Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.

As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.

The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.

Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AFM

IM



CFM Continues to Lobby for Musical Instrument Passenger Rights

Canadian Federation of Musicians continued to lobby the Parliament of Canada to include the carriage of musical instruments as part of the Passenger Rights Proposals on Bill C-49

Read More

Sam Bush: Storyman

Bush, a Local 257 (Nashville, TN) member, cherishes the art of co-writing, and for Storyman he co-wrote every song. Among his collaborators were Jeff Black, Emmylou Harris of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC) and master of songwriting, the late Guy Clark. And, Bush’s entire band contributed to the tune “It’s Not What You Think.” Among guest […]

Read More

Canadian Multi-Instrumentalist Performs on Both Sides of the Border

A versatile instrumentalist, Suzie Vinnick of Local 180 (Ottawa, ON) has won 10 Canadian MapleBlues Awards for vocals, acoustic artist, bassist, and songwriter and a Canadian Folk Music Award for contemporary vocalist. Though she considers herself a roots musician, she dabbles in many styles.

Read More

Electronic Guitars Design and Invention: Groundbreaking Innovations

Designers of today’s electric guitars draw heavily on great instruments created in the ’50s and ’60s. This book details how those masterpieces happened, why they are still relevant, and the effects they continue to have on modern guitar design.

Read More

Steel Drums Minus 1 Play-Along: Arrangements with Recorded Steel Band

Alfred’s Pop Steel Drum Series book and CD set includes medium to difficult traditional calypso and pop classics with “virtual” steel band backing tracks and treble clef lead sheets for any melodic instrument.

Read More

Make Your Own Music: A Creative Curriculum Using Music Technology

Make Your Own Music is a complete classroom curriculum for learning and teaching music technology, incorporating composition ideas, notation, and digital audio workstation (DAW) proficiencies.

Read More

An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon

This book by singer-songwriter Jessi Colter tells the story of her career, love, and faith, as well as life as the wife of music legend Waylon Jennings.

Read More

The Guitar Grimoire: The Exercise Book

This extensive and thorough exercise book for guitar places focus on dexterity and physical technique.

Read More

Flamenco Improvisation: Modal Improvisation and Melodic Construction in the Flamenco Environment

Based on a combination of an Eastern modal system (maqam) and Western harmony applied to oriental modalities, flamenco has long confused Western composers. This series is a theoretical and practical manual for composers and performers interested in modal music, and/or flamenco modalities.

Read More

Carrie Underwood Greatest Hits: Decade #1

This book provides piano, vocal, and guitar arrangements for all of the songs on Carrie Underwood’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1 album.

Read More

NEWS