Affinity Groups

Do you have passion for a topic and want to start and lead an Affinity Group that shares your passion? Contact Stacey Peasley for help getting started!

Library Affinity Group
Evalyn Harper, Coordinator

The Library Affinity Group is open to everyone who is interested in libraries as a space for children’s and community programming. Topics for discussion may include the role of music in library programs, building relationships between artists and libraries, and current issues in the world of librarianship. 

We meet the first Monday of each month, and the second Monday in July and September where holidays conflict.

Early Childhood Group
Mr. Elephant & Marty Long, Coordinators

Interested in music and activities for children under 7 years old? Are you a teacher, librarian, performer, songwriter or parent? The first month of each quarter is a Songswap where attendees share songs and activities for early childhood audiences. The third month of each quarter is a social gathering/connection time. All songswaps and social connection sessions are offered at no charge.

This group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm CT, and is open to CMNers and non-members 

Social Justice Song Swap
Carrie Fergeson, Noam Brown and Cindy Haws, Hosts

The Social Justice song swap and support group for children’s music artists, educators and advocates using music to promote social justice. Song topics can include environmental issues and climate justice, anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ issues, conflict resolution, Indigenous rights and land back, conflict resolution, activism and allyship, and much more. Monthly meetings provide a positive and supportive space to swap songs and ideas and get support and feedback for this very important work.

Meetings will be the second Wednesday of the Month, 7-8 pm Eastern Time

Songwriting Feedback Circle
David Heitler-Klevans & Monty Harper, Co-Facilitators

Bring a song-in-progress and get constructive feedback and ideas for improvement from other CMN songwriters (and give feedback to others in turn). Songs can be at any stage in the writing process, but should not be 100% finished and polished. We will use a process adapted from a couple of Philadelphia area songwriting groups. This AG will motivate us to write more songs, and help us to raise the quality of our songs for children & families.

We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm ET online.