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.
February 19, 2014
Musical Melting Pot Over the course of the string camps, O’Connor sees growth in the musicians as their different musical styles influence each other and meld together. This actually reflects O’Connor’s own compositions, through which he strives to finally define an American style of classical music. “All of us feel like American music should be […]
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2014
Canadian singer/fiddler roots herself in trucks and on the prairie. As a teenager, she got to sit in with one of her favorite bands, Canadian folk-rockers Spirit of the West, by simply asking, “so who’s playing fiddle tonight?” knowing full well that they’ve never had a fiddle in their lineup. Later that night, she joined […]
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2014
Playing Cello, Trombone—and Laptop—Dana Leong Brings an Energetic Edge to His Melodic Lines In a sense, that career started when the San Francisco-raised musician first picked up the cello in third grade, and then the trombone a year later. “I tried to use my knowledge of both instruments to complete each other’s spectrums,” Leong says, […]
Read MoreFebruary 18, 2014
Lee Ritenour Local 47 (Los Angeles) is currently running his Six String Theory Competition. Ritenour’s Six String Theory is a global, non-profit music competition in guitar, bass, piano/keys and drums offering winners professional opportunities in performing, recording, Berklee College of Music scholarships, Yamaha instruments and more. Along with Berklee, Yamaha, Monster, Montreux Jazz Festival and […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
Violist Eliesha Nelson Brings the Music of Quincy Porter Back to the Surface. Talking with Eliesha Nelson, her warm personality immediately comes across, thanks largely to her fantastic laugh. She laughs often, and the sound is full, rich, and hearty-interestingly, all words often used to describe the sound of the viola. Some people observe that […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
Edwin McCain found the perfect spot to watch. Tucked back stage, where no one could see him, he peered out at the audience from between two stage curtains. It was just after the turn of the millennium, and less than 15 feet away, center stage, Ray Charles played on a grand piano. As McCain soaked […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
In 1998, along the French Riviera in Monte Carlo, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. of Local 47 (Los Angeles) sat and ate lunch at an outdoor café with percussionist Bashiri Johnson of Local 802 (New York City). They were taking in the sights during a break from playing on Whitney Houston’s European tour. “Bashiri looked around […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
In 2006, Carrie Underwood’s song, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” went platinum and spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard chart. Except it wasn’t exactly Underwood’s song. Underwood’s voice brought the song to life, but it was a songwriting trio made up of Gordie Sampson of Local 355 (Cape Breton, NS), as well as […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
Violin Superstar Rachel Barton Pine Introduces Metalheads to Mozart Here, Rachel Barton Pine presents the image of a polished and proper classical violinist, and most of the time, that’s exactly what she is. On a typical day in the life of the 35-year-old member of Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL), Pine might take her place in […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2014
Larry Zalkind’s performing career takes him, and the trombone he helped develop, all over the West Coast and beyond. A popular trombone joke asks (all in fun, of course!): “What kind of calendar does a trombonist use for his gigs?” with the punch line: “Year-at-a-glance.” Far from the truth for Larry Zalkind of Local 104 […]
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