Posts

CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence

Congratulations to the 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence

NAfME Members Among Those Named 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence On May 7, 2026, NAfME Music Education Policy Roundtable member CMA Foundation honored 30 music educators during Teacher…

Read More
assorted blue and white latex helium balloons

SBO+ 2026 50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

In the May 2026 School Band and Orchestra Plus (SBO+), they announced their “50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference.” Of those, 38 honorees are NAfME members.

Read More
Close-up view of high school band students performing with brass instruments, including trumpets and trombones, during a school concert.

Rethinking Band Adjudication Through an Equity Lens

Adjudication is meant to validate preparation, growth, and artistry. Yet, as educators, we must also prepare students to understand the system itself, its strengths, its limitations, and its human element.

Read More
graduates-in-caps-and-gowns-in-audience

New “Professional Student” Definition Reshapes Federal Student Loan Limits

A new rule from the U.S. Department of Education, finalized at the end of April 2026, marks a noteworthy shift in how graduate students are classified for federal student loan purposes., carrying real implications for future music educators and others pursuing advanced degrees in education.

Read More
Singing, students and teacher in classroom sitting in circle.

Advocacy Ideas for General Music Teachers

By Kendra Kay Friar, Academic Editor of the Journal of General Music Education This article was first published in the April 2026 issue of Journal of General Music Education. As the…

Read More
learn text with chalkboard with school supplies

Try, Fail, Learn, Repeat

This is what the research-to-practice pipeline should look like: Empirical research identifies problems; APPP documents implementation attempts; more empirical research evaluates effectiveness at scale.

Read More
high school students learning to play trumpet and saxophone with teacher

Burnout? Have We Already Forgotten?

We talk about what is right for our (school) kids and what is best for our programs, but if we are not in a state of mental wellness and rest, then we are not what is best for our programs.

Read More
choral educator at keyboard with middle school students in rehearsal

Spotlight on the SRME Research Grant Winners

Once every two years, NAfME’s Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) awards two research grants of up to $10,000 each to support innovative research tackling important and timely issues in the field. We interviewed the two 2025 grantees—Beatriz Ilari and Julia Shaw—to learn about their research and key takeaways for music educators.

Read More
Arts Education Alliance

Expanding Access to Arts Education: A Call for Stronger Federal Investment

As Congress begins shaping the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, arts education advocates are making the case for stronger federal investment in our nation’s students. On April 16, 2026, the Arts…

Read More
High school jazz ensemble rehearsal

Lead with Swing! Fostering Leadership, Collaboration, and Confidence Through Jazz Education

When teachers intentionally design rehearsal culture around these ideas, they create ensembles that don’t just play jazz—they are transformed by and through it.

Read More