The National Association Of Jazz Educators

Founded in the United States in 1968 as the National Association of Jazz Educators (NAJE), the organization was originally formed to ensure inclusion of jazz in music education programs at all levels, and to build respect for, and awareness of, the art form. The organizations founders rallied the jazz community behind the importance of its mission, and NAJE grew quickly to over 1,000 members with a quarterly publication called the Jazz Educators Journal. With the launch of its first annual conference in 1972, NAJE continued to grow and expanded its programs to include scholarships, an approved festivals program, and a network of state units and voluntary leaders, including many of the field's top artists and educators. A portion of each members dues were rebated to their state unit to nurture the health of jazz education programs on the local and regional levels. By the mid-1980s, NAJE boasted over 4,000 members and expanded its program offerings to include publications, talent recognition programs, and several annual commissions. In 1989, NAJE changed its name to the International Association of Jazz Educators, more accurately reflecting its global membership, which had grown to 5,500 in 25 countries. With the continued growth of membership and staff, IAJE expanded its programs and services in the '90s by increasing the frequency of its publication from quarterly to bimonthly, and creating a series of new programs including the Teacher Training Institute, the Artist Outreach Network, and Sisters in Jazz. The IAJE Annual Conference also saw significant expansion during this period and grew to attract in excess of 6,000 from all facets of the global jazz community. IAJE partners with a number of other non-profit organizations to present programs and services to the field including the National Association for Music Education - MENC, the National Endowment for the Arts, the European Jazz Festivals Organization, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, ASCAP, BMI, and the Music Teachers National Association. In 2001, IAJE changed its name to the International Association for Jazz Education, which is more inclusive of the association's membership, now exceeding over 8,000 in 42 countries. While staying firmly focused on it jazz education roots, IAJE continues to develop programs and professional development opportunities for all segments of the jazz community via its annual conference, web site, magazine, and member network. IAJE filed for bankruptcy in April 2008 a few months after huge losses from the poorly attended 2008 conference was held in Toronto. IAJE ceased to operate as of March 15, 2009, when the bankruptcy was discharged.