RESTON, VA (May 1, 2013) –Today, the National Association for Music Education welcomes the American School Band Directors Association as an official member of The Music Education Policy Roundtable.
American School Band Directors Association is the only national music organization dedicated exclusively to the prosperity of the concert band programs in the various middle and high schools across America. ASBDA stands for a strong belief in the concert band as the focus of the curriculum, close communication with administrators and the trends which influence their decisions, recognition of great achievement in the field of band music, and intrinsic benefits which come from the gathering of quality minds attracted to the solving of professional issues of national significance.
Kevin Beaber, President of the American School Band Directors Association, feels this is exactly what ASBDA needs to be doing. “Being proactive in the support of music education and showing music education’s relevance in the 21st century is our mission. Sharing our experience and expertise with other like minded organizations will help to bring that message to those who need to hear it.”
The Music Education Policy Roundtable, a coalition of music organizations that has been collectively advocating for music education since February 2011, welcomes ASBDA to the fold. With their added presence, the call for advocacy action on behalf of classroom music grows that much louder, and the ongoing policy efforts of The Roundtable will be significantly bolstered by another important voice in our field.
For more information, visit www.nafme.org.
The Music Education Policy Roundtable
The Music Education Policy Roundtable is an alliance of 21 music advocacy organizations formalized by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and American String Teachers Association (ASTA). The mission of The Roundtable is the unification of all music education advocacy organizations under a single policy apparatus, working in unison to achieve a consensus set of federal legislative recommendations, on behalf of the profession and all of those who stand to benefit from its contributions to education. The Roundtable is dedicated to ensuring the presence and perseverance of school music programs operated by certified music educators teaching sequential, standards-based music education to students across the nation.
National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century.
American School Band Directors Association is the only national music organization dedicated exclusively to the prosperity of the concert band programs in the various middle and high schools across America. ASBDA recognizes the outstanding music educators of our nation through an invitation for membership, sponsors convention clinics and round table discussions to share ideas and strategies, and hosts exchange concerts and master classes for students to provide quality educational experiences. Furthermore ASBDA serves as mentors for new and young band directors, sponsors honor bands events and chamber music festivals for young and developing band students, publishes curriculum guides and advocacy material based on the latest scientific research on the importance of music education in the development of youth, commissions new concert band literature from today’s most prestigious composers, and honors the achievements of developing bandmasters through awards and presentations.
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