National Association for Music Education

09/04/2024

TONIGHT! The NAfME Collegiate Leadership Rally is at 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT – register and join us and learn more about leadership opportunities: bit.ly/CollChat090424 National Association for Music Education Collegiate

09/03/2024

Welcome back, NAfME Collegiate members! Be sure to follow National Association for Music Education Collegiate on Facebook (and @ nafmecollegiateofficial on Instagram) for news and updates!

09/03/2024

The Peter R. Marsh Foundation is currently offering $1,250 grants for public middle school music teachers, nationwide. The purpose of the Middle School Music Grant is to provide a remarkable venue and experience for students where their emotional senses are awakened, and they are inspired to advance musically, scholastically, and socially. Additionally, the grant provides for the acquisition of in-school music classroom equipment and supplies. Eligible teachers may also apply for (conditional) supplementary funds to defer student transportation expenses. Apply by January 31. Learn more:

This Middle School Music Grant Program supports the efforts of teachers to lead their students to a fruitful life of behavioral kindness and emotional wellness by nurturing empathy and compassion through community service. Additionally, the Grant provides funds directly to music teachers for the enh...

09/03/2024

Deadline FRIDAY: Nominate a band director for the 2024 George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award now! bit.ly/GeorgeParksAward The award honoree will be recognized at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis on November 16. Music for All

09/02/2024

It's Labor Day, and our thoughts are focused on the work music educators do every day in and out of the classroom, during and outside school hours. Your dedication to your music students is boundless, and we wish you much deserved rest today. We will get up tomorrow and continue the efforts to ensure your needs as educators are met as we advocate in the halls of Congress and support advocates meeting elected officials in state capitals to ensure you receive the support you deserve on the national, state, and local levels.

Photo from Hill Day 2024 by Ashlee Wilcox Photography

08/31/2024

Music education research is paramount to our profession. The NAfME Eastern Division is calling for research abstracts on topics within the field of music education, action research, performance, music therapy, or other related topics to be reviewed for acceptance for the poster session, a paper presentation, or both. Deadline: December 1.

Learn more about the call for research: https://bit.ly/2025EastDivCallForResearch

08/30/2024

New blog: “As educators, it is crucial to recognize the importance of content creation and incorporate it into music curricula. When executed with creativity and ingenuity, content creation can provide financial stability and expand career opportunities for aspiring musicians.” In “The Artist’s Digital Portfolio,” NAfME members Edward White and José Valentino Ruiz "outline seven essential content creation skills that music educators should integrate into their curricula to help students develop a robust online presence and broaden their professional reach.” Read more: https://nafme.org/blog/the-artists-digital-portfolio-project/

08/29/2024

Deadline approaching: Nominate a band director for the 2024 George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award today! bit.ly/GeorgeParksAward The award honoree will be recognized at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis on November 16. Music for All

08/29/2024

NEW deadline to take advantage of the NAfME Hotel Block Rate! Make your hotel reservation by SEPTEMBER 1: bit.ly/2024MRTEHotelBlock

And register now for the conference: bit.ly/2024MRTE

08/28/2024

“Tell them about the dream, Martin. Tell them about the dream.” This was the encouragement Queen of Gospel Mahalia Jackson urged The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s that moved him to ad lib from his heart at the 1963 March on Washington. “A voice like hers comes along once in a millennium,” King described Jackson.

Today is the 61st anniversary of MLK, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech.” His remarks are considered a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

In the spirit of his speech, NAfME remains committed to working for equity in music education. Read or listen to his speech, and consider ways you can join in this work (starting about the 30-second mark in the recording on this page):

Americans across the U.S. are celebrating King's legacy this weekend. One way to reflect on his life and message is by revisiting his celebrated 1963 speech delivered at the Lincoln Memorial.

08/28/2024

Reminder: Join us during Arts in Education Week (September 9–13) on Tuesday, September 10 for a free advocacy webinar, “Empowering Teachers to Advocate for Federal and State Arts Education Policy” with the Arts Education Alliance. Register now and invite colleagues: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringTeachersToAdvocate Educational Theatre Association National Art Education Association National Association for Media Arts Education National Dance Education Organization - NDEO

08/27/2024

Hear from NAfME members Keri Staley, Ben Bernstein, and Don Magee on encouraging your students to get involved in their school music programs!

08/27/2024

THURSDAY: Register now for the August 29 Music Program Leaders Colloquium to kick off the new school year! https://bit.ly/MPLColl082924 “Is Anybody Listening? A Candid Conversation about Music Advocacy” takes place at 4PM ET/1PM PT—invite your colleagues to join you. Submit 2 questions prior to the event: https://bit.ly/MusicAdvocacySurvey

About the Colloquium: What’s it really like to go out and advocate for your music program? As a follow up to our colloquium this past May, the Council of Music Program Leaders invites you to join us for a lively and down-to-the-nitty-gritty conversation about music advocacy. Whether you’re focusing advocacy efforts toward your school or district administration, the school board, or the local community, there will be something that everyone can take away from this session. Our lively and engaging discussion will make you think about the most effective forms of advocacy, encouraging you to get the most bang for your buck. Attendees will have the chance to submit questions in advance that may be addressed by Scott Lang during the session. Presented by Scott Lang and Scott Burgener.

08/27/2024

We are the National Association for Music Education—join us! nafme.org/membership

08/26/2024

TODAY is the last day to apply for the NAfME Society for Research in Music Education—three vacancies on the executive committee: https://bit.ly/SRME2024Call Join the governing body of the Society and help us collaborate with and advise the leadership of NAfME on research-related matters! Society for Research in Music Education

08/25/2024

Read “The Sunshine File” by NAfME member Corin T. Overland: https://nafme.org/blog/the-sunshine-file/ What’s a “sunshine file”? It’s “a collection of all the thank-you cards, gifts, trinkets, or notes from students or parents telling you how you have affected their lives,” writes Overland.

“As a teacher, sometimes you will have days that are just awful,” he continues. “Nothing will go right, your students will be mad at you, and you will wonder why in the world you ever went into this profession. On days like this, when you want to just quit, you take out your sunshine file and go through it to remind yourself that what you are doing actually made a difference for someone.”

A Note from the Academic Editor: The Sunshine File By NAfME Member Corin T. Overland, Academic Editor of Music Educators Journal This article first appeared in the December 2020 issue of Music Educators Journal. “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”—Stephen Schwartz, “For Good,...

08/23/2024

REMINDER: Music program leaders, administrators, and district arts coordinators: Register now for the August 29 Music Program Leaders Colloquium to kick off the new school year! https://bit.ly/MPLColl082924 “Is Anybody Listening? A Candid Conversation about Music Advocacy” takes place at 4PM ET/1PM PT—invite your colleagues to join you.

Submit 2 questions prior to the event: https://bit.ly/MusicAdvocacySurvey

About the Colloquium: What’s it really like to go out and advocate for your music program? As a follow up to our colloquium this past May, the Council of Music Program Leaders invites you to join us for a lively and down-to-the-nitty-gritty conversation about music advocacy. Whether you’re focusing advocacy efforts toward your school or district administration, the school board, or the local community, there will be something that everyone can take away from this session. Our lively and engaging discussion will make you think about the most effective forms of advocacy, encouraging you to get the most bang for your buck. Attendees will have the chance to submit questions in advance that may be addressed by Scott Lang during the session.

08/23/2024

📣 Calling all music and arts education advocates! Join NAfME and members of the Arts Education Alliance for a free webinar September 10 at 7PM ET/4PM PT, “Empowering Teachers to Advocate for Federal and State Arts Education Policy” — register today: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringTeachersToAdvocate

Invite colleagues, arts administrators, and all who support music and arts education! Join us! Educational Theatre Association National Art Education Association National Association for Media Arts Education National Dance Education Organization - NDEO

08/22/2024

Check your email inbox for NAfME Notes! Back-to-school resources, grants for middle school music programs, special event on music and arts education advocacy, multiple upcoming professional learning webinars for contact hours, student-led instrument repair programs, and more. Search archives https://bit.ly/NAfMENotes Subscribe: https://bit.ly/NAfMESubscribe

08/22/2024

New blog: “Ready for the New Year? Preparing for Places, Paraphernalia, Practicalities, Processes, and People” by NAfME President Deb Confredo: https://ow.ly/iL6450T3siC

“Back-to-school season is an exciting time! Here are some things that might help you to help your students have a great start to their year in music.”

08/21/2024

Shane Colquhoun, Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Contemporary Music Styles, Alabama State University, taught for 14 years at a small school with a student population in grades 7-12 of 224—which was 83% African American, 15% Hispanic, and 2% Caucasian—a Title I school with 94% of the student population receiving free or reduced lunch.

His advice for new teachers includes, “Embrace your situation and accept it for what it is. Some of us will have to separate our lived experience from our teaching experience, which can sometimes be nerve-racking, but it is well worth it. When I started, only seven kids participated in the band. When I left, there were 57 band students. We routinely maintained about 25% of the school population in the band. In addition to the marching band, we also had a concert band, a pop ensemble, and a music technology club. One of my favorite sayings was ‘small band, BIG program’.”

Read “You Are Not Alone! Tips for New Teachers in Small Schools” from the October 2023 issue of ‘Teaching Music’: https://bit.ly/NewTeachersSmallSchools

08/21/2024

We hope those of you who have begun the school year are off to an amazing start! And if you’re preparing for the first day of school, NAfME is here to support you. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or embarking on your first year as a teacher, we’ve got you covered with helpful tools and information. Visit this page throughout your back-to-school season for tips, ideas, resources, and more: https://bit.ly/BackToSchoolNAfME

08/20/2024

“Welcome back, music educators. Here is to a wildly successful and fulfilling new year ahead.” — NAfME President Deb Confredo

08/20/2024

Activations for the current school year are now being processed! Activate today so you don't miss important information about Tri-M®.

Not sure if you're active? Don't have access to your chapter number? Email us at [email protected] and a helpful staff member will assist you.

Start your chapter today! https://bit.ly/TriMStartRenew Tri-M National Headquarters

08/19/2024

New blog: In “Structuring Creativity in Musical Practice,” NAfME members Edward White and José Valentino Ruiz share “how musicians can benefit from a structured yet flexible approach to their creative processes, considering their careers, quality of life, and audience engagement.” Read more: https://ow.ly/B3LW50T01tU

“In traditional music education, there's a heavy emphasis on rigid practice routines and adherence to classical forms," they write. “While these elements are crucial for developing technical skills, they often leave little room for innovation and personal expression.”

08/19/2024

SUNDAY, August 25, is the deadline to take advantage of the NAfME Hotel Block Rate! Register now: bit.ly/2024MRTE And make your reservation today: bit.ly/2024MRTEHotelBlock

Why attend?

-Learn about the latest research in music teaching and learning

-Network with fellow music education professionals

-Hear about new NAfME initiatives to advance the profession

-Learn about the most recent music education research, new music and composers, and more!

08/16/2024

Get ready for NAfME Collegiate Kickoff Week! Check out daily themes and more and follow the NAfME Collegiate page for updates:

Celebrate the start of the new school year with NAfME Collegiate Kickoff Week! Plan your chapter activities now and hit the ground running for a week of exciting events filled with advocacy, professional development, recruitment, and more!

Visit the link below to learn more and see a recap of last year’s Collegiate Kickoff Week.

https://nafme.org/event/2024-collegiate-kickoff-week/

08/15/2024

The DCMEA professional development conference takes place January 10-11, 2025, at Catholic University. Session and performance proposals are being accepted through September 15! Learn more about DCMEA: https://washingtondcmea.org/ Submit your proposals here: https://bit.ly/DCMEA25proposals

08/15/2024

Calls for nominations are OPEN for the 2024 George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award! Submit your nomination by September 6: bit.ly/GeorgeParksAward

Nominated band directors will be evaluated on the following criteria:

*Collaborative spirit

*Dedication to knowing students as individuals

*Provides a culture of inclusivity, belonging, and community

*Perseverance and enthusiasm

*Ability to instill qualities in students for life beyond the classroom that create and foster community

08/14/2024

New blog sponsored by NAfME Corporate member Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press): “The Benefits of Singing Rounds in the Classroom” by Edward Caswell and Peter Hunt: https://ow.ly/SboQ50SWqxL

“In an age when we are forever scrolling,” they write, “it’s magical to be able to create a rewarding, even moving musical experience with just what you have in your head. A beautiful melody is a wonderful thing, but teaching a round can produce anything from the light and humorous to miraculous counterpoint as if out of thin air.”