National Association for Music Education

04/24/2025

New blog: “Mentorship and Administration: Supplying the Missing Link” by NAfME members Kathy Stefani and Lori Conlon Khan: https://nafme.org/blog/mentorship-and-administration-supplying-the-missing-link “The key to the position of Administrator Liaison on a mentorship committee,” they write, “is communication, connection, and congratulations—getting the word out to the appropriate administrators about the mentorship program; detailing information about upcoming events and registration deadlines; and passing along positivity on their efforts and the efforts of their new music educator. A winning formula!”

04/24/2025

Register now for the May 22 webinar “Writing for ‘Music Educators Journal’” presented by Lisa Martin: https://bit.ly/WritingForMEJ

About the webinar: One of the most energizing parts about teaching music is sharing our ideas for the classroom with one another. What works, and what doesn’t? How do our ideas connect with the larger educational landscape? In this webinar, we will explore how to shape our classroom experiences into shareable ideas through one of NAfME’s most widely distributed publications, ‘Music Educators Journal’ (MEJ). Through this session, participants will be able to:

--Describe the history, aims, and scope of MEJ
--Identify the manuscript options available with MEJ
--Describe the process for writing and submitting to MEJ
--Identify other areas of service opportunities with MEJ
--Workshop potential article ideas with other session participants

04/23/2025

New York, Virginia, Montana, and Oklahoma residents: Take action in your states for music education! https://nafmeorg.quorum.us/ And keep sending your federal elected officials emails asking them to support the Department of Education Protection Act (HR 433): https://nafmeorg.quorum.us/campaign/115284/ Invite more music education advocates to join you in these efforts.

04/23/2025

This week, NAfME joined 30 other education organizations in a joint letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging the ED “to quickly allocate billions of dollars that states and local school districts expect to spend during the coming academic term — and expressing concern the Trump administration might cut back funds Congress appropriated for the 2025 fiscal year under last month’s spending deal,” per POLITICO . “Any reductions or changes to allocations at this time will have a devastating impact on students, educators and communities across the country,” the letter states. You can read the full letter here: https://www.aasa.org/resources/blog/aasa-leads-letter-to-used-urging-level-funding-for-fy25-title-ii-a-funds

04/23/2025

Join us SATURDAY for the FREE NAfME General Music Virtual Mini-Conference! Exciting sessions, networking, inspiration and more. Reserve your spot and invite colleagues: https://bit.ly/2025GenMusicConference Organized by the NAfME Council for General Music Education. Thank you to event sponsor MusicFirst

04/22/2025

New blog sponsored by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, “Music as a First-Person Account: Confronting History in the Music Classroom” https://nafme.org/blog/music-as-a-first-person-account/ “By providing historical context, listening to the music, and guiding students to reflect on both, we help them make meaningful connections between what they hear, what they feel, and what they know about the composer's lived experience. Here are some steps to guide this exploration.”

Confronting History in the Music Classroom

04/22/2025

🎼 BIG NEWS IN ARTS EDUCATION! 🎭

For the first time since 2014, the National Coalition for Arts Standards (NCAS) is reviewing the National Arts Standards—and they need YOUR voice! Join in here: https://tinyurl.com/NCAS-Survey

Whether you teach music students, teach dance, direct theatre, create media arts, or inspire visual artists, your experience matters.

Help shape how we teach arts in America by taking the NCAS survey by May 16, 2025.

Together, we’re building the future of arts education! 🎨🎭🎬🎼



Educational Theatre Association National Dance Education Organization - NDEO National Art Education Association National Association for Media Arts Education Young Audiences - National Americans for the Arts The American Alliance for Theatre & Education Arts Education Partnership State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education

04/22/2025

During check out these webinars on teaching jazz, available to NAfME Academy subscribers (free for NAfME members—but subscription required; $95/annually for nonmembers). Subscribe here: https://nafme.org/professional-learning-events/nafme-academy/

-Building Your Jazz Program at Any Level
-From Beginnin’ to Swingin’: Tips and Tricks for Teaching Rhythm Sections at All Levels
-Improv 101 and Beyond: Blues, Bebop, and Vocal Improv Ideas for Your Music Classroom
-Jazz Programming at Every Level
-2024 Jazz Appreciation Month Interview Series
-Jazz Literature with Inclusion and Diversity in Mind: Programming from Novice to Advanced
-Energize and Expand Participation in Your Jazz Program
-Techniques and Tips for Elevating Jazz Education at Your School
-NAfME Council for Jazz Education and Jazz Education Network Crossover Event: Serving Educators of All Levels

Learn more: https://nafme.org/resource/jazz-appreciation-month/

04/21/2025

Attending the NAfME Eastern Division Conference this week? Find NAfME at in the Exhibit Hall at booth #106/108 and say hello to NAfME staffers Jazzmone Sutton and Ben Reyes! Learn more here: https://nafme.org/event/2025-nafme-eastern-division-conference/ Connecticut Music Educators Association

04/21/2025

Looking forward to seeing you SATURDAY, APRIL 26 at the FREE 3rd annual NAfME General Music Virtual Mini-Conference! https://bit.ly/2025GenMusicConference Organized by the NAfME Council for General Music Education. Thank you to event sponsor: MusicFirst Learn about this session “Write for the ‘Journal of General Music Education’” presented by Kendra Kay Friar and reserve your spot!

04/21/2025

Tomorrow at 7PM ET—register for the April 22 webinar “You Can Do This! Tips for NAfME Webinar Proposals: Share Your PD Topic Recommendations” presented by members of the NAfME Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee (PLPC): https://bit.ly/TipsForPDProposals

About the webinar: A panel of NAfME webinar presenters will provide insights into submitting webinar proposals and designing a successful presentation. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk in smaller groups with PLPC members to share key areas of need you have for your professional learning. Meet PLPC members and your music educator peers around the country and share your ideas on professional development trends and needs in the field.

04/19/2025

The 3rd annual NAfME General Music Virtual Mini-Conference is 1 week away! Learn more about this and other sessions taking place and register: https://bit.ly/2025GenMusicConference Organized by the NAfME Council for General Music Education. Thanks to event sponsor: MusicFirst

04/19/2025

Register today for the free May 20 professional learning webinar “Breathwork for Educators and Their Students” presented by Kathleen McBee: https://nafme.org/event/breathwork-for-educators-and-their-students/

About the webinar: Today, more than ever, educators and their students are faced with high levels of stress and anxiety. We often lack the skills to cope with these challenges in our fast-paced society. In this session, participants will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to find balance in their lives to avoid burnout and stress. Participants will also learn how to integrate these practices into their classroom to cultivate a safe space where students feel regulated and are ready to create music and grow as a human.

The session will begin with a short breathwork practice and reflection. Next, we will dive into a discussion on the science and benefits of breathwork. Finally, participants will learn breathwork and regulation skills for use with themselves and their students. This session is designed for all educators, regardless of their years in the classroom or the age of students they teach.

04/18/2025

Here is another session taking place at the 3rd annual NAfME General Music Virtual Mini-Conference—"Forays into Functional Harmony: An MLT Approach to Harmony for Accompanying, Improvising, and Composing” presented by Herbert Marshall. Register today and join us! https://bit.ly/2025GenMusicConference Organized by the NAfME Council for General Music Education. Event sponsor: MusicFirst

04/18/2025

The NEA will honor the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters—Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins—at a series of public events April 24-26, 2025, in Washington, DC. Learn more: https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz

The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship is the highest honor that our nation bestows on jazz artists. Each year since 1982, the program has elevated to its ranks a select number of living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.

04/18/2025

Meet the members of the 2024-2025 NAfME Council for Guitar Education and get to know them here: https://nafme.org/group/council-for-guitar-education/

04/18/2025

Music Program Leaders, district arts coordinators, administrators: Join us in Hartford April 23–24 for the 2025 NAfME Music Program Leaders Forum taking place during the NAfME Eastern Division Conference, and receive 15% off the registration for the full conference when you register for the Forum. Learn more: bit.ly/2025MPLForum

04/18/2025

Music educators, check your inbox for NAfME Notes! Articles on: new documentaries for music educators teaching 4th-12th grade; mentoring early-career and prospective music educators; the Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit; getting over fear of jazz improvisation; newest blogs; and more. Search archives https://bit.ly/NAfMENotes Subscribe: https://bit.ly/NAfMESubscribe