V. Memberships and Features

Memberships

Active Membership: Open to individuals engaged in music teaching or other music-related educational work. Each active member has the right to vote and hold office and receives a subscription to Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music. All active members hold concurrent membership in their respective federated state association of NAfME. Introductory and life members are also considered active members and have the same privileges. Introductory membership is offered at a reduced rate for one year and is open to individuals who have been Collegiate members during the preceding fiscal year. Life membership is 3000% of the current national dues.

Retired Membership: Open to former music educators who have retired from teaching or other music-related educational work. Retired members have the same privileges as active members except the right to hold elective office.

Corporate Membership: Open to companies that supply music education products and services. Member benefits may include discounts on exhibits at NAfME events, discounts on advertising in NAfME journals, company listing on the NAfME Web site and one issue of an NAfME journal, the opportunity to sponsor electronic communications, such as the weekly member news update, and a subscription to Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music.

Affiliate Membership: Any organization that meets the following criteria may apply to the NAfME National Executive Board for affiliated organization status: (1) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national music organization, (2) has at least 500 members, (3) its constitution and by-laws do not conflict with those of MENC, and (4) holds at least one meeting of its membership or its governing board each year.

Collegiate Membership: Open to music students in teacher education programs at the college or university level who are not employed full-time as teachers. Collegiate chapter members have the same privileges as active members except the right to vote or hold elective office.

Life Membership: Life Membership shall be open to persons who are eligible for active membership. Life members shall have the same privileges as active members. Each life member shall receive a subscription to those NAfME periodicals and other communication services deemed appropriate by the National Executive Board. Each life member shall hold concurrent membership in his or her respective federated state association of NAfME.  Life membership is 3000% of the current national dues. Call member services to join.

Features

Periodicals
As part of membership, active, retired, collegiate, affiliate, and corporate NAfME members receive Music Educators Journal (MEJ) and Teaching Music (TM). Music Educators Journal offers timely articles on teaching approaches and philosophies, current trends and issues in music education, classroom techniques, and the latest in products and services. Teaching Music focuses on practical articles in specific areas. Teaching Music also includes guidance on technology, advocacy ideas, updates on research, how-to articles in all specialty areas, as well as product listings.

Members also receive online access to enhanced current and back issues of five music education journals: Music Educators Journal, General Music Today, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and Journal of Research in Music Education (with separate subscription).

Online Journals
The following online journals, along with archived copies of past journals, are available online to all members free of charge. Printed yearbooks for selected years are available for purchase from Rowman & Littlefield Education.

General Music Today (GMT)
A respected peer-reviewed journal that offers high-quality articles to keep you on top of emerging trends, effective lesson ideas, and new materials for teaching general music at all levels. Don't miss the wealth of information and ideas you'll receive from this journal created especially for the general music educator.

Journal of Music Teacher Education (JMTE)
A peer-reviewed journal focusing on topics of interest to professors involved in music teacher training. This journal brings you information on state-mandated curricula, certification issues, reform movements, methods courses, and more.

Update: Applications of Research in Music Education
Practical applications for research findings in general music, choral, instrumental, and special topics in music education. The peer-reviewed journal Update offers information in a jargon-free, easily accessible style to keep you current on new ideas and trends in research and creative ways to apply them in the classroom.

NAfME Collegiate NewsLink
Designed to meet the needs of Collegiate members, this monthly e-newsletter offers articles and news explaining how to expand upon your classroom education to better prepare yourself for the real experience of teaching.

Optional Subscription
Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME)
This venerable, peer-reviewed journal contains research reports that include thorough analyses of theories and projects by respected music researchers. With JRME, you're sure to be kept informed about the latest findings in music education research.

Member Discounts
All members receive a 25% discount on all NAfME-published resources including publications, CDs, and other specialty items.

NAfME's Web Site (www.nafme.org)
A wealth of resources is available on the MENC Web site, including frequently updated information on membership, events, programs, and publications. Forums for band, chorus, jazz, orchestra, general music, future teachers, and higher education offer valuable professional development information and networking opportunities. Free resources available only to members include resume posting, e-books on various music education topics, My Music Class® ideas and lessons, and online journals for general music, research, and teacher education. A section devoted to the National Music Education Standards, a database of music education product and service companies, and copyright, advocacy, and career resources are among the many offerings.

"Make Your Case" Advocacy Resource

NAfME and NAMM have teamed up to re-launch “Make Your Case,” a database of facts, figures, and resources to help NAfME members and other music advocates make the case for music in school. The database, found at www.supportmusic.com and www.menc.org, has been updated and upgraded with current and extensive music education advocacy materials.
Advocates can search for facts, statistics, research, and anecdotes on specific topics such as budgets, scheduling, curricular needs, testing, staffing, and much more. (Topics were chosen from a survey of NAfME members and SupportMusic affiliates.) The results can be used for presentations, speeches, and other communications with school board members, administrators, and legislators.
 

My Music Class®
My Music Class is a searchable, interactive, online database filled with lesson plans and teaching tips. Members can login to upload their own lesson plans as well as view material authored by their colleagues and other NAfME partners. Members can search content by teaching level, teaching area, national standard, and rating. The system supports multiple file formats, including video and audio files, and includes links to external resources and websites.

Music Education Mentors
Expert mentors in music education offer online professional development opportunities to NAfME members by contributing to NAfME's online networks during the school year. NAfME members who post questions at the band, orchestra, chorus, jazz, and general music networks can get expert advice. During each month of the school year, a mentor monitors each network. View the list of mentors and their dates of participation.

NAfME Member News Updates
All members can elect to receive important and time-sensitive music education news and action items by e-mail. Contact memberservices@nafme2.org to subscribe. Add "news@nafme2.org" to your white list to insure delivery.

NAfME Online Job Center
The Online Job Center provides current listings of open positions for all specialties and levels in music education. All NAfME members seeking jobs can also list personal information and qualifications at no charge. This service is offered year round. Visit the Career Center.

Performance Rights from ASCAP and BMI
Through an agreement with ASCAP and BMI, MENC- or State MEA-sponsored groups led by active NAfME members are granted performance rights of music managed by these organizations. (This covers only performances sponsored by NAfME or federated state associations of NAfME.) However, if members wish to record their students' performance of any work, permission must be obtained through Harry Fox Agency.
For more information, visit the Harry Fox Agency Web site.

SONGFILE®

Under U.S. Copyright law, recordings of student performances must be properly licensed. Using Songfile®, an initiative of NAfME, The Harry Fox Agency (HFA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and the Music Publishers’ Association (MPA), is an easy way for MENC members who plan to make and distribute 2,500 copies or less of their recordings to obtain the necessary mechanical licenses for cover versions of songs. Through Songfile, educators can obtain licenses for CDs and permanent digital downloads from HFA’s entire database of over 2.3 million songs in all genres.

Optional Membership Features

NEW! A NAfME Credit Card That Hits All The Right Notes
The National Association for Music Education has partnered with Capital One® to offer you three credit card options to fit your needs. Choose a card that earns you great rewards, one with a low introductory APR or another to help build your credit. Plus, you can choose an image for your card that highlights your support for NAfME. Apply today!
 

Trust for Insuring Educators Plan 
Through an agreement with Forrest T. Jones & Company, Inc., NAfME offers a variety of group insurance coverages for you and your family for low monthly costs and full protection.
Insurance plans available to all members include: 

• Professional liability
• Private practice professional liability
• Term life
• Long-term care insurance evaluation service
• Disability income protection
• Personal auto
• Headstart
• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Life after 50

First-year members have the option of free life insurance. For more information, call Forrest T. Jones & Co. Inc. at 1-800-265-9366.
Also available from Forrest T. Jones & Co. Inc, the NAfME Health Benefits Program™ provides members with comprehensive health insurance benefits at an affordable price. For specific features of this program, call 1-888-715-6584.

Amazon.com
As an Amazon.com Associate, NAfME receives a small commission on purchases made by customers who access the store via NAfME's Web site. If you are seeking a book, CD, DVD, wireless phone, or other electronics, software, or kitchen gadgets, Amazon is a great place to shop online for competitive prices. For NAfME to receive the commission, you need to access Amazon from NAfME's Web site. Just click on the Amazon link here.

SheetMusicPlus.com
Support music education while purchasing sheet music. SheetMusicPlus.com has over 366,000 titles, including songbooks, methods, choral pieces, band/orchestra music, and much more. NAfME receives a small percentage of each purchase to help us support music education programs ... at no additional cost to you! Visit the NAfME member Web site for information or to order.

In Tune Monthly Magazine
NAfME's secondary school teachers receive free subscriptions to In Tune Monthly, the magazine written for music-making students in grades 7-12. In Tune is published monthly eight times from October through May each school year. Teachers are invited to buy student subscriptions for the school year. NAfME has encouraged and worked with In Tune Partners in creating benefits for NAfME members since the launch of the magazine in 2002.

Student Youth & Traveler Magazine
NAfME's secondary school band and choral teachers receive free subscriptions to the Student and Youth Travel Association's magazine Student Youth & Traveler.

ID Theft Assist
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America, affecting millions of people each year. It only takes seconds for someone to steal and use your personal information, but it could take years to completely restore your identity. ID Theft Assist is a partnership between a leading credit bureau and a respected 24/7 crisis response team providing a comprehensive identity recovery system. NAfME has arranged to provide this valuable protection for members. To learn more, call (800) 265-9366.

Special Research Interest Groups (SRIGs)
As a NAfME member, you are invited to receive free e-mail newsletters from MENC's Special Research Interest Groups (SRIGs). Make your selection from: Adult and Community Education; Affective Response; Assessment; Creativity; Children with Exceptionalities; Early Childhood; Gender Research in Music Education; History; Instructional Strategies; Learning and Development; Music Teacher Education; Perception and Cognition; Philosophy; Social Sciences; or all SRIGs.