Developing a community of practice in popular music education: The goals and vision of the North Carolina Music Educators Association Popular Music Committee.

This article examines the development of the North Carolina Music Educators Association Popular Music Education Committee (NCMEA-PMEC) during its first year, using Wenger's theory of communities of practice to frame the study. The PMEC was formed in 2023 as an ad hoc committee to create inclusive spaces for popular music educators and to advocate for diverse, accessible, and equitable popular music education in North Carolina. Despite valuing inclusivity in musical genres and pedagogies, the committee struggled with its predominantly White membership and recognized the need to engage community musicians, such as hip hop artists and DJs, to broaden representation. The PMEC prioritized collaborative, student-centered events over traditional auditioned ensembles and serves as a potential model for other state music educators associations seeking to support popular music education through inclusive communities of practice.