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The Tri-M Music Honor
Society is the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high
school students. It is designed to recognize students for their academic and
musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service
activities, and to inspire other students to excel at music and leadership.
Through more than 4,500 chartered chapters, Tri-M has helped thousands of young
people provide years of service through music in schools throughout the world.
Tri-M shares and supports
the objectives of every dedicated music educator—to increase student and
school involvement with music and to make a stronger and more unified school
music program. Tri-M offers a complete system of rewards that help inspire
students and recognize excellence in individuals and chapters. With this system,
the society builds self-esteem and provides a channel of personal fulfillment.
Tri-M is a program of MENC:
The National Association for Music Education, the largest non-profit
organization dedicated to the advancement of music education. Through its many
programs, activities, publications, and conferences, MENC addresses all aspects
of music education and works to ensure that every student can be a part of a
balanced, comprehensive, and high quality program of music instruction.
Tri-M was founded in 1936
by Alexander and Frances Harley, incorporated and renamed Modern Music Masters
in 1952, and in 1983 recognized as the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a program of
MENC: The National Association for Music Education.
A Word from the
Founder
If we
strive to cultivate musical sensitivity and perception in our students, we
must likewise give adequate recognition for their efforts and achievements,
and we must inspire them to strive for higher goals. In what better way than
by bestowing upon them life membership in a worldwide honorary organization
for musical youth?
—Alexander
Harley, Founder, Tri-M Music Honor Society
History
- 1936—Alexander Harley
and his wife Frances founded the Maine Music Masters at Maine Township High
School in Park Ridge, IL.
- 1952—Maine Music
Masters became incorporated and was renamed Modern Music Masters.
- 1954—The first
individual member recognition, known as the Top-Notcher Certificate of
Achievement, was presented. This certificate was renamed Tri-M®
Leadership in 2002.
- 1971—First Master
Musician Certificate was presented.
- 1983—Modern Music
Masters became a program of MENC: The National Association for Music
Education and was officially renamed the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
- 1986—The first year
Tri-M was recognized by the National Association of Secondary School
Principals (NASSP) as an approved program.
- 1989—The first State
Conference Achievement Recognition was presented to Tri-M members accepted
to All-State Honor Ensembles. This certificate was renamed Honor Ensemble
Achievement in 2003.
- 2002—State Chapter of
the Year recognition was given in addition to the National Chapter of the
Year.
- 2002—The Top-Notcher
Recognition was renamed Tri-M Leadership.
- 2003—The State
Conference Achievement Recognition was renamed Honor Ensemble Achievement
and was expanded to recognize Tri-M member participation in state, division,
and national honor ensembles.
- 2003—The first Tri-M
Outstanding Service Recognition was presented.
- 2004—The first Tri-M
Alumni Achievement Recognition was presented.
Logo
The Tri-M Music Honor
Society logo is rich in symbolism. The three M’s stand for “Modern Music
Masters,” the society’s original name. Music is represented by the lyre and
the scroll, which denote accomplishment and service. The five lines of the music
staff indicate the five criteria upon which members are selected: scholarship,
character, cooperation, leadership, and service.
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