As music education majors, we spend a lot of time learning how to become better musicians and future teachers. We learn how to plan lessons, lead rehearsals, and create meaningful experiences for our future students. One thing I have learned throughout college, though, is that being a music educator also means being an advocate for music education.
During the 2025–2026 school year, I had the opportunity to organize two Music Advocation events on campus with the help of Kappa Kappa Psi and cNAfME. We held one event during the fall semester and another during the spring. The goal was simple: bring students together to advocate for music education and remind people that our voices can make a difference.
The idea for the first event came from a conversation about how we could become more involved in music advocacy on campus. I wanted to do more than just talk about the importance of music education. I wanted students to have the opportunity to actually advocate. We gathered on campus, wrote letters to legislators in support of music education funding, and had student musicians perform throughout the event.
One of the most exciting parts of the first event was being interviewed by The Crimson White, the University of Alabama’s campus newspaper. Seeing our event covered by the newspaper made me realize that advocacy can reach people who may not normally be involved in music education. The article also allowed us to share why music funding matters and why students should have access to music programs.
What made these events meaningful to me was seeing other college students get involved. As students, it can sometimes feel like we are not in a position to make a difference yet. We are still learning, and we have not even entered our own classrooms. But we are already part of the music education community. We have experienced what music can do for students, and we can use those experiences to speak up for future generations.
For me, advocating for music education is about more than funding. It is about making sure students have opportunities to find their passion, build confidence, make friends, and experience the many benefits that music provides. I know how important music has been in my own life, and that is something I want my future students to have the opportunity to experience as well.
Holding these two events taught me that advocacy does not have to be complicated. It can start with something as simple as writing a letter, having a conversation, sharing your story, or bringing people together for an event. We do not have to wait until we become teachers to start advocating.
As future music educators, we have a responsibility to use our voices for our students and for the future of music education. My experience with these Music Advocation events showed me that college students can make an impact, and sometimes all it takes is being willing to get started.
Advocacy Starts With US.
Sarah Beth Black, cNAfME President