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.
July 27, 2020
Flying Fingers covers an expansive variety of styles and techniques through its 50 transcriptions with historical and performance notes for each. Styles covered include early and modern blues fingerstyle, ragtime, Hawaiian slack-key, American primitive, Bahamian fingerstyle, Nashville finger-picking and Travis-picking, British Isles and American folk revival, new age, classical, modern, and everything in between. Hal […]
July 27, 2020
This book by Jeffry Kirschen, of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA), is an audio and visual method for practicing excerpts. The method is designed to help you improve your rhythm and intonation for better audition results. You simply listen to the MP3 files of the accompaniments while you play each of the 19 excerpts, or have a pianist play […]
July 27, 2020
Swiss-born, Atlanta-based singer, composer, educator Elise Witt, a member of Local 1000 (non-geographic), has released a book of 58 original songs arranged for solo and community singing. From folk ballads and jazz vocalizes to rounds and singalongs, Elise’s music spans many styles and continents, and includes her Polyrhythmic Multi-lingual Musical Collages. Available in print and […]
June 19, 2020
Pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman has released his latest album—a compilation of him singing 15 of his biggest hits from the past 25 years.
June 12, 2020
“Visionary” by David Szabo of Local 47 was written for a unique instrumentation combining woodwind sextet with string quartet and jazz rhythm section.
June 5, 2020
Three-time Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz, of Local 257, has announced the June 5 release of her first new album in four years, World on the Ground.
June 1, 2020
H.A. VanderCook Solo Collection includes 25 enjoyable compositions for solo cornet/trumpet, and all the titles are derived from flower or plant names.
June 1, 2020
Dr. Madelyn Moore has compiled three largely forgotten works by Baermann in this unique collection, hoping that by studying and performing these works, clarinetists will gain a better understanding of this important instrumental predecessor.
June 1, 2020
“New Solos for Classical Mandolin” is a unique collection of original solo compositions for mandolin designed for both practice and performance.
June 1, 2020
Jazz writer and college professor Bill Beuttler explores new ways in which jazz is engaging with society through the vivid biographies and music of artists such as Jason Moran, Anat Cohen, Robert Glasper, and Esperanza Spalding.