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.

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Health

The Neuroscience of Peak Performance and Flow

What is happening in the minds and bodies of musicians when they play their best? Are peak performance and flow simply subjective perceptions of performance excellence? Or are they distinct mental states, a defined set of optimal behaviors, a heightened sense of self-confidence, or some trick of human nature?


When the Sound Won’t Stop – 3 Ways to Battle Tinnitus

People with tinnitus can find relief by using hearing aids and other sound-amplification devices. Like a microphone, amplifier, or speaker, hearing aids can supplement the volume of outside noise and increase the amount of sound stimuli received and processed by the body’s auditory system.


Top 10 Healthy Food Tips for Touring

Top 10 Healthy Food Tips for Touring — While it’s hard to maintain equilibrium and eat healthy on the road, there are things you can do to buffer stress, boost energy, and keep your immune system strong, in order to perform at your best.


How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions — One study of New Year’s resolvers published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology showed that, after six months, only 46% of the subjects had keep their resolutions.


Don’t Call It Stage Fright! New Ideas About Treating Music Performance Anxiety

Stage Fright — Stage fright, or more accurately, music performance anxiety (MPA), is one of the most commonly cited problems for professional musicians.


Making Music Improves Behavior in Children

A study led by Canadian psychologist E. Glenn Schellenberg of University of Toronto-Mississauga confirmed that making music improves behavior in children.


The A, B, ZZZZs of Sleep Disorders

The A, B, ZZZZs of Sleep Disorders — How well you sleep can affect your ability to perform, as well as your general physical and mental health.


Work Those Fingers

The only way to develop superior hand strength, endurance, and coordination is to challenge and develop each finger. So, work those fingers.


Warm Up with a WOW

The repetitive stress musicians subject their bodies to is comparable to what an athlete endures. A pro athlete would never dream of performing or even practicing without first warming up. In order to perform with the least risk of injury, the muscles, tendons, and joints need blood circulating through them properly so they remain strong […]


Finding the Right Physical Therapist for Musicians

It’s important to find the right physical therapist for musicians because musicians are dealing with an entirely different world than everyone else.








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