Staying in Tune With Music Education: Policy Awareness Among Music Education Majors

A nationwide sample of undergraduate music education majors (N = 260; 69% completion rate) completed an electronic survey to determine awareness of music and general education policy and advocacy efforts. Students reported concern with the impact of policy on school music programs and their future careers. They were informed about music education policy issues at the state level but less so at national and local levels. Although respondents indicated involvement with professional associations, they rarely or never participated in policy initiatives. Methods courses provided policy information; professional organizations effectively convey policy information to undergraduates. NAfME Collegiate chapters offer music and general education policy-based activities, though many respondents were uninformed of their chapters' efforts. Students were unfamiliar with key buzzwords, people, and acronyms of present-day education policy. Involving students in educational policy endeavors will equip them with a knowledge base from which to speak and act, securing the future of music education.