MUSIC IN SCHOOLS AND TEACHER EDUCATION COMMISSION

20 - 24 July, 2026

MISTEC - Home Call for Papers

Music in Schools and Teacher Education Commission

ISME Commission Pre-Conference Seminar

Call for Papers 2026

Theme

Access, equity, and innovation:Bridging the future of Music Education

Dates

20-24 July, 2026

Venue

University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada

The 2026 Music in Schools and Teacher Education Commission (MISTEC) Seminar encourages submissions related to the theme of “Access, equity and innovation: Bridging the future of Music Education”. This theme supports the main ISME conference theme of “Unity in Music Education: Building Bridges for All”. Accepted workshop, paper, and poster presentations from around the world will emphasize inclusive practices in music education, showcasing strategies to broaden current theoretical and pedagogical perspectives. These presentations will foster the exchange of innovative, practical approaches to music education and teacher preparation, with a focus on equity and accessibility. Through the collaborative and dialogic nature of this seminar, participants will co-develop educational policies and practices aimed at ensuring high-quality, inclusive music education for all learners.

Each proposal that is accepted for presentation will be included in the official proceedings of MISTEC, ensuring that the valuable insights and research findings contribute to the collective knowledge shared within the music education community. As the Seminar is in-person, video presentations (recorded videos) or online presentations (synchronous or asynchronous) will not be accepted.
Additionally, we continue to encourage submissions from paper and workshop presenters who cannot find funding for travel. Those wishing to be considered for travel awards must indicate as such in their submission (more info below).

Submission types at a glance

Type of submissions	Abstract length	Presentation duration	Max No. of Co-Presenters / Panelists	Max No. of Co- Authors
Full Spoken Papers (will be published in Proceedings)	400 abstract + 3000 full paper	20 mins	1-2	1-2
Workshop	800 word proposals	55 mins	1-2	1-2
Poster	400 word abstract	3-5 min lightning talks	1-2	1-2

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline   :   31 October, 2025
Result notification                        :   TBA
Registrations will open                :   TBA

Submission Guidelines

Go to Submission Guidelines Page

Multiple Submission Policy for MISTEC

Number of Submissions per Author: Each author can submit one abstract.
Number of Presenters per Abstract: Please check the table above.

NOTE: Please note that MISTEC can only cover the accommodation for one presenter per abstract.

Pathways to Publications for MISTEC

All accepted abstracts will be included in the Conference Proceedings
All accepted abstract titles will appear in the Conference Program
All accepted Full Papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings

Pathways to 37th ISME World Conference, Montreal

All accepted abstracts from the Pre-Conference Seminars will have the opportunity to be presented as Posters at the 37th World Conference at Montreal in July 2026. You will be extended an invitation once your Pre-conference Seminar abstract is accepted.

Financial Support

As an integral component of MISTEC’s highly regarded, inclusive pre-conference seminar, we are pleased to offer financial assistance for accommodation to presenters of spoken papers and workshops (if there are multiple presenters, we can offer our support to only one). Registration fees also cover coffee breaks and lunches for all, ensuring an enriching experience throughout the event. We strongly encourage all presenters to attend and engage actively in the pre-conference seminar, as this collaboration fosters a sense of shared purpose and collective understanding. Such participation not only enhances the conference experience but also empowers the Commission to create a meaningful and lasting impact that extends well beyond the duration of the conference itself.
Apart from this, stay tuned – we will be announcing the MISTEC Travel Awards soon! See the next section for details.

MISTEC Travel Awards

Application for MISTEC Travel Awards (available to those who do not have financial support for travel from their country) will be given to spoken paper and workshop presenters. This should contain a 100-word explanation regarding why an award is sought. Selection for the travel awards will be made according to:

Opportunity to enhance participation from under-represented regions of the world.
Quality of proposed presentation (as determined by criteria for selecting/rating proposals).
Evidence that support is required (as determined by a 100-word statement by the applicant).

The application process for this award will be announced shortly. For the latest updates, stay connected through our newsletters and social media.

Disclaimer

Submitted materials failing to meet the above criteria will not be considered by MISTEC. MISTEC reserves the right to publish (electronically and in print format) the names of invited Pre-Conference Seminar participants, paper and poster titles and abstracts.
Decisions concerning the acceptance of proposals rest solely with MISTEC Commissioners. In addition to quality, they may be based on international representation and relevance to the Commission theme.

Copyright

At the time of a Spoken Paper/Full Paper, Workshop, and Poster Presentation submission, presenters must indicate agreement with the following copyright conditions:
I hereby assign to the International Society for Music Education (ISME) the copyright of the material that I am now submitting for use by the Society in all formats and through any medium of communication if it is accepted for Publication in the refereed Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings.

I understand that the material I am submitting will be refereed for possible inclusion in the Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings and that it may also appear on the ISME website.
I confirm that the material is original and has not been published previously nor is currently under consideration elsewhere that I have obtained all necessary permissions for the reproduction of content not owned by me (e.g., illustrations, photographs, charts, and other visual material, etc.), and that the Contribution contains no unlawful statements and does not infringe any rights of others.
I understand that I will retain the copyright of the original submission for purposes of duplicating the article, placing it on my personal and institutional websites, etc., but will give ISME the first and exclusive rights to publish the ISME-formatted and edited version in print or online in ISME Conference or Commission Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings and/or journals.
I understand that if my submitted material is not selected for publication in the Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings, then upon such notification, the copyright will be returned to me (the author).

Submission Types In Detail

Spoken Papers

Presentation Format
Paper presenters will be allocated 20 minutes to present their papers.
Presenters are encouraged NOT TO READ their papers, but rather to give a spoken summary of the paper highlights and to provide additional discussion points not presented in the paper. In order to facilitate more in-depth reflections and exchanges on the presentations, the participants will be divided into groups for 25 minute-discussions. The next 15 minutes will be used to report their discussion and ask further questions. These discussions will be guided by three questions, prepared and shared in advance by each presenter.

All papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed, and those chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Additionally, authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference.

Proposal Requirements

The paper should report recently completed research or pedagogical projects that contribute to the theory and practice of music teaching and learning in any context.
The paper must be submitted in English.
The paper must be complete and cannot exceed 3000 words, including tables, figures, explanatory notes, and appendices within the file, excluding abstract and references. Tables and figures are encouraged to help readability and flow.
A template will be provided for download. The order of content on the file should be as follows:

Title of the proposal,
Abstract (up to 400 words),
Five keywords in alphabetical order,
Full paper (up to 3,000 words),
Acknowledgements (if any),
References.

Please, ensure that identifying names are not includedin the full proposal or other document details.
Download Template

Workshop

Presentation Format
The workshop presentation will be allocated 55 minutes, consisting of no more than 45 minutes for interactive activities and 10 minutes for discussion/ questions. It should highlight innovative music pedagogical practice that contributes to the advancement of music teaching and learning or issues related to university teacher preparation programs. These sessions are active, engaging, hands-on presentations for the participants at the seminar. Submissions must, therefore include a full description of the equipment and facilities needed. Proposals and workshops will be presented in English.

All papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed, and those chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Additionally, authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference.

Proposal Requirements
The proposal must be complete, and cannot exceed 800 words, including a detailed order for the workshop content and how the presenter will actively engage seminar participants. A template has been provided for download.

The following information must be provided in the proposal:

Title of workshop,
Abstract (up to 400 words),
Five keywords in alphabetical order,
Proposal (up to 1000 words):
Statement of the workshop goals (i.e. why is this workshop necessary? What will participants learn from this workshop?),
Detailed order for the workshop content.
Statement for how the presenter will actively engage the seminar participants.
References.

Please, ensure that identifying names are not included in the full proposal, and other document details.
Download Template

Poster

Presentation Format
Poster presenters are invited to bring a Poster to display during the MISTEC Seminar. Poster specifications (size, format, etc.) will be provided upon acceptance. Titles for posters will appear in the MISTEC Seminar program. Poster presenters will have the opportunity to submit their poster abstracts for publication in the Conference Proceedings.
Proposal Requirements
Abstracts for Poster submissions must follow the provided template(please download) and the information below: