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Finding Spaces for Collaborative Pedagogy in Music Education By Drew X Coles Sponsored by Teachers College, Columbia University Master of Arts in Music and Music Education Our field of music education is a realm that offers a unique opportunity for collaborative learning. This is because music is a social art form that requires individuals to work together to create and perform. Therefore, music education is an inherently collaborative pedagogical process, where teachers and students can work together to create an environment that encourages creative expression, musical exploration, and ultimately further…
NAfME Is Part of an Initiative Awarded with a $50,000 Grant from the NEA for “Creating a Community for All Learners” As a member of the National Coalition for Arts Standards (NCAS), we are pleased to share that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) to support “Creating a Community for All Learners – Reimagining Standards-Based Arts Education for Equity & Inclusion.” This grant is among 1,130 projects across the country, totaling more than $31 million, that were selected…
What Tips for Mentors/Mentees Have Proven Useful in Your Experience? Six Music Educators Share Tips This article first appeared in the April 2023 issue of Teaching Music. John Combs, Montana Music Educators Association Mentor Coordinator; Retired Music Educator, Missoula, Montana If you have been asked to be a mentor or need to find a mentor, there are certain characteristics you want to develop or see expressed. We are in a world where young teachers walk out of school knowing the basics but need to develop tools and techniques for a…
173 of the 2024 Music Educator AwardTM Quarterfinalists Are NAfME Members The Music Educator Award Is Presented byThe Recording AcademyTM and the GRAMMY Museum® The Recording Academy™ and GRAMMY Museum® has announced 212 quarterfinalists for the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award™, and of that number, 117 are currently members of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)*. Nominations from 197 cities were submitted. In addition to the quarterfinalists, 123 legacy applicants from 2023 will also be eligible to win the award this year, and of that number, 56 are currently members of NAfME*. From elementary general…
On May 9, NAfME corporate member CMA Foundation honored 30 music educators during Teacher Appreciation Week with the 2023 Music Teachers of Excellence Awards. This seventh annual recognition celebrates educators for their commitment and impact on the lives of students and the communities they serve. According to the press release, “The CMA Foundation will hold its seventh Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony on Tuesday, September 19, in Nashville. Along with a night of celebration and recognition, the CMA Foundation will also invest $150,000 total to all of this year’s recipients. Half of…
Music Educators Journal Calling All Music Educators to Share Your Ideas and Best Practices Music Educators Journal (MEJ) is a peer-reviewed journal that encourages music education professionals to submit manuscripts about all phases of music education in schools and communities, practical instructional techniques, teaching philosophy, and current issues in music teaching and learning. The main goal of MEJ, like that of NAfME, is to advance music education: We seek articles to help our profession grow and develop and to offer practical ideas for the classroom. MEJ is calling all music educators to share…
The Three-Legged Stool Creating and Maintaining Stability in Education By Dr. Kris Cosca and Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl “Without a continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”—Benjamin Franklin For centuries, the three-legged stool has been symbolic of stability. This simple stool brings balance to its user when the three legs remain strong regardless of the conditions in which it is being used. Weaken or eliminate one leg and the stool fails—taking the user out of balance. Search “three-legged stool” within just about any…
In January 2023, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen informed Congress that the United States was projected to hit its debt limit ($31.4 Trillion) later that month. To avoid the government surpassing its debt limit, Secretary Yellen began taking “extraordinary measures” that will allow the Treasury Department to continue financing its obligations through June 2023. These measures have provided Congress additional months to come to an agreement on raising the debt limit, which has been raised more than 100 times since the 1940s. If Congress fails to raise the…
The Power of Music But What Kind? By NAfME Member Chiao-Wei Liu This article was first published in the April 2023 issue of Journal of General Music Education. One of the enchanting powers of music is its ability to transcend language and culture and capture complex human experiences. But music, rather than a mere reflection of social reality, also constitutes within discursive practices and contributes to the social construction of gender and sexuality. By looking at two different examples of music works, I call attention to the social-political role music…
Updated April 17, 2023 Introduction The teacher retention issue is multifaceted and felt across school systems in the United States. No one solution can solve such a wide-ranging and diverse issue. Research shows that high college costs and student loan debt influence students’ career choices, with higher debt burdens associated with students avoiding public service jobs, particularly in the education field. Student loan debt also impacts teacher retention, causing teachers to leave the profession, due to their salary being insufficient to cover monthly student loan payments. Student loan debt has…
Children’s Books A Great Partner in the Music Classroom By NAfME Member Suzanne Hall This article first appeared in the March 2023 issue of Music Educators Journal. Do you indulge in reading literature for personal enjoyment? Perhaps you are a collector of children’s books because of the diversity of topics or the colorful illustrations that capture your eye as you saunter through a bookstore. Alternatively, maybe you are captivated by the story told by the pages lying between the front and back covers. I challenge you to consider that this love…
An Educational Epidemic The Elephant in the Classroom By Ken Buck and NAfME Member Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl “Teachers don’t leave because it’s hard. . . They leave because the amount of work no longer is comparable to pay, respect, support, and value that they deserve for the workload.”—Dr. Brad Johnson In April 2022, Ken and Lori authored the #1 most-read article for the National Association for Music Education. It was read and shared with educators of all subject areas and levels beyond music. The article is entitled, “The Heartbreaking…
On March 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R.5), in a 213-208 vote. Introduced by Rep. Julia Letlow (LA-05), this legislation would explicitly outline the rights of parents as it relates to their children’s education. While H.R. 5 passed easily in the House, it is unlikely to pass through the Senate. Read on to learn more about key provisions in the Parents Bill of Rights and alternative legislation, the Bill of Rights for Students and Parents (H.Res.734), which was recently introduced by Rep.…
NAfME Council for Orchestral Education Shares Encouragement and Ideas for Orchestra Directors during Music In Our Schools Month® During Music In Our Schools Month®, the NAfME Council for Orchestral Education shared highlights from the month. Members of the Council also sent their poetic encouragement! Why Is Orchestra an Important Part of Your Identity? Students respond. Orchestra students shared what orchestra and music education meant to them. Here are a few testimonials from students: “Orchestra is only thing at school that be bussin’.”—11th Grade Violinist “Orchestra is the only place at…
For Immediate ReleaseContact: Catherina Hurlburtcatherinah@nafme.org or (571) 323-3395 Divisive Concepts Laws Report from National Association for Music Education Provides Overview of Impact on Music Education and Resources for Educators RESTON, VA (March 31, 2023)—On March 31, 2023, National Association for Music Education (NAfME) released a comprehensive report on “Divisive Concepts Laws and Music Education,” after nearly two years of discussion and research. As defined in the 65-page report, Divisive Concepts Laws (DCL) are legislative and executive orders that seek to restrict teaching, professional learning, and student learning in K–12 schools…
