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.
March 29, 2021
Getting Off the Ground Through Music—And Staying There Elaine Douvas fell in love with classical music as a first grader in ballet class. The “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” by Tchaikovsky made her spirit soar, and by age seven she knew she wanted to be a professional musician. She started on piano, changed to violin, and in […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Hall of Ghosts was composed in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown period; it was inspired by piccoloist Gudrun Hinze’s video for Harberg’s Prayer Project filmed in the hauntingly empty Gewandhaus Chamber Music Hall. Evocative of imagined spirits in the empty hall, the music pits dramatic silences, amid searching and plaintive phrases of the piccolo, against […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Composed for renowned hornist Andrew Pelletier, a member of Local 5 (Detroit, MI) and Local 15-286 (Toledo, OH), Adler’s Cantilena is a two-movement contemporary affair perfect for the recital program. The first movement begins “slowly and very expressively,” as Adler fashions his horn song based on a traditional Jewish chant. Alternatively, the second movement is […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
The new Gator studio microphone universal shockmount for large-diaphragm condenser mics improves clarity in recordings by isolating the mic from intrusive vibrations. Features a sturdy spring clip that opens up the inner diameter for inserting the microphone, EVA foam interior lining that keeps the mic safely mounted and protects against scratches, and heavy-duty steel construction. […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Tour-Ready In-Ear Monitor System The Sensaphonics 3DME Custom Tour is a custom-fit IEM system that captures room sound with full 3D directionality. The ambient sound is added to the monitor feed via the system’s USB-rechargeable bodypack mixer, at levels fully controlled by the user. The bodypack also houses signal processing, including a seven-band stereo graphic […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Punchy Tone Cajon Adjustable strings and an extra thick wooden sound port ring for bass compression gives the Meinl Percussion Cantina Line cajon a wide dynamic range of highs and lows. Two sets of six micro-coiled metal cajon strings give a snapping snare effect and are adjustable. The Baltic birch resonating body develops the sound […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
The new D’Addario XS coated guitar strings offer a new, thin film coating (1/10 the thickness of a human hair) that protects the wound strings from corrosion without dampening the tone. This new film covering is combined with D’Addario’s proprietary dispersion coating to protect the plain steel strings as well. The XS also incorporate D’Addario’s […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Oboe Innovation The new Buffet Crampon Légende oboe model is complimentary to the Buffet Crampon professional oboe family for its qualities of accuracy, flexibility, centered tone, and projection. Particular attention has been paid to the acoustic quality, the harmonic spectrum, the ease of response, and depth of sound. The Légende is part of the new […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Be a Fanatic The Nancy Wilson Fanatic guitar is created and co-designed by Nancy Wilson of Heart, member of Local 76-493 (Seattle, WA), and the luthiers at Epiphone. The Fanatic features a classic nighthawk shaped mahogany body and a figured maple veneer top. It comes equipped with ProBucker humbuckers, a five-way pickup selector switch for a […]
Read MoreMarch 1, 2021
Free-blowing Power The JodyJazz DV Series saxophone mouthpieces are 24-karat gold-plated metal that deliver free-blowing power with a full tone. The DV has a chamber/bore/facing combination, while the patented ‘Secondary Window’ design eliminates the shrillness associated with metal pieces. This mouthpiece works efficiently, the articulation is clean, and one can easily go from low to […]
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