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Welcome to the Tri-M® Music Honor Society
Empowering Student Leaders in Music Education
What is Tri-M®?
Tri-M is a student-run, student-led music honor society that recognizes secondary music students for their musical achievements, leadership, and service.
Tri-M Music Honor Society is the only national honor society for student musicians in secondary schools. It recognizes students for their musical achievements, leadership, and service activities. There are nearly 10,000 chartered chapters across the United States and around the world, with more than 84,000 students participating annually, contributing nearly $1 million to causes they care about.
Tri-M stands for Modern Music Masters, a program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Why You Should Start a Tri-M Chapter
Tri-M students use their leadership and teamwork skills to organize and participate in performance, community service, and music advocacy events.
Starting a Tri-M chapter in your school can have a profound impact on your music program and your students.
Here are some key benefits of Tri-M:
How to Start Your Tri-M Chapter
In 30 days, you can have your chapter members inducted and conduct your first meeting, and the students will have organized their first service project. Follow these steps to get your chapter up and running!
1. Identify the chapter advisor.
This person can be any school faculty member.
2. Complete the chapter activation form.
The activation form and $100 fee must be paid each year to be considered active.
3. Read the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
The Tri-M Program Guidelines lay the groundwork for the Tri-M program.
4. Establish your chapter bylaws.
It may be helpful to form a committee of teachers and students to help create the best bylaws for your school’s chapter. A sample bylaw document is available.
5. Recruit students.
Identify eligible students who show musical excellence and leadership potential. All band, choir, orchestra, jazz, etc. students are welcome as long as they meet the membership requirements: music participation, academic achievement, leadership, service, and character. A sample membership application is available.
6. Select your members and elect your officers.
These guidelines need to be written in your bylaws and available for all members to read.
7. Hold your induction ceremony.
You can use the induction ceremony template or build your own!
8. Conduct your first meeting and plan your first project.
Chapter meetings are conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order. Your elected officers should run chapter meetings accordingly. For the first meeting, have the chapter members introduce themselves and work together to brainstorm service project ideas.
Remember, Tri-M is a student-run and student-led honor society. In this step, students play a key role in building the best chapter for their peers, and the advisor can discuss which parts of the chapter will be the student's responsibility and what needs to be handled by the advisor.
Why Tri-M?
Hear What Students Are Saying
"Tri-M is such a special group because it allows musicians to make connections with peers and inspire people while helping the community at the same time."
— Avery A.
"I love Tri-M because it really brings the community together through the power of music."
— Jax C.
"Tri-M lets me create more relationships with people that have the same interests as me and I also get to learn more about music and communicating with others."
— Anjali S.
"Tri-M for me is like a helping hand from behind the scenes that helps lift the community up. Tri-M members go above and beyond to help reach out to the community despite obstacles."
— Dominique S.
"I joined because music is one of the most important things in my life, and I wanted to change the fact that local elementary schools were not providing music classes and curriculums for the students."
— Mia I.
Why Tri-M?
Hear What Advisors Are Saying
Tri-M® Service Projects: Lessen Your Load While Inspiring Future Music Educators!
Hannah Cole, advisor and Co-Chair of the Music Honor Society Advisory Council, shares how Tri-M service projects can lessen your workload.
How Tri-M® Music Honor Society Can Spotlight Your Music Program
Jessica Fiedorowicz, NAfME member and advisor, explains how using service and leadership can spotlight your music program.