ISMEFAQs

ISME membership is open to anyone interested in music education, including educators, researchers, performers, students, and organizations. There are different membership types (e.g., individual, student, and organizational) with varying benefits.

Members receive access to ISME's conferences, journals, and publications, discounts on events, and opportunities to connect with an international network of music education professionals. They also have the chance to participate in Commissions, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and forums.

ISME organizes biennial world conferences, regional conferences, and special events. It also publishes scholarly journals and resources, provides professional development opportunities, and advocates for music education globally.

The ISME World Conference is a major event held every two years, attracting music educators, researchers, and practitioners from all over the world. The conference features presentations, performances, workshops, and discussions on current trends and issues in music education. To know more about our 2026 ISME World Conference, go to https://www.ismeworldconference.org/isme26.

ISME’s Commissions are specialized groups that focus on particular aspects of music education research and practice. The eight ISME Commissions are:

1. Community Music Activity
2. Early Childhood Music Education
3. Education of the Professional Musician
4. Music in Schools and Teacher Education
5. Music Policy: Culture, Education, and Media
6. Research
7. Special Music Education and Music Therapy
8. Instrumental and Vocal Music Education

Each Commission organizes a seminar in the week leading up to the ISME World Conference. To learn more about ISME Commissions, go to Commissions

Participation in a Commission is open to ISME members who are interested in a particular area of focus. Members can apply to join a Commission and attend its seminars, which often lead to opportunities for research collaboration and professional growth.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are informal subgroups within ISME where members with shared interests can connect. Unlike Commissions, which are more research-focused, SIGs are geared toward practical topics, such as music technology and popular music. . To learn more about ISME Commissions, go to SIG.

ISME promotes global music education accessibility, focusing on developing regions through workshops, training, and educator support. Its Commissions enhance this effort with research and resources for diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Join Global Advocacy Campaigns: Support UNESCO initiatives, follow ISME on social media, and share ISME’s research, and engage with policymakers to promote music education worldwide.

Shape Policy & Research: Contribute case studies, join discussions, and present at ISME conferences to drive music education policy change.

ISME offers some opportunities for scholarships or financial support, especially related to attending conferences or commission seminars. However, these opportunities are often limited and competitive.

Submissions for ISME's academic journals, like the International Journal of Music Education or other publications are invited from ISME members and usually require specific guidelines, which can be found on ISME's official ISME Publications.