SoundForge: A Popular Music Collective Academic Article uri icon

Abstract

  • In the evolving landscape of music education across the United States and the
    world, popular music education continues to increase in interest and enrollment
    at all levels of PreK – 12 and higher education settings. Currently, there are a
    variety of state music education associations (MEAs) who host All-State Popular
    Music ensembles, including New Jersey, Florida, Kentucky, and more. In these
    events, top musicians from middle and high schools are selected to participate in
    an all-day performance-focused event where students work on musicianship
    skills, performative arts, and craft their band’s sound. In contrast to the All-State model, where the top musicians are selected to attend the event SoundForge: A Popular Music Collective is a newly created event by NCMEA that is open to all students with a hope to foster collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity in popular music across North Carolina. NCMEA’s Popular Music Education Committee (PMEC) created SoundForge in fall 2023 to be an inclusive space where students, who perform originally composed music on
    electric guitars, bass guitars, drum sets, and keyboards in small rock ensembles,
    could share their passion for writing and performing popular music. It was the
    committee’s hope that this event would support music education more broadly,
    while bridging the gap between traditional music education and modern music
    education trends across the United States. For more about the work of the PMEC,
    check out the article, “Let’s Work Together” (North Carolina Music Educator,
    Winter 2024)

Publication Date

  • 2025-04-01