National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

This weekend, NAfME was proud to be represented by NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy, Amanda Karhuse, at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in sunny Sacramento! At the CMEA general session, Amanda shared information on federal policy and appropriations updates, NAfME advocacy resources, and meaningful ways to get involved. She also participated in a powerful session empowering parents to engage in music education advocacy! A highlight of Amanda’s weekend was attending a session on teaching and advocacy that amplified the voices of inspiring collegiate students and early-career educators—an invaluable reminder that the future of music education is in great hands. Throughout the conference, Amanda connected with NAfME Western Division President Michael Stone and President-Elect Anne Fennell, CMEA President Chad Zullinger, NAMM’s Eric Ebel, and other California leaders. A strong start to the year and important work in motion—let’s keep the momentum going in 2026! 🎶

This is a sponsored post from NAfME Corporate member Opera Theatre of Saint Louis   Opera Theatre of Saint Louis presents this year's Digital Opera on the Go! program, featuring Scott Joplin's ‘Treemonisha’! From January 20 – June 30, teachers everywhere can request this incredible resource for FREE! What’s included:  ✨A 35-minute abridged production of ‘Treemonisha’  ✨ A robust study guide   ✨Engaging workshops to enhance the experience Over the past 5 years, this program has reached over 250,000 students worldwide, and we're excited to inspire even more young learners this year! 👉 Teachers, don’t miss out - request your program today! Learn more and get started here: https://lnkd.in/e5RrV6bm

It’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday – Did you know that Stevie Wonder wrote his rendition of “Happy Birthday” as part of the 15-year campaign to have Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday recognized as a federal holiday? Read the history from the Library of Congress https://lnkd.in/gtABXkRE How are you honoring King’s legacy and the change he advocated for today? (Photo: Library of Congress)

Register today for the January 27 webinar “Setting Up for Success in Middle School General Music” presented by Michelle Leasor: https://bit.ly/MSGenMusic About the webinar: Teaching middle school general music can feel daunting, especially for educators accustomed to performance-based ensembles. It also presents an exciting opportunity to inspire creativity and musical understanding in every student. This webinar equips teachers with practical strategies, adaptable resources, and classroom-tested ideas to design meaningful and engaging general music experiences. This session explores how to establish purpose within the secondary general music curriculum, select relevant concepts and topics, and balance rigor with fun through project-based and technology-enhanced learning.

Music program leaders, administrators, and district arts coordinators: Register today for the February 12 NAfME Music Program Leaders quarterly Colloquium, “Know Your People,” presented by Latasha Casterlow-Lalla and Michael Rodgers: https://bit.ly/MPLColl0212 About the virtual event: Whether you are an administrator, teacher, paraprofessional, or parent, at some point, you will be involved with being part of a committee, initiative, hiring panel, interviews, or something similar. In the area of music and performing arts, this is a specific and unique process. This colloquium will explore a systemic approach to create the best situations, reflect on what it means to be a team, and how to do best for students.

See Amanda Karhuse, NAfME Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy, at the NAMM Show January 20 during the Music Education Leaders Summit. She will be a panelist during the session “Advocacy That Works: Success Stories and Strategies from the SupportMusic Coalition.” This inspiring session will showcase successful grassroots mobilization techniques, coalition-building strategies and effective messaging frameworks that resonate with policymakers and communities. https://lnkd.in/eVw7f5_k Karhuse will also be moderating one of the breakout groups for the Music Education Leaders Summit on January 21.

Protecting federal funding has a huge impact on students’ access to high-quality music education nationwide. If this matters to you, make your voice heard! Let your Members of Congress know how crucial it is to reject the Administration’s actions to cut vital education funding and oversight. Explore the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) toolkit to learn more and contact your representatives today: https://cef.org/advocacy/ #DontFlunktheFuture

✨ Introducing our new Advocate Leader Spotlight series, where we highlight incredible members of our Advocacy Leadership Force (ALF) who are turning passion into action! First up: Danielle Shaub, Ohio Music Education Association’s President-Elect. As an ALF member for the past three years, Danielle has strengthened her advocacy skills and translated ideas into real impact. By learning from and collaborating with her peers, she has helped secure major wins in Ohio—including Governor Mike DeWine’s proclamation of March as Music In Our Schools Month and productive advocacy meetings at the Ohio Statehouse. Her efforts are building lasting relationships with decision-makers and advancing the message that music is essential to every child’s education. We’re proud to have you on the ALF team, Danielle—keep up the great work! 🎶 Stay tuned for more Advocate Leader Spotlights. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epTkmDjQ

Have you visited your NAfME membership profile lately? Under NAfME Analytics, you can see which courses you have taken and completed and access professional development certificates. In your membership portal, you can also check your membership status and number, visit the NAfME Learning Center and Store, and more.  You can also update your email address and teaching areas/levels in your membership profile today to ensure you get notices about NAfME learning opportunities, professional development, conferences, advocacy and public policy updates, and music education news. Login at https://nafme.org 

📢 Share your music program’s funding insights by January 16! The Arts Education Alliance and NAMM’s SupportMusic Coalition want to know: 📊 How your school used federal funds for dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts during the 2024–25 school year. 📊 If your program received little or no federal support, your story should be included! 📊 Share what other types of support kept your program going or how additional funding may have been utilized. 🕓 The survey takes about 20 minutes and is open through Jan. 16. Share your input to help strengthen advocacy for arts programs everywhere! bit.ly/FederalFunds2024-25 #ArtsEducators #ArtsFunding #ArtInSchools #ArtsEducationMatters Background image shows U.S. money and flag. Copy reads: Arts Funding Survey: 2024-25 School Year. How was your arts education program funded last year? Share your input by January 16: bit.ly/FederalFunds2024-25. Composite of logos for National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Educational Theatre Association, National Art Education Association (NAEA), Support Music Coalition brought to you by NAMM, National Association for Media Arts Education, and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).