School of Music Student Organizations
The School of Music offers many opportunities for professional and social involvement through the student organizations listed below.
Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music’s position in American society.
ACDA membership consists of approximately 18,000 choral directors who represent more than one million singers across the United States. ACDA members teach choral music in public and private schools – kindergarten through senior high school – and at the college and university levels. They conduct a variety of choral groups, including boy-choirs, children’s choirs, men’s and women’s choruses, junior and senior high school choirs, college and university choruses, ethnic choirs, vocal-jazz ensembles, and symphony choruses. They also conduct choirs in their communities and in their places of worship.
National Website: www.acda.org
Founded in 1919, Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternal organization that promotes the advancement of college and university bands through dedicated service and support to bands, comprehensive education, leadership opportunities, and recognition, for the benefit of its members and society.
National Website: www.kkytbs.org
Chapter Website: facebook.com/kkpsialphabeta
Mu Phi Epsilon is an International Professional Music Fraternity whose purposes are the recognition of scholarship and musicianship and the promotion of friendship. Its aims are the advancement of music throughout the world, the promotion of musicianship and scholarship, loyalty to the Alma Mater, and the development of a true bond of friendship.
The Fraternity is composed of collegiate chapters, alumni chapters and allied members. The history of Mu Phi Epsilon dates from November 13, 1903. Today, Mu Phi Epsilon has 128 collegiate chapters including two in the Philippines, one in Canada, 74 alumni chapters, and more than 70,000 members.
National Website: http://www.muphiepsilon.org/
The aim of the Butler student chapter of MTNA is to unite students for the attainment of musical excellence and promote music appreciation both on and off campus. This can be achieved by sponsoring musical activities, using music as a service to the community, and using talents and time in support of local music festivals and conferences. In previous years, Butler University MTNA has presented two sessions for the MTNA National Conference, including ” Grow and Play Together” in 2011 and “Getting Started with Online Marketing” in 2012. Projects for the 2013-2014 school year include fundraisers, interest meetings, a Butler University MTNA member recital, submitting proposals to present at the 2014 MTNA National Conference in Chicago, hosting the 2014 Butler Children’s Music Festival, and logistical work for IMTA State Conference held at Butler University, Achievement in Music Festival (AIM) and Indiana Hoosier Auditions.
Students wishing to join MTNA should email Karen Thickstun (kthickst@butler.edu) with questions regarding the organization and its activities. Membership dues include $16 for National and State membership and $5 for collegiate membership, bringing the total to $21. Members enjoy a subscription to American Music Teacher Magazine, membership at the national, state, and collegiate levels, networking opportunities on and off campus – before and after graduation, chances to attend pedagogical seminars, member discounts, and opportunities to serve the community through music by both teaching and performing.
National Website: www.mtna.org
State Website: www.indmta.org
The National Association for Music Education is the only national association that addresses every aspect of music education-band, chorus, orchestra, general music, teacher education, and research. NAfME’s more than 130,000 members represent all levels of teaching, from prekindergarten through postgraduate. Since 1907, the National Association for Music Education has worked to ensure that every student has access to a comprehensive, sequential, and high-quality program of music education. NAfME’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, and for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum.
Butler’s student chapter of NAfME has won both state and national awards, including the “Outstanding Chapter in Indiana” in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012. Additionally, several students from Butler have received the “Outstanding Future Music Educator Award” from the Indiana Music Educators Association and the “Professional Achievement Award” from the National Association for Music Educators.
National Website: www.nafme.org
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia was founded on October 6, 1898, at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since then it has grown into the largest music fraternity in the world with over 126,000 initiates and chapters and colonies on over 210 college and university campuses across America. This organization offers a positive opportunity for personal and musical growth to men seriously committed to the advancement of music in America and to developing the qualities of leadership necessary to accomplish that goal.
Today the spirit of Sinfonia carries on the ideals of its founding fathers: To encourage and actively promote the highest standards of creativity, performance, education, and research in music in America; To develop and encourage loyalty to the Alma Mater; To foster the mutual welfare and brotherhood of students of music; To develop the truest fraternal spirit among its members; To instill in all people an awareness of music’s important role in the enrichment of the human spirit.
National Website: https://www.sinfonia.org
Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity, was organized in 1903 “to form chapters of music students and musicians who shall by their influence and their musical interest uphold the highest ideals of a music education; to raise the standard of productive musical work among the women students of colleges, conservatories and universities.” Its membership includes over 180 active college chapters and 110 alumnae chapters throughout the United States.
National website: www.sai-national.org
Tau Beta Sigma operates primarily as a student service and leadership recognition society whose chief aim is to assist the directors in developing the leadership and enthusiasm that they require of their band. TBS goals are not only to provide the band with organized and concentrated service activities, but to give the group’s membership valid and wholesome experiences in organization, leadership, and social contacts.
The honorary nature of membership is based on the premise that “it is an honor to be selected to serve” — this band, its School of Music, its sponsoring institution, and the cause of band music in the nations colleges and universities.
National Website: www.kkytbs.org