National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

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Coming soon! Register for the November 12 webinar “What’s Your Jam? Using Student-Selected Music in the General Music Classroom” presented by Adrienne Rodriguez: https://lnkd.in/eVAFeGY8 About the webinar: Students do not enter the general music classroom as blank slates but, rather, they bring with them a rich background of music experiences and interests. When teachers learn about their students’ musical interests and consider those interests when planning instruction, it can have a positive impact on classroom environment, student engagement and agency, student-teacher rapport, and educational outcomes. In this webinar, participants will gain information to learn more about their students’ musical interests and incorporate those interests into general music instruction. This session will also provide participants with information and ideas for how to navigate potential challenges related to incorporating student-selected music into the classroom, including issues related to appropriate lyrics and arranging popular music for younger students. This session will blend discussion and presentation of different strategies with examples of different activities that can be used in the classroom in which participants can actively engage during the session.

As we honor Filipino American History Month this October, we recognize the struggles and accomplishments of Filipino Americans and encourage fellow educators of Filipino American colleagues and students to listen to their stories and experiences and celebrate the music and culture of Filipino Americans. Find recordings from Smithsonian Folkways here: https://lnkd.in/eYnhtccw

Register for the Nov. 18 webinar, “Creating a Community for All Learners: Reimagining Arts Standards through Centering Students,” presented by Michael Raiber and Dr. Sonya White Hope: https://lnkd.in/eBGDqC5E About the webinar: This webinar will be moderated by NAfME Immediate Past President Scott R. Sheehan and NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy Amanda Karhuse. As a member of the National Coalition for Arts Standards (NCAS), NAfME is participating in “Reimagining Standards-Based Arts Education for Equity & Inclusion” a project of NCAS partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Over the past year, a panel of experts representing dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts educators reviewed the 2014 National Arts Standards through the lens of culturally responsive teaching and student-centered instruction. Their work will culminate in the November 2024 release of Reflections and Considerations to Guide the Work of the Revisions of the National Core Arts Standards, which is intended to support NCAS in a thorough review and revision of the standards to meet the needs of today’s arts educators and the students they serve. During this webinar, the music experts will share details about the Reflections and Considerations report and how educators can implement tactics in their classroom for culturally responsive teaching, anti-ableism, and student voice and choice.

October is LGBTQIA History Month and a time to celebrate LGBTQIA musicians and composers, giving students the opportunity to see themselves in the music and learn about the wider music community. Listen to the award-winning piece “We Will Know: An LGBT Civil Rights Piece in Four Movements” by Omar Thomas, who delivered the keynote address at this year’s Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference:

October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Awareness Is Key.” To music educators with ADHD, we join in the encouragement to be kind to yourself and support to educators working with students with ADHD and encouraging them to be kind to themselves as well. Learn more about this month’s observance: https://lnkd.in/gA86FYy See also this article from the August 2023 issue of ‘Teaching Music’ magazine, “Three ADHD-Informed Teaching Strategies for the Ensemble Setting” by Becky Marsh: https://lnkd.in/e8pjkbab

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed each October, and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, this year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” NAfME recognizes the needs for inclusion, support, and celebration of music educators with disabilities, whether visible or not, and the importance of school communities who support them and the value of students with disabilities seeing themselves in educators who understand them. We join the U.S. Department of Labor in celebrating “the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy,” including in our nation’s schools.

Coming up soon: On November 6, join Liza Meyers for NAfME Professional Learning webinar “Implicit Bias in the Music Classroom”: https://lnkd.in/gCS_EvU9 About the webinar: Equity in music education is the keystone of NAfME’s strategic plan. We are presented with a turning point in the profession of music education in which we are more frequently reflecting on how much education, society, and societal views have changed in America, often for the better. We have begun to have more conversations about equity and inclusion and are considering more deeply the materials we use in our classrooms. Still, unconscious and implicit bias can exist in our music classrooms. What are implicit and instructional biases, and how can they impact our students’ classroom experiences despite our best intentions? How can we overcome these biases? Come join the conversation for a more inclusive music classroom for all music students. As Michelle Kim said, “We cannot unlearn what we are too afraid to acknowledge.”

Next week, October 30 at 7:00PM ET, join members of the NAfME Council for Jazz Education for a town hall, “Techniques and Tips for Elevating Jazz Education at Your School”: https://lnkd.in/gxsHEdjK About the town hall: Members of NAfME’s Council for Jazz Education will explore dynamic rehearsal techniques for jazz ensembles, how to integrate vocalists into a jazz ensemble setting, and tips and tricks to increase the ways you introduce improvisation to your students. Bring your questions for the panel for the Q&A session toward the end of the evening. We hope you’ll join us to connect with jazz educators of all experience levels from around the country!

New advocacy blog: “Advocacy Efforts of NAfME and Partners Pay Off with Pivotal Milestone for Arts Education by Zachary Keita: https://lnkd.in/exW3TiGx Keita shares six tips for using the new U.S. Department of Education guidance for using federal funding for music and arts education programs.