NAfME National Chapter of Excellence Award for Recruitment

The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance announces that Colorado State University’s Collegiate National Association for Music Education Student Organization has received the National 2011 Chapter of Excellence Award for Recruitment given by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

The CSU Collegiate NAfME Chapter held a Swing Dance Social in Nov. 2010 featuring the CSU Jazz Ensemble. The event was initiated and planned by NAfME chapter officers in an effort to attract more music students to the organization and to reach out to other members of the CSU campus at large. Like many schools of music, upper-division students studying the performing arts aren’t always connected to other students across campus. Conversely, there are many university students who enjoy music and dance but do not take coursework at the University Center for the Arts building. This event allowed students – both performing arts majors and non-performing arts majors – to meet each other, socialize and share common interests while learning something new.

NAfME Officers contacted the CSU Swing Dance Club and requested that they teach a swing dance lesson, backed by the CSU Jazz Ensemble. Students were invited to dress in 50’s attire while an old-fashioned popcorn machine provided refreshments. A small admission price helped subsidize the lesson instructors and the remaining profits were allocated toward MENC members’ trip to the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference in Jan. 2011.

The award was given in recognition of outstanding recruitment techniques for the advancement of music education, and the NAfME National Collegiate Advisory Council selected the 2011 winners. “Congratulations to all of our NAfME Collegiate chapters for an excellent year,” said Becky Spray, NAfME Collegiate Manager. “We had more Chapter of Excellence applications this year than ever before, and the high quality of chapter programs made the selection process a challenge.”

The NAfME chapter at Colorado State University is advised by assistant professor of music education and director of the Colorado Kodály Institute Dr. Bonnie Jacobi.