National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

Registration is OPEN: The 2024 NAfME Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference takes place in Atlanta September 25-28. Learn about the keynote speaker, preconference forum, and more! https://bit.ly/2024MRTE

Check out highlights from this past June’s NAfME Hill Day! Keep the momentum going by emailing your elected officials (takes less than 2 minutes!) bit.ly/NAfMEgrassroots And join NAfME today! nafme.org/membership #NAfMEHillDay Photos by Ashlee Wilcox Photography Video includes photos of music educators and collegiates with NAfME music education leadership going to Capitol Hill, in a group shot on the steps, in meetings with elected officials, and in a sing along at the Taft Memorial Carillon in Washington, DC.

New webinar: “Empowering Educators: Customized Arts Learning Toolkit from the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE)” takes place September 19 at 7PM ET: https://lnkd.in/euBShKN8 STATE EDUCATION AGENCY DIRECTORS OF ARTS EDUCATION-SEADAE Presenters (L to R): Lauren Conrad (SEADAE President-Elect and Education Associate for Visual and Performing Arts, Delaware Department of Education); Elizabeth Maughan (SEADAE President, and Fine Arts Project Manager and Art Tech Project Director, Oklahoma State Department of Education); and Brandon Roeder (K-12 Theatre and Arts Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction). About the webinar: Unlock the potential of customized arts learning with a comprehensive toolkit designed to cater to the diverse needs and backgrounds of every student. In this session, we delve into the intricacies of customized arts learning—a transformative process that empowers educators to craft authentic instructional approaches tailored to individual students. The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) has put together an extensive toolkit to serve as a guide for educators, providing resources and support to navigate the complex landscape of cultural diversity in the classroom. From building individual capacity to fostering meaningful connections with community partners, participants will discover a wealth of strategies to prepare standards-aligned lessons that resonate with students on a profound level. Join us as we explore how to facilitate dynamic learning experiences that encourage students to engage, explore, and express their understanding of the world through the arts. Whether you’re a novice educator embarking on your teaching journey or a seasoned professional seeking to enrich your practice, this session offers something for everyone. By the end of our time together, participants will emerge with the tools and confidence to embark on a transformative journey of customized arts learning, unlocking the full potential of every student while fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment in the classroom.

We’re urging Members of Congress to support the largest possible education investments for FY 2025. The need for federal education support is greater than ever, and the impact on #MusicEducation cannot be understated.  Join us and Committee for Education Funding (CEF) today for #HearOurEdStories Day. The House funding bill will devastate teaching and learning with an $11.1 billion (14%) cut to U.S. Department of Education programs. Use the toolkit to urge Congress to make those important investments at https://lnkd.in/eHQyxW_4 

July 23, NAfME advocacy staff will join other members of Committee for Education Funding (CEF) for #CEFHillDay to advocate for federal funding for education, including programs that impact music education. You can join in supporting our message using this toolkit: https://lnkd.in/eHQyxW_4 This toolkit includes sample messages to record and/or post; your elected officials’ social media handles; charts; and more. With your voice added, we can make a difference for music education! #MusicEdFunding

The NAfME Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) has a call for applications for three vacancies on the SRME Executive Committee. The term for service is six years, beginning January 1, 2025. Learn more and apply by August 26: https://lnkd.in/e8eu9FVz 

The House Appropriations Committee has unfortunately labeled music and arts education as expendable, zeroing out funding for the USDOE Assistance for Arts in Education program, which helps provide historically excluded students and students with disabilities equitable access to arts education. The Committee stated that the “Department should be focused on core education such as reading, writing, and math.” However, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has explicitly stated that music education is an essential part of well-rounded education, which every student should be provided. Email your U.S. Representative now and let them know your thoughts on what education is essential for all students: bit.ly/NAfMEgrassroots

Are you at the Music Will Modern Band Summit? Meet with NAfME during the event! NAfME Immediate Past President Scott Sheehan delivered this morning’s keynote, and at 12:15-1:15 in Longs Peak (302), join them for a collaborative lunchtime chat to connect, share insights, and discuss the implementation and advancement of modern band initiatives across different regions. More opportunities to meet with NAfME: -July 10, 1:30-2:15, Longs Peak (302): “The Big Picture of Music Education: What’s New and What’s Next”—Topics will include expanding curriculum and reviewing standards, the looming teacher shortage, pathways to the profession and CTE, success in small schools, and so much more. Everyone's experiences are important to these topics and know your voice will be heard! -July 11, 9:15-10:45, Room 324: “Together We Stand: Bridging the Gaps between ED&I and SEL through Teacher Leadership”—Join us to collaborate and learn how NAfME and the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) fosters equity, diversity, inclusion (ED&I), and social-emotional learning (SEL) through teacher leadership. Discover strategies to create inclusive classrooms and support holistic student development by leveraging CAN’s resources in your own community. -July 11, 11:00-11:45, Longs Peak (302): “Championing Professional Learning Communities”—Explore how the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) initiative creates virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for arts educators, including modern band teachers. This session will highlight CAN’s mission to enhance teaching through equity, diversity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning, providing valuable resources and strategies to enrich your music classroom. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gqKimt6p

Advocate for federal funding impacting music education https://lnkd.in/egBem5V8 Music education is "making an impact not just on individual people and the power that music has, but on the economy. We are impacting the country in a very positive way and so it's important that we can share our place and make sure that people know what we we are doing.”—NAfME Immediate Past President Scott Sheehan.

New advocacy blog: “NAfME Federal Appropriations Update for Fiscal Year 2025” https://ow.ly/lLBH50Sy8kf With the United States currently in the midst of a teacher shortage, cuts to programs that would strengthen and diversify the teacher pipeline are non-starters for NAfME. Likewise, NAfME is unable to support a bill that would reduce funding to programs that support our most vulnerable student populations, such as Title I. We urge House members to revise these funding proposals when meeting in full committee. The Labor-HHS-Education bill will move on to markup in the full House Appropriations Committee, which is currently scheduled for today, July 10. (Updated July 11.) Photo: Ashlee Wilcox Photography