2026 NYSSMA Winter Conference

12/03/2026 - 12/06/2026
In-Person Event

Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center
123 E. Main St
Rochester, NY

The Winter Conference is more than an event; it is a cherished opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, teachers, and fellow music professionals and music education enthusiasts. It's a time to celebrate our discipline, enjoy our comradery, invest in our commitment, and explore innovative approaches to meeting the diverse needs of our students and our programs.

Clinic Details

Friday, December 4

10:45 am – 11:45 am EST

Training Your Ears and Eyes for Better Brass Teaching

Aaron Witek

Sharpen your diagnostic skills to identify and address common trumpet performance issues through focused listening and observation. This session provides educators with practical tools, both with and without technology, to assess and improve tone, intonation, embouchure, range, dynamics, finger dexterity, flexibility, and articulation. Using recordings, live demonstrations, and targeted exercises, participants will explore effective strategies and recommended literature to support student growth.


Clinician Details

Aaron Witek

Aaron Witek

Dr. Aaron Witek, trumpet player, music educator, clinician, and accomplished author, is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and is the Coordinator of Brass and Percussion at Stetson University. Before his appointment at Stetson, Witek was Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Ithaca College and the University of Louisiana Monroe, where he was also a member of the faculty ensemble-in-residence, Black Bayou Brass. As an active performer and educator, Witek has given master classes and performed throughout the United States and internationally. A distinguished figure in the marching arts, Witek currently serves as the Brass Supervisor for the Crossmen and Bugle Corps. He has also held several prominent positions with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Witek earned a Doctorate of Music in Trumpet Performance from Florida State University, where he also completed his Master of Music degree in Performance. In addition, he received his Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Aaron Witek is proud to be a Yamaha Artist and a Monster Oil Performing Artist. ​ For more information about Dr. Aaron Witek and the Stetson University Trumpet Studio, please visit www.aaronwitek.com.