The NAMM Foundation's Museum of Making Music
Kamau Kenyatta grew up surrounded by a family that had a deep running passion for music, and as a result Kamau was able to get his first clarinet when his grandfather, an electrician by trade, bartered with one of his customers to support young Kamau’s growing passion for music. Later he decided to...
Stephen Bennett provided music lessons in two music stores in the late 1970s while gigging at night. It was the first time he quit his day job, at a department store, to focus on music full time. During the 1980s he was given his great grandfather’s harp guitar and soon incorporated the instrument...
Jim Fahey adds a unique twist to many of the tours he provides as a docent for the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music. Growing up in the 1960s, Jim understands the impact music has on social issues. As a result of this, sociology and the impact of music on culture has been a part of his...
Sandy Radom is a volunteer at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California and can often be found enjoying one of the many concerts presented at the museum. Sandy is a medical doctor and photographer who adds his own background to the interaction he has with museum visitors...
John Lewis was awarded the 2015 Volunteer of the Year for his dedication to the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. John has enjoyed several positions within the museum including working in the museum store and helping with concerts and special events. However, it is...
Jack Hill was introduced to music at a very young age as his uncle was a professional musician. Jack started taking guitar lessons at eight years old, which he paid for himself with the money he made from his paper route. He started playing with older musicians and got quite a few gigs early on. At...
Barbara Honig found out about the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music when she joined their New Horizons band - a band that offers learning new instruments and playing in a concert band setting to adults. After playing some percussion in the band, and then switching to the clarinet, Barbara...
Jacinta Brunkala grew up taking piano lessons, without even owning a piano. She would use a friend’s piano when she could, but would often pretend with a set of keys she made out of cardboard to practice. When her parents purchased an upright piano a few years later, Jacinta was hooked to the sound...
Marilyn Shepard taught music in public schools for thirty-five years. Ever since she was young, she was involved in making music, along with her twin sister, as well as collecting instruments from different cultures. After she retired from teaching, the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music...
John Tedeschi started playing music again when his son took up the saxophone in the school band and needed someone to practice improvisation with. John had been playing the guitar since high school for fun, and playing with his son gave him the itch for more. He began buying more gear, practicing...