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.
December 26, 2019
Not until adulthood would I realize that the ever-changing female body could profoundly affect brass playing.
November 27, 2019
Sometimes the disease process itself can affect the voice, but thyroid surgery too can cause voice disturbances that musicians, especially singers, should be aware of.
October 1, 2019
Regular dental checkups can help prevent and correct many potential problems for wind and brass musicians including teeth grinding, TMJ, dry mouth, etc.
September 18, 2019
Carpal tunnel syndrome is both a simple and complex issue. Carpal tunnel occurs when your median nerve squeezes and compresses at your wrist.
August 29, 2019
Body Mapping teaches musicians to question their own concept of anatomical size, structure, and function to improve facility, ease, and efficiency in playing.
July 24, 2019
In the eternal search for understanding what makes us human, scientists found that our brains are more sensitive to pitch, the harmonic sounds we hear when listening to music, than our evolutionary relative the macaque monkey.
June 11, 2019
With the arrival of summer, it is a good time to review and remember the threat that Lyme disease poses to anyone who steps outside.
May 3, 2019
May is National Better Hearing Month and the American Academy of Audiology encourages everyone to make an appointment with an audiologist if they suspect hearing loss for themselves or their loved ones.
April 24, 2019
Don Greene’s centering method is a great tool to help channel the mental and physical effects of performance stress into powerful performances.
March 1, 2019
Musicians often benefit from massage, chiropractic, or other forms of bodywork. Regular practice of Pilates is complementary and can prolong the effects of bodywork between visits.