Activities to Participate in at TMTA This Year

TMTA Conference Activities Happy conference week! The TMTA 2024 State Conference will be held in Waco, TX on June 13-16, 2024. We are excited about the opportunities that our students have this weekend– both onsite at the convention center– and offsite in Waco, TX. Keep scrolling for musical, local, and meal ideas to try over the weekend!FYI, per the TMTA website: 

Student Conference Activities take place during the TMTA Conference each June. Student Affiliate membership is not required for these events. Students receive one point each year per activity in which they participate. These points accumulate towards the TMTA Student Affiliate State Participation Award.

For students enrolled in the piano ensemble program…Please remember that we have a MANDATORY 15-minute lab rehearsal, 7-minute dress rehearsal on-stage, and professional photo shoot– all on-site– prior to the big performance! Due to the short rehearsals, please be punctual. Please see detailed information shared directly with you via email. If you would like to book an individual photoshoot, visit Cyndi Bender’s Booking Calendar.   Around these scheduled events, your family may be looking for things to do onsite and in Waco. Here are some ideas…. Exhibits *Open on Friday & Saturday between 9a and 5p & on Sunday between 9a and 2p Students, did you know that you can warm-up at the Steinway Booth? Did you also know that you can buy new music at booths like Susan Staples Bell Music? What fun musical things can you find at the Let’s Play Music Booth or at the Musical Gifts and Treasures Booth? Conference Projects Check out student entries for a music-themed conference project in the main foyer between Chisholm Hall and Brazos Ballroom. This exhibit will be available until Sunday at 5p.  Guest Artist Recital featuring INVOKE*SATURDAY, 7:30 PM in Bosque Theater Described as “...not anything buteverything: Classical, Folk, Bluegrass,Americana and a sound yet to betermed seamlessly merged into aperfect one” (David Srebnik, SiriusXMClassical Producer), Invoke (NickMontopoli, violin/banjo/vocals; ZachMatteson, violin/vocals; Karl Mitze, viola/mandolin/vocals; GeoffManyin, cello/vocals) strives to successfully dodge even the mostvaliant attempts at genre classification. The multi-instrumentalquartet encompasses traditions from across America, includingbluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism.Fueled by their passion for storytelling, Invoke weaves all ofthese styles together to form a unique contemporary repertoire,featuring original works composed by and for the group.www.invokesound.com Just for Fun Recital*SATURDAY, June 15, 12p-1p TMTA has always offered many opportunities for students to perform Classical music. Now we also want to offer students the opportunity to  perform music that represents their varied backgrounds and interests.   We want to provide a platform for the music kids love to play! "Just for Fun Recitals" are free! We want students who can entertain us with music that is important to them.   Attend an Extra Ensemble Program Did you know that there are seven ensemble programs throughout the entire weekend? You can attend more programs than just the one that your student is performing in! Check out the conference program book for more information. Looking for Nearby Restaurant Recommendations? For Mexican food, try Ninfa’s Mexican.Buy a coffee at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee where diversity is celebrated and individuals with disabilities are employed. For comfort food, visit The Olive Branch Bistro & Bakery.  Family Friendly Activities in Waco: 

• Visit the Baylor bear habitat

Yes, real, live bears! Visit Baylor’s iconic bear habitat, open daily from 9:30a- 6pm. This is a free activity for you and your family to enjoy while in town for TMTA! Check out this website for more info and to plan your visit: https://bearhabitat.web.baylor.edu/plan-your-visit 

• Hawaiian Falls

Visit Waco’s 10-acre waterpark, Hawaiian Falls! General admission is $30, but there are lots of value packages to save on tickets for your whole family. Check it out here: https://webhost.corecashless.com/hawaiianfalls/waco/sales/  

• Go for a stroll on the riverwalk

Check out the Waco riverwalk on the Brazos river! Take a stroll with your family and then stop for some pizza at Slow Rise on the Brazos!  

• Visit Magnolia

If you haven’t yet, you need to visit Chip & Joanna Gaine’s entire world of Magnolia they’ve created! It’s not just the Silos anymore; there are shops, food trucks, a gorgeous chapel, a bakery and coffee shop, a restaurant, and even a hotel! 

• Dr. Pepper Museum

This family friendly activity is only $12 a person, includes a free drink, and children under 4 are free! There is also an additional activity you can pay for to make your OWN soda! Find out more here: https://drpeppermuseum.com/plan-your-visit/ 

• Splash pads

Another great free activity is to visit one of Waco’s many beautiful parks and then cool down in the splash pad! Visit this website for more info about parks that have splash pads: (the photo above is Mountainview Park)https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Parks-Playgrounds-Splash-Pads-Trails/Splash-Pads Let us know what ideas you tried, which you liked best, and which ideas we missed but would love to try next time!