NASPAAM’s primary mission is to promote, preserve and advance the rich tradition of African American music, and we carry out that mission through advocacy, education, and performance.
If you think you might enjoy the opportunity of association, camaraderie, a shared love for and participation with others in studying and performing the various styles and genres of Black music, then NASPAAM is meant for you.
NASPAAM’s support and embrace for Black music curricular presence in all institutions range from pre-school levels through elementary, secondary, college/university undergraduate and graduate training and beyond.
NASPAAM strongly advocates for Black music programs in HBCUs and all institutions, and it welcomes all who teach, study, and/or perform the diverse styles and genres of African American music as well as those interested in advancing knowledge of the contributions of African American musicians, composers, conductors, and scholars across the scope of musical expression.
NASPAAM welcomes for membership musicians of all stripes including student musicians, music educators, vocal and instrumental performers, general music teachers, conductors, arrangers, composers, theorists, musicologists, technologists, therapists, manufacturers, music industry personnel, and all non-musicians who love and support music.
NASPAAM encourages its members to consider serving as a presenter at the wide variety of music program offerings at major conferences, symposia, workshops, recitals, think tanks, special lectures, book signings, and music awards shows.
Other examples of membership benefits may include:
- Reduced registration fees for conferences, symposia, workshops, and other professional development opportunities sponsored by the organization.
- Access to Members-Only content (to be developed for the website), such as job vacancy listings; research and resource materials, such as bibliographies, book/article reviews, article abstracts; unpublished research and oral histories; online networking opportunities and ability to connect with educators and teachers whose work focuses on the study and performance of African American music;
- Access to Member Profiles, providing opportunities to share research interests and facilitating connections with others who share particular areas of expertise, and/or seeking research collaborators.
Finally, NASPAAM has survived and thrived for 50 years plus, from 1972-2023, and we need your talent and expertise to ensure that the organization will continue to make a difference for the next 50 years.
The intangible benefits of NASPAAM membership have included making friends for a lifetime and having great professional colleagues across various areas of music to share and exchange views about a broad range of musical topics, such as touring, budgeting, teaching strategies, performance practices, rehearsal techniques, recruitment of students, publishing, research, and other common interests of the music profession. Joining NASPAAM will allow you to contribute individually and collectively to the study and performance of African American music and to serve a key role in the revitalization of the organization.
We need you!
