MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 142,000 members and supporters represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
Why Doesn't MENC's Name Match the Acronym?
We were originally called Music Supervisors National Conference, then Music Educators National Conference. (That's what the "MENC" stands for.) In 1998, our National Executive Board voted to change our name to MENC: The National Association for Music Education to better reflect our mission.