National Association for Music Education Launches Fiscal Year—and School Year—with Renewed Advocacy Efforts and Coalition-Building

This fall, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) welcomed several new members to the Music Education Policy Roundtable (hereafter, the Roundtable), a public policy coalition consisting of more than 40 organizations that advocates for a high-quality music education for all students.

“We are very excited to have new voices come to the table and join us in ensuring the presence and preservation of school music programs,” said NAfME President Scott R. Sheehan. “The Roundtable was first formed in 2012 to unify many great music education organizations under a single policy banner, and we continue to move toward that goal as more organizations join and bring their wisdom and perspective to the Roundtable’s discussions.”

New Members

Americans for the Arts—A national arts and arts education nonprofit organization whose mission is to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America.

Association for Popular Music Education (APME)—A music education organization dedicated to promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education both in the classroom and beyond.

Hip-Hop Education Center—The Hip-Hop Education Center is a world renowned cultural institution catalyzing equity in education through transnational research, programming, leadership development, and the creation of a living repository of Hip-Hop resources and archives.

Jazz Education Network (JEN)—A national music organization dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences.

Kindermusik International—The leading provider of music and movement education for ages 0-6, Kindermusik equips educators and families with research-based curricula, training, and resources to foster whole child development and a zest for continued musical learning through meaningful, shared musical experiences.

The National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music (NASPAAM)—A non-profit professional organization with a fifty-year legacy promoting the study, performance, and development of African American music. Its focus moving forward is continuing its advocacy of African American music education and enhancing awareness of the significant contributions of African American music to American culture.

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM)—The only museum of its kind dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of African American Music in America.

Sankofa Songs—A national arts education organization dedicated to cultivating outstanding Africentric arts education practice.

Silkroad—Founded by Yo-Yo Ma and led by artistic director, Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad is a social impact organization and global artist collective that is dedicated to creating music that engages difference, sparks cultural collaboration, and provides meaningful educational opportunities to help build a more hopeful and inclusive world

Sphinx Organization—A social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts and focused on increasing representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music and recognizing excellence, Sphinx programs serve beginner students to seasoned classical music professionals, as well as cultural entrepreneurs and administrators. This year, Sphinx is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of supporting diversity in the arts.

The Roundtable believes that music education should be taught by certified music educators, delivering sequential, standards-based music education to all students across the United States. It is unified under a single policy banner and works to achieve a consensus set of federal legislative recommendations aimed at ensuring the continued presence and expansion of robust music programs in America’s schools.

In May, the Roundtable released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Agenda, which highlights the value of music education as part of a well-rounded education for each child and communicates our position on issues at the federal level. Our priorities include funding for Titles I, II, and IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which can be used to support music education in high-need schools and music teacher recruitment and retention efforts. During the NAfME 2022 Virtual Hill Week, September 19–23, Roundtable members met with their members of Congress and showed their support for programs and legislation that would impact music education.

In the future, Roundtable members will come together with other music education advocates, researchers, school leaders, parents, and students in dialogue about the future of music education and how music and arts education can serve as a catalyst for a more creative economy. We will also celebrate the 38th annual Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®) in March 2023.