TRADEMARK NOTICE – Authorization to use Tri-M Music Honor Society Logo

The Tri-M® Music Honor Society logo and the name Tri-M® are federally registered trademarks that are owned by the National Association for Music Education. These marks may not be used in any manner or for any purpose, including online, in print, or on any merchandise, without our prior written authorization.

To seek authorization to use the Tri-M® Music Honor Society logo or the name Tri-M®, please email Tri-M@nafme.org with a summary of your request along with a photograph or online mockups of the proposed use. Our marks can never be modified, altered, or changed in any fashion due to our legal responsibilities as a trademark owner. Any requests to do any of those things will be automatically rejected.

Unless prior written permission has been first obtained from Tri-M® chapters or other third parties should not:

  1. Make any commercial use of its mark or any marks confusingly similar to any NAfME marks;
  2. Register, warehouse, or use any domain names or URLs containing any of its marks or any confusingly similar marks;
  3. Use NAfME marks for merchandising, marketing, and/or promotional purposes, e.g., T-shirts, caps, bags, flags, pins, buttons, etc.;
  4. Use NAfME marks in any unauthorized co-branding or co-marketing campaigns;
  5. Use or register any NAfME marks containing, in whole or part, any of its marks or any confusingly similar marks;
  6. Make any changes to the way NAfME marks are depicted;
  7. Use NAfME marks in combination with other marks or logos;
  8. Create any marks derived from, based on, or including some or all of any NAfME marks;
  9. Use NAfME marks in a manner that disparages NAfME or any of its goods or services and is not clearly a parody; and
  10. Use NAfME marks in a title or metatag of a Web page whose sole intention or result is to influence search engine rankings or results listings, rather than for discussion or advocacy.
  11. NAfME should reserve the right to request changes as necessary to protect its marks.

Advisor and Student Membership Criteria and Responsibilities

Chapter Advisor Criteria

As a member of the faculty or the principal at the school, the Chapter Advisor serves as the link between NAfME and the members of their chapter.

The Chapter Advisor is responsible for candidate selection. Chapter Advisors may coordinate a faculty committee to designate Tri-M student candidates, or they may make the selections alone. Chapter Advisors must provide a written description of selection procedure to all music students and parents. Member selection is a local decision. Selection concerns should be addressed by the local school administrator hierarchy.

A Chapter Advisor:

  • Shall be a member of the faculty or the principal of that school
  • Shall receive all official Tri-M communications from NAfME
  • Has the option to designate co-advisors
  • Has no term limit

Chapter Advisor Duties:

  • Select chapter co-advisors and all candidates for membership or oversee a faculty committee that does so
  • Responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the chapter
  • Act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community
  • Oversee chapter officers
  • Attend all chapter meetings
  • Maintain chapter compliance with Tri-M standards and obligations
  • Submit chapter renewal form each year
  • Review and sign Chapter Summary Report as prepared by chapter officers each year

Student Membership Criteria

Eligibility

Candidates must be a member of those classes designated as eligible by the local
chapter. Candidates must have been in attendance at the school for the equivalent of one semester.

Membership Requirements

Tri-M member consideration should not be limited to any one segment of a music program (such as band, chorus, etc.). The following criteria may be included at the discretion of the Chapter Advisor:

  • Music Participation
      • Candidates must have been enrolled in a school-sponsored music ensemble and/or class for at least one semester of the current school year.
  • Academic Achievement
      • Candidates must have maintained for the previous semester at least a A average grade or equivalent in music, with at least a B average grade or equivalent in other academic subjects. Local chapters may make exceptions to these requirements at the discretion of the chapter advisor with school principal's approval.
  • Leadership
      • This criteria is at your discretion as Advisor. Generally speaking, any school or community activity that students are actively involved in will suffice. Leadership roles in both school and community may be considered as long as they can be verified.
  • Service
      • Similar to leadership, this criteria is at your discretion as Advisor. Service activities include any actions undertaken by the student that are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service.
  • Character
      • Judgment of character should be free of speculation and rumor. One description of character is a person who demonstrates respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Chapters are encouraged to take this model and modify it to meet their local needs.

Alumni

Upon graduation, active members become alumni members. Alumni members will have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

Honorary Members

Awarded by the Chapter Advisor in recognition of achievement and/or outstanding service to Tri-M Music Honor Society. Honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

Appointing Officers

Chapters may choose to elect officers or have officers appointed by the Advisor. The offices and duties listed here are suggestions and can be changed at the chapter's discretion.

President

  • Presides at chapter meetings
  • Develops an agenda for meetings
  • Represents the chapter on and off campus
  • Facilitates formation of chapter goals
  • Completes annual Chapter Summary Report

Vice President

  • Publicizes meetings and other activities
  • Schedules guest speakers with assistance from other chapter officers
  • Educates new members on history of Tri-M

Secretary

  • Records the chapter minutes
  • Handles correspondence for the chapter, including thank you letters and interactions with other Tri-M chapters
  • Reports chapter activities for Chapter Summary Report

Treasurer

  • Maintains membership records
  • Prepares a chapter roster
  • Maintains the chapter's financial records

Historian

Chapter Structure

Establish Chapter Charter

Part of establishing a Tri-M chapter is documenting the group's charter. The charter gives the chapter legitimacy and holds the advisor responsible for overall guidance. The Chapter Officer ceremony is held to formally establish or pass on position titles and obligations to new members. Presenting the charter can be held in conjunction with the chapter officer ceremony.

Not all chapters will find this script appropriate for their membership style, but it can serve as an example for a Charter Presentation and/or Chapter Officer Ceremony. You are not required to use the scripts provided. Chapters are welcome to develop their own chapter ceremonies that best fit their school and community.

If using this script, fill in the spaces with the appropriate information.

Download the Chapter Charter Script (PDF).

Create Your Bylaws

All Tri-M chapters function under the governing policies of the Tri-M Program Guidelines. Only NAfME staff is allowed to amend the Tri-M Program Guidelines. These sample bylaws have been written in accordance with the Tri-M Program Guidelines and may be used as an example by Tri-M chapters. Each chapter is expected to amend, revise, and amplify these bylaws in simple, direct language with information and procedures pertinent to the chapter's operation. When complete, these bylaws should define the limits of authority for the organization and give a sense of both order and purpose to the chapter's activities.

Download Sample Bylaws Word Doc.
Download Sample Bylaws PDF.

Establish Chapter Goals

When your chapter is beginning, it is a good idea to set long-term goals for the chapter. Activities vary by chapter, so set a goal for program service, program leadership, community service, and social collaborations. Click here for examples of activities and project ideas.

Chapter Activities

Fundraising And Social Projects

  • Band camp survivor kits (spirit bags ordered by parents for kids)
  • Parent sweatshirts and other merchandise
  • Selling corsages and boutonnieres for parents
  • Lunches for special events
  • Birthday cakes and balloons (for parents to order for kids)
  • Car washes
  • Movie nights
  • Work at sporting events on campus
  • Bake sales
  • Craft sales
  • Picture frame sales for holidays
  • Cookbooks
  • Breakfast sale
  • Coin drive
  • Spaghetti dinner
  • Silent auction
  • Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day singing telegrams
  • Talent shows
  • “Direct the band/choir/orchestra” contest
  • Sell or raffle a signed football, basketball, baseball, etc.
  • Dance-a-thon
  • Fashion show
  • Paid musical gigs
  • Work a major sporting event
  • Tri-M Olympics
  • Summer retreats
  • Picnic/Cookout/BBQ
  • Freshmen mixer
  • Miniature golf
  • Ice cream social
  • Swimming party
  • Movie nights
  • Game nights
  • Fall Ball/Formal
  • Roller skating
  • Bowling
  • Pizza parties
  • Potluck meals
  • Progressive dinner
  • Trip to the fair
  • Have yearly pen-pal exchange with other chapters
  • Attend art events
  • Ice skating
  • Laser tag
  • Volleyball
  • Amusement park trips
  • Trips to the zoo
  • Attend athletic games
  • Pumpkin carving

Tri-M Merchandise

Recognize your members with Tri-M Music Honor Society official merchandise!

Learn more about how to order your official Tri-M merchandise. Items available include:

  • Certificates and member cards
  • Patches and chapter supplies
  • Pins and seals
  • Shirts and polos
  • Graduation memorabilia

Sample Membership Application

Students interested in applying for Tri-M membership is easy when you use our membership application template.

Download Sample Membership Form Word Doc.
Download Sample Membership Form PDF.

Induction Ceremony Template

Not all chapters find this script appropriate for the style of their membership, but it can serve as an example to consider if an Induction Ceremony is presented. Instructions are in brackets.

Download the Induction Ceremony Template (PDF).

Tri-M Loyalty Song

MUSIC MASTERS, HAIL TO THEE

The Tri-M Loyalty Song

Alexander M. & Frances M. Harley, Words and Music

Verse 1:
Music Masters hail to thee,
Honor, love, and loyalty.
Forward together is our aim,
Sharing our honors for her fame.
To our pledge we shall be true
As we raise our song to you,
“Service through Music” is our guide,
Tri-M triumphant is our pride.

Verse 2:
Music Masters, then shall be,
In our cherish’d memory.
Our guiding light of service true,
We wear our emblem proudly too.
As we now your praises sing,
Let our anthem loudly ring,
Modern Music Masters we,
God bless our Society!*

*”Hail to our Society” may be substituted for “God bless our Society.”

Download Tri-M Song Lyrics (PDF)
Download Tri-M Song Sheet Music Page 1 (JPG)
Download Tri-M Song Sheet Music Page 2 (JPG)
Download Tri-M Song Audio (MIDI)

Chapter Meeting Protocols

The frequency of your meetings is designated by your local chapter bylaws. Chapter meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (Perseus Publishing).

Community Service Project Ideas

Besides giving you opportunities to perform, a Tri-M chapter also allows you to lead and grow and flourish in other ways. Especially through community service. The Service Project Library has some ideas for service projects, but keep in mind that the relationship between a school and its community is unique, so there may well be special opportunities to serve that are not on the list.

Chapter Merchandise

Place your order for official Tri-M merchandise.

Facebook Groups

Join the exclusive Tri-M Advisors Facebook Group for chapter advice and recognition! Network with chapter advisors from across the country and around the world. This is a great starting point if you are new to the advisor position.

Join the exclusive Tri-M Students Facebook Group for chapter advice and collaboration! Network with Tri-M student members from across the country and around the world. This is a great opportunity to share your chapter success stories and learn about other chapter service projects.

Join the official Facebook page for the National Tri-M Music Honor Society and stay up to date on national projects, award deadlines, and more!

Calendar

Throughout the school year there are opportunities abound to perform, promote your Chapter, and serve the community. They’re important events and their dates are all right here.

Aug

2023

Sep

2023

  • Select student officers
  • Plan your chapter inductions
  • Plan a fall service project

Oct

2023

  • Share your Tri-M story on social media #musichonorstories

Nov

2023

Dec

2023

Jan

2024

  • National Tri-M Day of Service, January 15, 2024
  • Share your Tri-M story on social media #musichonorstories

Feb

2024

Mar

2024

Apr

2024

  • Spring chapter inductions
  • Recognition of Excellence Forms due April 12, 2024
  • Chapter of the Year Scholarship applications due April 26, 2024
  • Order Tri-M graduation regalia

May

2024

  • Share your Tri-M story on social media #musichonorstories