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.
Combo Drum Key GrooveTech’s new DK Multi is a four-in-one drum key multi-tool designed to combine style with functionality. The centerpiece is a drum key socket optimized for proper fit on the tension rod nut for minimal free play. What separates the DK Multi from other drum keys is the addition of three hex wrenches—2mm, […]
Hot Like Fire The Growling Sax Red Lava Special Edition Saxophone by Victory Music Instruments is designed to meet the needs of the most demanding musician, with great intonation, sound, and ergonomics. The brass Bb professional tenor saxophone’s features include: high F#, Italian pisoni pads, blue steel springs, enlarged bell, matte black body and lava […]
How to Make First Chair guides musicians step-by-step through the preparation for successful auditions and performances. Musicians of all ages and abilities will gain knowledge of how to pace practice sessions, understand what judges listen for, and how to be prepared for anything on audition day. How to Make First Chair: A Step-by-Step Guide to […]
This installment in the Modern Drummer Legends series about drummer Alex Van Halen of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), includes Van Halen’s three Modern Drummer cover stories, transcriptions of classic Van Halen tracks, beats, and fills, a deep dive into his unique snare sound, and a 2020 interview. Modern Drummer Legends: Alex Van Halen, Modern […]
This collection, compiled by Sonora Slocum, principal flutist of the Milwaukee Symphony and member of Local 8 (Milwaukee, WI) and Local 802 (New York City), features some of the most popular flute repertoire by French composers, including Busser, Faure, Gaubert, Hue, Ravel, Saint-Saens, and Taffanel. French Music for Flute, compiled by Sonora Slocum, Alphonse Leduc […]
This collection presents 31 pieces by 15 composers for intermediate to advanced level players. Pieces include works by Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Brahms, Handel, Mozart, Leclair, Seitz, Tchaikovsky, Telemann, and Schubert. Includes piano accompaniment part. Giant Book of Violin Classics (for Violin and Piano), G. Schirmer, Inc., www.halleonard.com.
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]