 15-17 | Grand Forks |
| 2010 | October 28-30 | Dickinson State University |
| 2009 | June 10-12 | Fargo |
| 2008 | June 11-13 | Bismarck State College |
| 2007 | June 6-8 | Williston State College |
| 2006 | June 9-10 | Grand Forks |
| 2004 | October 29-31 | Concordia College |
| 2003 | October 31-November 2 | Bismarck State College |
| 2002 | October 25-27 | Valley City Music Teachers |