ISME has seven Commissions who gather, collate and disseminate information on developments in their specialised fields. Through the Commissions, ISME members share mutual interests in special areas of music education. Each Commission hosts a biennial Seminar, usually held just prior to the biennial ISME World Conference, as well as hosting sessions at this Conference. Each Commission issues its own Call for Papers to present either at a Commission Seminar, or at a Commission Session during the ISME Conference.

• Research Commission

• Community Music Activity Commission

• Early Childhood Music Education Commission

• Education of the Professional Musician Commission

• Music Policy: Cultural, Educational and Mass Media
  

• Music in Schools and Teacher Education Commission

• Music in Special Education, Music Therapy and Music Medicine Commission