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

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.

On June 4, 2024, Deborah A. Confredo, Professor of Music Education at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began her two-year term as NAfME National President. Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/e2YWHxMa “Every day we put on our teacher hats, we automatically pledge ourselves as fierce advocates,” she stated. “As advocates, we intentionally, systematically, and publicly support music education because it is that important. In all we do, we shine light on music’s value in the lives of all people and especially children.”

You can be a part of the Connected Arts Networks professional learning community! Apply to be a Teacher Participant starting this fall. Deadline to apply is July 15. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eYrGsMPt #AllArtsCan

NAfME is a proud member of the Arts Education Partnership advisory council. The Annual Convening brings together #artsed leaders from all levels and role groups to learn and share together. We hope to see you on Sept. 12–13 in Pittsburgh! https://cvent.me/EEAY2P #AEPAC2024

On this 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, NAfME remains committed to advocating for a just and equitable education for all students. nafme.org/advocacy

This month we recognize the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark legislation that broke down barriers to inclusion, opening opportunities to our educators and students in music as well. NAfME remains committed to moving progress forward. #DisabilityPrideMonth

Thank you, Rep. Shontel Brown for hosting this important discussion on Capitol Hill today and for introducing the House Resolution recognizing June as #BlackMusicMonth https://lnkd.in/eApN4etK Watch the full briefing here: https://lnkd.in/etNcijqJ Photo 1: NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley Photo 2 (L to R): NAfME Advocacy and Public Policy Communications Manager Zachary Keita, NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, NAfME Assistant Executive Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Amanda Karhuse, and NAfME Executive Director Chris Woodside Photo 3 (L to R): Dr. Stephanie Shonekan, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Ethnomusicology, Musicology & Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland, Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, and Dr. Dwandalyn Reece, curator of music and performing arts at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Photo 4 (L to R): Panel discussion moderated by Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11); panelists: Dr. Stephanie Shonekan, NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, and Dr. Dwandalyn Reece