NAfME National Conference

Join your fellow music educators in Orlando, where we’ll come together to lead our profession’s direction, engage with each other as colleagues, and inspire one another to guide our music students to excellence. Don’t miss powerful sessions, rousing student performances, and the chance to connect with music educators from around the nation! NAfME is also excited to bring the All-National Honor Ensembles back to the National Conference. Join us for “Amplify the Future of Music: Opening Doors for All Students,” the 2019 NAfME National Conference! Earn 15 hours of professional development.

FEATURES AND NEWS

The Key to a Successful First Year

The Key to a Successful First Year By NAfME Member Marissa Guarriello This article first appeared on the F-flat Magazine blog. “The greatest use of a life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”—William James Being a first-year teacher is hard. There’s a lot to think about and often too little time to prepare. You’ll meet more people and learn more names than you can possibly remember. And, most likely, get lost in your school at least once. If you’re moving to a new area or state,…

Marissa Guarriello and some of her music students in black concert attire

Guitar Class in the Palmetto State

Guitar Class in the Palmetto State Number 30: The State of South Carolina By Thomas Amoriello, Jr.NAfME Council for Guitar Education Chair In this edition of “50 States of Guitar Class,” we visit Columbia, South Carolina, and the guitar program led by Chris Essig who is the Academic Dean of Fine Arts and teaches Guitar 1, 2, and 3, Bluegrass Band, Worship Arts. Upon graduation from Ben Lippen School and due to their involvement in the Ben Lippen Fine Arts Department, Ben Lippen students will have developed the beginnings…

Five Reasons to Apply for the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award

Five Reasons to Apply for the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award By NAfME member Franklin J. Willis, sponsored by the CMA Foundation Being a recipient of the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence award revived my passion and commitment to music education. At the time, I was a novice middle school choral music educator who was questioning my choice to be a music educator. I worked long hours trying to provide learning opportunities for my school through significant musical experiences. I was creating a choral program that…