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Meeting Suggestions

Formal Meeting Ideas

Guest Speakers

  • Invite faculty or graduate students from your school to speak about topics such as:

    • your first year teaching

    • how to teach band, strings, choir, and elementary/general music

      • This is great to bring diversity to your chapter members and enhance their knowledge of other areas.

    • making accommodations for students with disabilities in your programs

    • how to handle being confused as a student and how to present yourself as a professional

    • interview strategies and techniques/resume tips

    • parent and booster organizations in your program

    • how to advertise your music performances in the community

      • You may also consider inviting professionals from outside your school's faculty, such as your district or county arts administrator, to host a session on their area of expertise.

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In-Field Meetings

  • Reach out to local schools for a possible workshop in:​

    • steel pan

    • guitar

    • rock band

    • hand bells

    • Orff (elementary)

    • songwriting/composing

      • This​ is a great opportunity to interact with local schools and create relationships between members and in-field educators​.

  • Joint meetings

    • Invite​ other organizations to join your chapter for a meeting​:

      • Have them share expertise or find a topic that interests both.​​

      • Build community between musical organizations in your school!​

Informal Meeting Ideas

What is NAfME Collegiate?

  • What opportunities are available to them through this organization? What resources do they have access to?

    • It would also be a good idea to do an informational session for members who are planning on attending Fall Conference/FMEA Conference/Advocacy Day as each event draws near, but that does not have to be an entire General Business Meeting (GBM).

    • Networking session: using a meeting to get everyone talking with each other, exchanging contact information and establishing these professional connections​

    • Stress management: a session about how to deal with stress as a student and eventually in the work field

    • Meet to honor graduating members. It's a great way to bring everyone together and create a family environment.

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Discussions/Activities

  • Advocacy

    • Have a phone call or letter writing party to your representatives/senators/local officials!

    • Discuss ideas regarding what the chapter can do to advocate for music education - social media campaign, campus-wide partnerships, events, etc.

    • Music education advocacy would also be a great topic for a guest speaker.

      • For example, a session related to the decision makers at the school/county/state and federal level and the best methods of engaging with those individuals.

  • Why are we doing this?

    • Music education is an extremely difficult degree path, and it can be very easy to become discouraged or burned out. Plan a positive activity to encourage your members to stick with it!

    • Share experiences of great music teachers, new and experienced.

    • Remember why you chose this major in the first place. Discuss the reasons you all got involved in music.

  • Plan a session to demonstrate how to use Logic/Pro Tools/other music notation software.

  • Social events to let your membership get to know one another and forge connections such as:

    • ​Ice cream social​

    • Game night

      • team building games​

      • games that include everyone are a great way to have members learn each others names

    • karaoke night

    • study group

    • open forum note sharing after conferences

    • movie night

    • crafts ​

    • learn folk dances

    • scavenger hunt

For more ideas, reach out to other local chapters or search any NAfME Collegiate account on Instagram for inspiration!

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