A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession

The Music Teacher Profession Initiative (MTPI) was formed in 2021 by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) to identify barriers to equity in music teacher recruitment, education, and retention. A task force of NAfME leaders representing institutions of higher education across the country conducted research related to the challenges facing:

High school students as they make the decision to pursue a career in music education
Collegiate pre-service music educators in their undergraduate degree programs
New music educators in their first five years in the profession

The project was executed with the perspective of widening the path to the profession by cultivating and strengthening more inclusive and equitable processes in recruiting, teaching, and nurturing a robust music teacher workforce representative of their students and communities. A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession describes the task force’s process, outcomes, and recommendations for action. The report reveals the deeply complex nature of tackling the evolution in music teaching and learning. The issues addressed are not easily remedied. We call on those with vested interest in music teaching and learning to take an active role in moving our profession forward in ways that are inspiring, inviting, and inclusive.