ISME Presents Global Sonar Award to NAMM and NAMM Foundation for Their Support of Music Education Programs

The International Society for Music Education (ISME) presented its inaugural ISME Global Sonar Award to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the NAMM Foundation during the 2012 NAMM Show's live SupportMusic Coalition webcast for the organizations' invaluable support and ongoing efforts to understand, celebrate and promote music learning across the lifespan.

"I'm proud to recognize NAMM for its contribution to the music mission that it shares with ISME and with music educators
throughout the world," said ISME President Graham Welch. "Our partnership makes a real difference by providing direct support to programs that advance access to music and music education for people of all ages. Thanks to NAMM, we have been able to learn more about the profound effects of music on human development and thereby advocate more effectively for its rightful place in 21st century education."

NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond accepted the award on NAMM's behalf. Composer, guitarist and clinician Stanley Jordan was on hand to present the award on behalf of ISME. During the past 10 years, NAMM and the NAMM Foundation have reinvested nearly $80 million dollars in support of its mission to strengthen the music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. This includes the provision of $ 13.2 million in direct grants to community-based music education programs and $ 3.2 million in music research funds including ground-breaking research into the wider benefits of music such as knowledge underpinning our current understanding of music's impact on cognitive development and learning.

The SupportMusic Coalition webcast featured a panel of music education celebrity advocates discussing music's impact on student growth and achievement. To watch the taped webcast including the ISME Global
Sonar Award presentation, visit www.nammfoundation.org/supportmusic-coalition-webcast-ns12. For more information about the SupportMusic Coalition, visit www.nammfoundation.org. 

About ISME
The International Society for Music Education (ISME) believes that lived experiences of music, in all their many aspects, are a vital part of the life of all people. ISME's mission is to enhance those experiences by:

• Building and maintaining a worldwide community of music educators characterized by mutual respect and support;
• Fostering global intercultural understanding and cooperation among the world's music educators; and
• Promoting music education for people of all ages in all relevant situations throughout the world.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies located in more than 52 countries. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org, call 800-767-NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.