Program Development

The First Five Minutes Matter More Than You Think

This post includes tips for welcoming students to lessons with suggestions that impact the first five minutes of lessons to get them off to a great start. It’s perfect for back-to-school!

Modern Band Is More Than We Think

If we define modern band by instrumentation and genre, then we limit its possibilities. If we define it by philosophy, then the possibilities become endless.

The Summer “Pause”

Summer is a time when ideas incubate and we prepare for the next challenges and opportunities ahead.

Why Your School Should Start a Tri-M® Music Honor Society Chapter

Music educators have a unique opportunity to shape not only musicians, but future leaders. Starting a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter is one of the most effective ways to do both.

Adjudication—What’s the Point?

By NAfME Member Lori Schwartz Reichl “Responsibility has become the fundamental imperative in modern civilization, and it should be an unavoidable criterion to assess and evaluate human actions, including, in…

Strategies for Managing Scheduling Conflicts with Your Music Program

What strategies do you use to manage scheduling conflicts with your music program during the day or before/after school? This article first appeared in the January 2026 issue of Teaching…

Guitar Teaching Focused on Creative Development and Composition Skills

Teaching Guitar for Ages 5–11 Fostering Creativity and Compositional Mastery By NAfME Member Oleksiy Bilous Objective of the Article This article aims to present a methodology for teaching children of…

A Music Educator’s Guide to Streamlined Event Registration

Simplify Sign-Ups, Payments, and Waivers for Music Programs This blog is sponsored by NAfME Corporate member Cheddar Up. Running a music program involves way more than music. When it comes…

My Children’s School System Wants to Eliminate Music Education

Making Key Changes to Advocate for a Vital Part of Every Student’s Education By NAfME Member Lori Schwartz Reichl “To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate…

Chance the Rapper’s Redemption: Hip-Hop as a Lifeline for Neurodivergent Music Education

Chance the Rapper’s Redemption Hip-Hop as a Lifeline for Neurodivergent Music Education By NAfME Members José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D. and Andrew Wang A Mic Drop Moment: Chance’s Revelation When Chance…