Clinic Application

Click Here to Start Your 2012 Clinic Application  The Midwest Clinic is the world's largest instrumental music education conference.  Began in 1946, as a concert band music reading session, the annual conference continues to offers a wide variety of concerts, rehearsal labs, clinics, and exhibits to more than 15,000 participants.  It is not necessary for clinicians to have a sponsor, however, clinicians invited to present at the conference must adhere to the proposal guidelines and are responsible for all logistical and financial obligations.  Any clinician who presented at the Midwest Clinic during the last three years 2009 – 2011 are ineligible to present in 2012.  Clinicians must submit proposals online through the Midwest Clinic website no later than 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, March 19. 2012.

Proposal Guidelines:

1. Clinicians must plan to be available to present during the entire duration of the conference.
2. We suggest using a catchy and enthusiastic Title, keeping it short, but as descriptive as possible.  If possible, we ask that you include information about your target audience in title.  For example, if your clinic will appeal to both orchestra and band directors, perhaps include “for orchestra and band” in the title.  Also, please feel free to add a clarifying subtitle (ex. “Podium Proficiency: How to Provide Effective Rehearsals for High School Bands.”)  Please try to avoid any offensive language, negative connotations, or criticism in your title.  In addition, please do not include biographical information in your synopsis; this information should appear in your bio.
3. On a separate page, please submit your Clinic Synopsis limited to 500 characters and a Clinician(s) Bio limited to 900 characters for each presenter.
4. We recommend uploading a high-resolution Color Photo (300 dpi) at least 2” for each clinician to the website.
5. Clinic Handouts are among the most popular features of our annual conference.  Although we do not require you to display your handouts on the website, you may upload them prior to or following the clinic.  We recommend that you provide 400 hard copies of your clinic handouts for attendees at your session.
6. We will schedule your clinic time and room assignment based on your topic and Equipment & Setup Information.  The Midwest Clinic provides chairs, stands, two hardwired lavaliere microphones, one hardwired standing microphone, whiteboard & markers, LCD projector & screen, upright piano (upon request) and a patch into the sound system.  McCormick Place West provides complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the building.  You may rent a laptop computer and additional hardwired or wireless microphones at an additional charge.  If you plan to bring your own instruments and equipment or borrow items from a sponsor, you are responsible to secure and move these items.  Our staff is not responsible to move equipment from the exhibit hall to the meeting rooms.  Also, please contact our office if your wish to cancel any equipment requests to avoid additional charges.
7. Please provide specific information if you plan to use a Demonstration Group during your clinic.  We would be happy to assist with their equipment requirements.  If necessary, we would also be happy to recommend a demo group for your clinic session.  The Midwest Office must be made aware that you intend to use a demo group at the time you submit your application.  If you need assistance in securing a demo group, please notify the Midwest Office prior to September 1st.  We will not be able to accommodate any requests that are submitted after this date.
8. As a courtesy, a block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency McCormick.  Once selected as a clinician, you will be given a link to book your reservation.  A credit card will be required to hold the reservation at the time you request it but will not be charged.  You must use a credit card that is valid through December 31, 2012.  Avoid duplicating your reservation by checking with your sponsor prior to making the reservation (often times sponsors/exhibitors will also make a reservation for you).  This block will be available for clinicians only.  Midwest reserves the right to cancel any reservation for non-clinicians.  Reservations booked under this block must be made prior to November 1st.  They also must be cancelled prior to the November 1st deadline.  Any reservation cancelled after November 1st is subject to a cancellation fee equal to one night room and tax.  This fee will be charged to your card.
9. It is the goal of The Midwest Clinic to heighten the educational experience of the conference and lessen any potential overtones of commercialism.  Clinics at Midwest are to teach educational concepts, not to promote products or services.
10. The Board of Directors has found that most workshops that attempt to survey the applications of an entire text are not nearly as effective as clinics that focus on a limited number of topics and solutions.  Thus your application may need to reveal an approach that might be different from successful presentations you may already have delivered at various trade shows, in-service sessions, and state music education conferences.

    For example, you may have a book or product that represents the overall compilation of your approach:  it may even be for sale in the exhibit hall of The Midwest Clinic.  Yet you can easily explore any number of educational angles on string bowing, brass playing, jazz theory, or chamber music repertoire without having to sell outright your own text, play-along CD, or technological creation.  Your proposal and your clinic itself might be most successful if you ask yourself the following questions:

    • What concepts are most critical to my workshop?
    • What specific examples from my book or resource are most valuable for my handout?
    • Are there appropriate views other than my own—alternate references or approaches—which may serve not only to inform my audience but also increase my being perceived as an artist/educator rather than a company spokesperson.

    The following examples may assist your perspective as to The Midwest Clinic’s guidelines for clinicians:
    
    Acceptable:

    • Presenting examples excerpted from your publication or resource
    • Including an order blank in your handout
    • Inviting attendees to visit your exhibit booth during the conference
    • Setting flyers for your product or service on a table at the rear of your clinic room

    Unacceptable:

    • Titling your session so as to communicate total reliance on the product
    • Guiding the audience page-by-page through your publication so as to promote an introduction to the whole product rather than focusing on its educational substance
    • Making repeated references to the availability of the item for purchase
    • Distributing samples of your product at your clinic

    The Midwest Clinic believes that clinicians can present the concepts inherent in their publications/resources without communicating a “hard-sell” attitude.

11. The directors who attend The Midwest Clinic are dedicated educators who are searching for information, approaches and resources that they can apply to their own music programs.  By concentrating on practical guidance and instruction, you will help them to meet their goals in attending The Midwest Clinic.
12. The decision of the board as to which clinic proposals are accepted for a given year depends not only on the quality of the proposal and its relevance to our attendees but also on the overall menu of priority topics and how best to serve those attendees. Thus achieving a balance of topics may mean declining a number of excellent clinic proposals. We encourage you to apply again in the future. If you have questions about these guidelines or any aspect of the clinic application process, please contact The Midwest Clinic office or a member of the Board of Directors.
Click Here to Start Your 2012 Clinic Application
13. Please provide three evaluations from prominent teachers/musicians who are familiar with your work.  These forms must be sent directly to the Midwest Clinic office by Monday, March 19, 2012.  The evaluation form (included) may be duplicated as needed and it may be mailed, faxed or submitted online.
14. Also, please include an example of your handouts or other documents supporting your clinic with your application.