GROUP ASSISTS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Central Michigan University students raise money for local music education programs through the CMU student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME).
The NAFME (chapter 102) is a CMU student group open to anyone interested in music education. The group is intended to assist in training and education as well as provide support for music educators.
This has attracted numerous students to the group including Kathryn Lemon (Music Education major and NAFME treasurer) and Andrew Warriner (secondary Music Education major and NAFME president).
Lemon has been treasurer for the CMU NAFME chapter for the past two years where she is responsible for the group’s bank account and has been in charge of developing and hosting fundraisers. She is also principal percussionist of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra at CMU.
“I first joined NAFME after going to a recruitment event at the beginning of my freshman year at CMU,” Lemon said. “I found that many goals of CMU’S NAFME chapter also lined up with my own personal goals for music education, and there are so many different opportunities available for NAFME members. One small fee at the beginning of the year will allow access to several master classes and presentations with music education professionals in addition to many articles and resources on the NAFME website.”
On the other hand, Warriner is also Director of Musical Activities for the professional music fraternity Delta Omicron, Music Director for
the student a capella group Fish N Chips, as well as being involved with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Concert Choir at the school of music.
“I got involved with NAFME my freshman year because I saw it as a group that could supplement my professional development in becoming a teacher,” Warriner said. “My sophomore year, I became more involved as the treasurer where we did fundraisers to mostly send members to conferences like the Michigan Music Conference and the Midwest Clinic. My junior year and senior year, I have been the president. During this time, we have grown a lot in membership and in what we are involved in.”
NAFME has participated in multiple fundraisers to assist local schools in Mt. Pleasant, Beal City, and Shepherd with their music programs.
“This year we had multiple fundraisers and we have raised close to $2000 and we have been able to donate money to three local schools to support them in whatever way possible during the pandemic,” Warriner said.
The organization has made efforts to refurbish a set of elementary classroom instruments for Renaissance Public School Academy in Mount Pleasant.
“Our chapter was able to fix up a donation of Orff xylophones that we can later donate to the Renaissance public school music program,” Lemon said.
In terms of future fundraising projects, the NAFME will be carrying out the CMU School of Music apparel fundraiser in the future.
“This was very successful, and a lot of people seemed to enjoy it,” Lemon said. “I think our next step we can take with this fundraiser would be to expand the sale to include a wider variety of clothing options. Other than that, our future fundraising projects will be decided on by the future Eboards.”
Other members of the NAFME are hoping to continue donating refurbished instruments to different elementary schools in the area.
“We recently have been donated more of the broken Orff instruments,” Warriner said. “I am urging the future E-board to continue that project and donate those to a different elementary school.”
For more information, visit the NAFME Chapter 102 at CMU Facebook page or contact nafmecmu@gmail.com.