Virtual Programming

Events Accessible Via Zoom

Sunday, September 20, 2026

7:00 PM  Opening Ceremony 

7:15PM Virtual Round Robin

Lead With Love Day

Monday, September 21, 2026 

6:00 PM Workshop: Song Swap – Esther Crow

7:15 PM Workshop: Lead with Love: Creating Music & Programs that Build Belonging for Every Child – Robbi Kumalo

8:30 PM Workshop: RAMPD Panel Discussion

Stories and Songs Day

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

6:00 PM Song Swap: Literacy Song Swap

7:15 PM Workshop: Singing With Children, Not At Them: Designing Interactive Songs for Engagement and Participation - Alyssa Jewell (LaLa Librarian)

8:30 PM Workshop: Make a Book Dummy – Miss Julieann

Activating Ideas Day

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

6:00 PM Workshop: From Song to Screen: Modern Audio & Video Production for Children’s Artists – Stacy and Kevin Kelly

7:15 PM Workshop: Collaboration and Community: Birds of a Feather 

8:30 PM Panel: YouTube Panel: 123 Andres, Teacher Peter, Tina and Mark Harris, Trees of Dreams

Thursday Sept. 24, 2026 Travel Day - No Conference Programming

Friday, September  25, 2026 –Immersive Bonus Day
Parway Central Library - 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Books and Beats: 

Achieving Social Justice Through Music and Literacy

07:30 AM - 08:30 AM:  Breakfast at Sheraton Suites Philadelphia Airport

• 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM:  Travel to Library 
• 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM:  Coffee and Designing Protest Signs
• 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM:  Welcome and Parkway Central Library Tour
• 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM:  Workshop - Social Justice through Storytelling
  
• 11:15 AM -12:00 PM: Books + Beats Community Showcase 
  
• 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM: Lunch and Resource Fair/Finish Posters
• 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM: Songs and Stories for Building Beloved, Equitable Classroom Communities – Presented by City Love
  
• 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM:  Prep for Parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM:  Book and Beats Philadelphia Parkway Parade with Hip Hop Fundamentals
  
• 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM:  Return to Sheraton Philadelphia Airport Hotel

In-Person Conference Opening!

Friday, September  25, 2026

Sheraton Philadelphia Airport – 4101 B Island Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19153

4:00 PM Registration and Welcome

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM Newcomers Circle and Welcoming (all are welcome)

06:00 PM - 07:00 PM Dinner 

07:15 PM - 07:30 PM Opening Ceremony

07:30 PM - 08:30 PM Global Orchestra with Jay Sand

08:45 PM - 10:45 PM Round Robin

11:00 PM - 12:00 PM  Dance Party with DJ Willy Wow

12:00 AM - Late Night Jam Sessions

Saturday September 26, 2026

7:45 AM - 8:45 AM  Breakfast

8:45 AM - 10:00 AM Special Plenary Session — Songs of Our Founders

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM Break

10:10 AM - 11:10 AM Breakout Session One

• Workshop 1:
  Music-ing While Neurodiverse: Tools for Creating, Performing, and Teaching in Kids’ Spaces – Lachi

• Workshop 2: 
  Rhythm in the Chaos: Mastering Classroom Management for Children's Musicians – Flor Bromley

• Workshop 3:
  Creating Children’s Content in the Age of Filters and Ozempic – Gracie Nash

• Song Swap:

11:10 AM - 11:20 AM Break

11:20 AM -12:20 PM  Breakout Session Two

• Workshop 1:
  Cinematic Visions, Crafting Stunning Music Videos & Visuals on a Budget-Snooknuk

• Workshop 2:  
  If You Can Dance Together, You Can Live Together-Uncle Jumbo

• Workshop 3:
  Q and A with Greg and Steve

• Song Swap:

12:20 PM -1:20 PM Lunch

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Keynote Speaker: Kaitlin Becker

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM Break

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Breakout Session Three

• Workshop 1:
  So you want to start a Podcast? Practical Tips, Tricks, and Tech – David Ladon

• Workshop 2:
  Tap Into Your Inner Clown, An interactive Clowning Workshop – Mélissa Smith

• Workshop 3:
  Engaging the Caregiver, Your Real Audience – Vered 

• Song Swap: 

4:15 PM - 6:00PM Special Session/Downtime/Daytime Jam

Special Session: Sound Bath followed by:

The Art of Resonance: Finding Your Frequency in Sound, Space & Self –Ashley and Ceylon Wise

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Dinner 

7:00 PM - 7:45 PM  Fred Rogers “Look For the Helpers Award” – Honoring Kathy O’Connell

8:00 PM - 12:00 PM Round Robin

12:00 PM - Late Night Jams

Sunday Sept 27, 2026

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Breakfast 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM  Breakout Session Four

• Workshop 1:
  Do-Re-Mi-s of DYI Booking and Touring as Relationship-building and Community Care for Independent Artists – Svetlana

• Workshop 2: When Life Gives You Lemons, Turn Them into Lemon Songs!– Symon and Princess Hajjar

• Workshop 3: Get Moving! Early childhood movement through music – Renee Padgett

• Song Swap: 

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Hotel Check Out 

(Room available for luggage and instrument storage)

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Pass It On! Scholar Award

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM Magic Penny – Honoring Greg and Steve

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch 

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Closing Circle