Schedule
2026 Habits Summer Institute Schedule
We’re dedicated to providing world-class sessions and clinicians aimed to help music teachers around the world develop skills, resources, and methods to bring back to their schools and students at this year’s Habits Summer Institute.
Check out the list below to find out just some of the useful sessions we’ll be offering this year!
Click below to explore any Habits Institute Track Schedule
BAND
sessions offered at the 2026 Habits Summer Institute
Sunday, June 28
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Registration / Meet and Greet Reception Whitfield Center
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Keynote Address: It's About Time Tim Latuzenheiser Whitfield 102/103
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Dinner in the CSU Dining Hall Join us for a free dinner in the CSU Dining Hall
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Creating Habits of Success in the Young Band Scott Rush and Jeff Scott Whitfield 102/103
7:15 - 8:30 PM
Social Event Eric Wilkinson Join us in Whitfield 102/103 for culture-building games as we connect with fellow attendees
Monday, June 29
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Percussion Techniques for the Modern Band Director Kevin Boyle CSU Bandroom
9:15 - 10:15 AM Concurent Session
(MS) Habits of a Successful Intermediate Band Scott Rush, Jeff Scott, and Marguerite Wilder Whitfield 102/103
9:15 - 10:15 AM Concurent Session
(HS) The Kaminsky Method - Part 1 Alex Kaminsky Whitfield 110
10:15 - 11:15 AM
Beyond the Notes Paula Crider Whitfield 102/103
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
12:15 - 1:20 PM
Lab Band: Middle Level Method Book Scott Rush CSU Bandroom
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Lab Band: Making Music with Paula Crider Paula Crider CSU Bandroom
2:45 - 3:45 PM Concurent Session
(MS) How Do I Even Begin? Marie Evans Whitfield 102/103
2:45 - 3:45 PM Concurent Session
(HS) Habits Fundamentals Scott Rush Whitfield 110
3:45 - 4:45 PM
General Session:
Creating a Culture of Excellence
Tim Lautzenheiser
Whitfield 102/103
Tuesday, June 30
8:00 - 9:00 AM
A Habits Warm-up – Habits of a Successful Musician Scott Rush and Alex Kaminsky Whitfield 102/103
9:15 - 10:15 AM Concurent Session
(MS) Supplemental Resources and Media Jeff Scott, Marguerite Wilder, Kevin Boyle, & Scott Rush Whitfield 102/103
9:15 - 10:15 AM Concurent Session
(HS) The Kaminsky Method - Part 2 Alex Kaminsky CSU Bandroom
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Some Really Cool Teaching Strategies That Work Jeff Scott Whitfield 102/103
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
12:30 - 1:30 PM
Lab Band: Beginner and Intermediate Habits Books Scott Rush CSU Bandroom
1:30 – 2:15 PM
Lab Band: Music from the Inside Out Brian Balmages CSU Bandroom
2:30 – 3:30 PM Concurent Session
(MS) Taco Truck Tuesday: Making Habits a Lifestyle Neal Bright & Kristen White Whitfield 102/103
2:30 – 3:30 PM Concurent Session
(HS) Improving Ensemble Intonation Alex Kaminsky Whitfield 110
3:45 – 4:45 PM
General Session:
A Little Magic: Technique That Serves the Art
Jeffrey Grogan
Whitfield 102/103
5:30 - 10:00 PM
Charleston Harbor Dinner Cruise Join the HABITS team and colleagues for an unforgettable night on the Charleston Harbor!
Wednesday, July 1
8:00 - 9:00 AM
The Synergy of Foundations: Habits Edition Brian Balmages Whitfield 102/103
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Beauty and the Beat: Live Conducting Lab Jeffrey Grogan CSU Bandroom
10:20 AM
Group Picture and Final GIA Booth Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
General Session:
The HSI Finale
Presented by the HABITS team
Whitfield 110
12:00 PM
Conclusion of the 2025 Habits Universal Summer Institute
Orchestra
sessions offered at the 2026 Habits Summer Institute
Sunday, June 28
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Registration / Meet and Greet Reception Whitfield Center
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Keynote Address: It's About Time Tim Latuzenheiser Whitfield 102/103
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Dinner in the CSU Dining Hall Join us for a free dinner in the CSU Dining Hall
6:00 - 7:00 PM
We Are in the People Business The Habits Orchestra Team Whitfield 102/103
7:15 - 8:30 PM
Social Event Eric Wilkinson Join us in Whitfield 102/103 for culture-building games as we connect with fellow attendees
Monday, June 29
8:00 - 9:00 AM
PART 1. Best Practices for Teaching YOUNG String Musicians with the Habits Books Margaret Selby and Sarah Ball Whittington 107
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Teaching Beginning Through Advanced Bass Technique The Habits Orchestra Team Whittington 107
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Quantity AND Quality: Successfully Setting Up Violin/Viola in Large Groups Sarah Ball and Margaret Selby Whittington 107
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
12:45- 2:15 PM
LAB: Teaching Left Hand Skills and Intonation to Older Orchestras The Habits Orchestra Team Whittington 107
2:30 - 3:30 PM
“Recruit, Retain, Repeat. Strategies for Attracting and Keeping Students The Habits Orchestra Team Whittington 107
3:45 - 4:45 PM
General Session:
Creating a Culture of Excellence
Tim Lautzenheiser
Whitfield 102/103
Tuesday, June 30
8:00 - 9:00 AM
PART 2. Best Practices for Teaching YOUNG String Musicians with the Habits Books Margaret Selby and Sarah Ball Whittington 107
9:15 - 10:15 AM
A Fresh Perspective for Selecting and Teaching Concert Music Today Christopher Selby Whittington 107
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Teaching Cello In the Classroom Like a Cellis Margaret Selby Whittington 107
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
12:45 - 2:15 PM
LAB: Teaching Right Hand, Articulation and Ensemble to Older Orchestras Christopher Selby Whittington 107
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Foundations, Habits Edition Brian Balmages Whittington 107
3:45 – 4:45 PM
A Little Magic: Technique That Serves the Art Jeffrey Grogan Whitfield 102/103
5:30 - 10:00 PM
Charleston Harbor Dinner Cruise Join the HABITS team and colleagues for an unforgettable night on the Charleston Harbor!
Wednesday, July 1
8:00 - 9:00 AM
String Session with Jeffrey Grogan Jeffrey Grogan Whittington 107
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Chicken Soup for the Soul of a String Teacher--What Does Success Look Like The Habits Orchestra Team Whittington 107
10:20 AM
Group Picture and Final GIA Booth Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
General Session:
The Habits Summer Institute Finale
Presented by the HABITS team
Whitfield 110
12:00 PM
Conclusion of the 2025 Habits Universal Summer Institute
Choral
sessions offered at the 2026 Habits Summer Institute
Sunday, June 28
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Registration / Meet and Greet Reception Whitfield 102/103
4:00 - 5:00 PM
Keynote Address: It's About Time Tim Latuzenheiser Whitfield 102/103
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Dinner in the CSU Dining Hall Join us for a free dinner in the CSU Dining Hall
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Habits of a Successful Choir Director & Connection Time Eric Wilkinson and Melody Villegas Choir Room
7:15 - 8:30 PM
Social Event Eric Wilkinson Join us in Whitfield 102/103 for culture-building games as we connect with fellow attendees
Monday, June 29
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Teaching Strategies to Improve Rhythm Performance Skills Eric Wilkinson Choir Room
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Solfege Fluency and Sight-Reading Excellence Eric Wilkinson Choir Room
10:15 - 11:15 AM
Conducting Session: Beyond the Notes Paula Crider Whitfield 102/103
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
12:15 - 1:30 PM
How to Choose Quality Repertoire Melody Villegas Choir Room
1:30 - 2:30 PM
LAB Choir:
Habits of a Successful Choral Musician Method Book
Eric Wilkinson
Choir Room
2:45 - 3:45 PM
LAB Choir:
Repertoire Reading Session
Melody Villegas
Choir Room
3:45 - 4:45 PM
General Session:
Creating a Culture of Excellence
Tim Lautzenheiser
Whitfield 102/103
Tuesday, June 30
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Habits of a Successful Middle School Choir Director Melody Villegas Whitfield 102/103
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Diction Strategies for Expressive Singing Eric Wilkinson Choir Room
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Small Habits, Big Results: Inside the Middle School Choir Rehearsal Meloday Villegas Choir Room
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch Break Lunch will be provided to conference attendees in the CSU Dining Hall. Be sure to stop by the GIA booth to explore new resources and materials in the HABITS series
1:00 - 2:15 PM
Building the Buzz: Choir Recruiting that Works Melody Villegas Choir Room
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Effective Assessment Strategies for Choir Rehearsals Eric Wilkinson Whitfield 110
3:45 – 4:45 PM
General Session:
Creating Life-Changing Experiences for Students
Jeffrey Grogan
Whitfield 102/103
5:30 - 10:00 PM
Charleston Harbor Dinner Cruise Join the HABITS team and colleagues for an unforgettable night on the Charleston Harbor!
Wednesday, July 1
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Cultivating a Culture of Success, Significance and Fun! Eric Wilkinson Whitfield 110
9:15 - 10:15 AM
General Session:
Beauty and the Beat: Live Conducting Lab
Jeffery Grogan
CSU Band Room
10:20 AM
Group Picture and Final GIA Booth Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
General Session:
The Habits Summer Institute Finale
Presented by the HABITS team
Whitfield 110
12:00 PM
Conclusion of the 2025 Habits Universal Summer Institute