To view a copy of the complete Handbook of the Society for Research in Music Education, please see the NAfME SRIG site
Founded in 1960, the Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) is composed of members of MENC who share concerns about the processes, products, and applications of research in music education. It facilitates organized collective actions, a broad base of support, and communication among persons interested in research in music education. Membership in the Society is defined in Bylaw I, Section 8A of the MENC Constitution and Bylaws, as revised in June 2003:
Society for Research in Music Education. A member in any category of membership listed above [in the MENC Bylaws] who shall pay the additional dues stipulated for membership in the Society for Research in Music Education shall become a member of the Society and shall receive a subscription to the Journal of Research in Music Education.
The Society for Research in Music Education is formally authorized to function in Bylaw VII: Society for Research in Music Education, Section I of the MENC Constitution and Bylaws (June 2003 revision).
Section 1: Personnel, Purpose, and Meetings. The Society for Research in Music Education shall be composed of all members of the Conference who have paid the dues stipulated for the Society. It shall be the purpose of the Society to encourage and improve the quality of scholarship and research within the profession. The Society shall convene at the time and place of the national in- service conference, and the division sections of the Society shall meet at the time and place of the division in-service conferences. The principal publication of the Society shall be the Journal of Research in Music Education.
Any MENC member may become a member of the Society.
As stated in Bylaw VII Section I above, the objective of the Society is "to encourage and improve the quality of scholarship and research within the profession." Specifically, the Society seeks to:
Encourage research activity and improve research in music education as well as in fields related to music education.
Provide an effective framework for the exchange of information among persons engaged in or interested in research in music education;
Sponsor sessions at professional meetings devoted to reports of research studies and other relevant topics;
Oversee and advise MENC on research-related publications; and
Foster and develop efforts that seek to apply research findings to the practice of teaching and learning.
Establishment and Purpose of the Special Research Interest Groups
The Special Research Interest Groups (SRIGs) were established by action of the Executive Committee of the Music Education Research Council at the biennial national conference held in Chicago in 1978. The purposes of the SRIGs are to (a) broaden the base of support for research in MENC by actively involving different and younger persons in the activities of SRME, (b) provide a focal point for research specialties both for research specialists and for teacher practitioners, (c) provide a continuing source of qualified leadership for SRME, and (d) provide a vehicle for engagement among researchers with similar scholarly interests. Each biennium, the MERC Executive Committee Chair will designate a member of the Executive Committee to serve as Liaison to the Special Interest Research Groups. As decided by the MERC Executive Committee in 2008 and implemented in 2010, the MERC Executive Committee Chair will designate a member of the Executive Committee to serve as Assistant Liaison to the Special Interest Research Groups.
Membership in Special Research Interest Groups
Members of the Society for Research in Music Education may join any SRIG. SRIG members may participate in the election of SRIG officers and receive SRIG newsletters and other correspondence.
Creation of New Special Research Interest Groups
A new Special Research Interest Group may be proposed by any member of SRME by means of the following procedure.
Draft a written petition proposing a unique mission for the proposed SRIG. Circulate it to interested parties and obtain the signatures of at least 50 SRME members from at least three MENC divisions. Those who sign must agree to join the new SRIG if it is approved.
Submit the signed petition to the MERC Executive Committee Chair, who will schedule an organizational meeting for the proposed SRIG at the next MENC biennial national conference. If the proposed mission appears to conflict with that of existing SRIGs, the MERC Executive Committee chair will ask the proposed SRIG’s proponents to develop a uniquely focused mission statement. In all cases, the SRIG proponents will ratify a final mission statement at their organizational meeting. This will be signed by the organizers present and submitted to the MERC Executive Committee. The organizers will identify persons to serve as chair and chair-elect of the SRIG if it is approved.
The MERC Executive Committee will review the final mission statement of the proposed SRIG and determine approval or disapproval by majority vote. Criteria for approval will be the uniqueness of mission and breadth of support by the proposing membership. If a proposal is not approved, the MERC Executive Committee will make an effort to accommodate the proposed SRIG’s research interests within one of more of the existing SRIGs.
Review and Evaluation of Special Research Interest Groups
The MERC Executive Committee will review the SRIGs at each biennial national conference. Each SRIG Chair will report on the SRIG’s activities as requested by the MERC Executive Committee's SRIG Liaison prior to the conference. The Liaison will review the reports and summarize each SRIG’s activities in a report to the MERC Executive Committee, which will review and evaluate the SRIGs according to the following criteria.
The Mission Statement continues to be unique and to describe the SRIG's activities;
Research activities generated by the SRIG are appropriate to the mission and are conducted with full knowledge and support of the MERC Executive Committee Chair and SRIG Liaison;
Research projects or reports generated by the SRIG meet suitable methodological standards;
Research activities sponsored or endorsed by the SRIG reflect activities in three or more MENC Divisions;
National SRIG sessions are attended by 25 or more persons, and the program is appropriate to the mission of the SRIG;
Newsletter or other forms of communication are sent at least yearly to SRIG members and to MERC Executive Committee members. Website is kept current;
Response to assignments and inquiries from the MERC Executive Committee Chair, the SRIG Liaison, or conference program organizers regarding the program and other activities is timely and appropriate; and
National SRIG leadership meeting at MENC biennial conference is attended by chairs and/or chairs elect.
Deactivation of Special Research Interest Groups
A SRIG may be deactivated by majority vote of the MERC Executive Committee for (a) failure to maintain a chair and chair-elect whose names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses have been reported to the SRIG Liaison, (b) failure to present evidence of SRIG activity beyond that of its chair for a period of at least one biennium, or (c) failure to respond in a timely manner to correspondence from the MERC Executive Committee Chair or his or her designee. The MERC Executive Committee Chair shall have authority to initiate deactivation proceedings for a SRIG if any of the above conditions have developed. A SRIG may be deactivated by majority vote of the MERC Executive Committee, a vote that may be taken by mail or at the biennial national conference. A deactivated SRIG will be dropped from the list of approved SRIGs and denied any request for meeting time and the opportunity to propose sessions at future national conferences. A SRIG may appeal its deactivation to the MERC Executive Committee by its representatives appearing before the Executive Committee at the subsequent biennial national conference and presenting reasons why it should not be deactivated. The appeal will be accepted or denied by majority vote of the Executive Committee. In order to be reinstated, a deactivated SRIG must follow the same procedure required to organize a new SRIG.
Membership of a SRIG may seek its deactivation after (a) the chair of the SRIG announces discussion of possible deactivation to its membership at least six months prior to the biennial national meeting; (b) a majority of the membership present at the biennial meeting votes for deactivation; (c) a letter announcing the results of the deactivation vote and a formal request for deactivation is submitted to the MERC Executive Committee Chair; and (d) a discussion of the deactivation request is held at the next biennial meeting of the MERC Executive Committee, and a majority vote for deactivation is obtained. Any SRIG member wishing to attend this discussion or speak to the proposed deactivation will be given time upon written request to the MERC Executive Committee Chair.
Governance of the Special Research Interest Groups
At each MENC biennial national conference, the SRIG will elect a chair, chair-elect, and any other officers by procedures agreed upon by the SRIG membership. Duties of the SRIG chairs are found below. Each SRIG will determine its other officers’ duties. The term of office will be two years, beginning on July 1 of each even-numbered year. The offices of chair and chair-elect must be filled at all times, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of both officers must be reported to the MERC Executive Committee Chair or to his or her designee. Failure to maintain these offices and to report officers’ names to MERC will be grounds for deactivation of the SRIG.
If the office of SRIG chair becomes vacant during a biennium, the currently serving chair-elect will become chair. If the office of SRIG chair-elect becomes vacant during a biennium, the SRIG chair will appoint a chair-elect to serve until the next regular election.
SRIG chairs and chairs-elect must be current members of SRME and should possess the following qualifications:
Present a record of interest and involvement in that particular SRIG;
Be actively involved in research activity; and
Attend the MENC biennial national conferences.
Duties of the SRIG National Chairs
Respond to queries and file appropriate reports with the MERC Executive Committee Chair or his or her designee;
Maintain an accurate and current roster of SRIG memberships with mailing and e-mail addresses, and supply a copy of this roster on request to the MERC Executive Committee Chair or his or her designee;
Provide leadership for the planning and execution of activities at the biennial national conferences;
Oversee SRIG sessions at the biennial national conferences and attend the national SRIG leadership meeting at MENC biennial conference;
Appoint Divisional SRIG chairs or oversee their election;
Communicate through a national newsletter or by other means with the SRIG membership at least yearly, and at least once between the biennial national conferences;
Represent the SRIG to MERC;
Review paper submissions if requested by the MERC Executive Committee Chair; and
Respond to inquiries from potential new members.
Duties of Chair-Elect
Assist the Chair in creating and/or maintaining SRIG membership list and networking sites for the membership.
Provide support for Chair on all SRIG matters, e.g. conference sessions, website.
Correspond with divisional representatives.
Assume office of Chair, if Chair is unable to complete his/her term.
Duties of the SRIG Divisional Chairs
As specified above, each SRIG national chair will appoint Divisional SRIG chairs or will oversee their election. Duties of the Divisional SRIG chairs follow.
Recruit SRIG members from persons who do not attend the biennial national conferences;
Inform Divisional and state MENC officers and research chairs of the SRIG's existence, and plan SRIG participation in research activities when appropriate;
Respond to inquiries about the SRIG;
Promote research and development activity within the Division and assist the State Research Chairs in such efforts;
Encourage interdivisional research activity through communication with other Divisional SRIG chairs;
Report on Divisional SRIG activity during national SRIG sessions; and
Work with MENC Divisional officers to plan and oversee research activities at Divisional MENC conferences.