National Association for Music Education

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States. Founded in 1907 as the Music Supervisors National Conference (MSNC), the organization was known from 1934 to 1998 as the Music Educators National Conference (origin of the MENC acronym). From 1998 to 2011 it was known as "MENC: The National Association for Music Education." On September 1, 2011, the organization changed its acronym from MENC to NAfME. On March 8, 2012, the organization's name legally became National Association for Music Education, using the acronym "NAfME". It has approximately 58,000 members, and NAfME's headquarters are located in Herndon, Virginia

As of January 2025, Deb Confredo is the current president of NAfME, and the interim executive director is Christopher Woodside.

Organization and Early History

In 1956, a former MENC Executive Secretary prepared a chronology of the organization's genesis and growth: "1905—First discussion of organizing a separate conference of [K-12] music supervisors at the meeting of NEA music section, Asbury Park, NJ (July 2–7); 1906—First call issued November 27 for a School Music Supervisors Conference in Keokuk, Iowa; 1907—With 69 present, 'Music Supervisors National Conference' established in Keokuk (10-12 April); 1910—Constitution adopted, first recorded committee report, first book of proceedings published. Affiliate relationship established with National Federation of Music Clubs; 1914—'Music Supervisors Bulletin' (later 'Music Educators Journal') established. First report of Committee on Community Songs; 1915—Beginning of an emphasis on community music activities and community service by school music supervisors and music teachers; 1917—First National Music Supervisors Chorus; 1918—National Education Council established, Eastern Music Supervisors Conference organized; 1919—Music appreciation comes to the foreground... 'Service Version' of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' accepted by U.S. War Department upon recommendation of Conference-sponsored 'Committee of Twelve'; 1920—State Advisory Committees established; 1922—Southern Conference for Music Education organized; 1923—introduction of slogan, 'Music For Every Child—Every Child for Music'; 1924—Biennial plan proposed for meeting of National and Sectional Conferences; 1925—First National High School Band Contest sponsored; 1926—First National High School Orchestra; 1927—North Central and Southwestern Conferences hold first meetings; 1928—First National High School Chorus established; 1929—First meeting of Northwest Conference; 1930—office opened in Chicago; 1931—California-Western (later 'Western') Conference holds first meeting, completing the circuit of six Sectional Conferences; 1934—Name change from Music Supervisors National Conference to Music Educators National Conference; 1940—Beginning of cooperation with Pan-American Union and State Department in 'Good Neighbor' program, first meeting of College Band Directors Conference; WWII—Intensive cooperation with agencies & organizations including the State Dept., Treasury Dept., War Dept., Library of Congress Music Division; 1947—First student chapters enrolled; 1951—MENC Washington, DC office opens in NEA headquarters; 1953—First issue of ' Journal of Research in Music Education'; 1955—MENC becomes member of National Music Council.

State affiliates

NAfME functions regionally through more than fifty state (or state-level) affiliates. These federated state associations include organizations representing each of the fifty U.S. states; the District of Columbia; and a single affiliate for Europe.