Back-to-School Survey Shows ‘Glee,’ ‘Camp Rock 2’ Fuel Kids’ Desire to Learn and Make Music Despite School Budget Cuts

School choirs, drama clubs and bands are set to win the popularity contest this fall, thanks to shows like “Glee” and “Camp Rock 2.” Today NAMM released the findings of an August 2010 Harris Poll, in which kids said musical TV shows or movies have made them want to become involved in various musical activities.

Illustrating the increased influence of music-themed entertainment programs, 31 percent of the more than 1,800 kids (ages 8 to18) surveyed nationwide, want to become involved in music-making activities thanks to their favorite musical shows, with:

• 16 percent wanting to learn how to play a musical instrument
• 14 percent wanting to audition for a school play and musical
• 12 percent wanting to take singing lessons
• 11 percent wanting to pursue professional singing, while others responded with new or renewed interest to pursue any or all of the activities.

“According to the latest research, kids want more than ever to learn how to play instruments, join the glee club, or perform in school musicals," said Scott Robertson, director of marketing and communications, NAMM. "And with shows like ‘Glee’ returning this fall, kids are also going back to school with a greater desire to make music. But, unfortunately, many schools across the country are reducing or eliminating music and arts education programs. NAMM continues to support music education programs, and believes strongly in the passion young adults have for playing music.”

The survey also highlighted the differences between the genders, with girls more likely than boys to say musical TV shows or movies inspire them to participate in musical activities (42 percent vs. 20 percent). Additionally, girls are more likely to want to:

• learn how to play a musical instrument (21 percent vs. 11 percent),
• be in a school play or musical (22 percent vs. 6 percent),
• take singing lessons (18 percent vs. 5 percent), or 
• be a professional singer (17 percent vs. 4 percent).

Girls are also more interested than boys in being involved in all of these activities (5 percent vs. 1 percent).

The gender disparity for interest in learning to play an instrument does not show up for the youngest tweens. One in five 8 to 9- year-old boys (21 percent) and girls (23 percent) say they are inspired to learn to play an instrument. However, this interest drops to 13 percent for 10 to 12 year old boys, and to 6 percent in boys’ teenage years. Interest remains fairly constant for girls throughout their later tween and teen years.

As budget cuts continue to affect music education programs in schools across the country, NAMM is sponsoring activities such as a teen battle of the bands competition called SchoolJam USA to promote the importance of music making, and to provide an outlet for young adults to showcase their musical interest and talent. Reinforcing the competition’s mission to support music education, each of the top 10 SchoolJam USA finalists’ schools will receive funding to support their school music programs. To further encourage active music making among teens, the finalists also will receive a credit toward the purchase of musical merchandise from a local NAMM Member music product retailer of their choice.

To learn more about the importance of music education and the many positive health and social benefits of music making for teens and tweens, please visit NAMM’s public awareness campaign called Wanna Play? online at www.wannaplaymusic.com or look for Wanna Play By NAMM on Facebook or Twitter. To find out more about SchoolJam USA or to enter a band, please visit www.schooljamusa.com or get updates about the competition on Facebook or Twitter.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM is the sponsor of the Wanna Play? campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to get more people connected with the proven benefits of playing music.

For more information about Wanna Play?, please visit www.wannaplaymusic.com.
For more information about NAMM, please visit www.namm.org.