News Releases
NAMM today announced the full music education advocacy efforts of more than 30 NAMM Members who took time away from their businesses May 10-13 to travel to Washington D.C. and engage in activities and one-on-one discussions with representatives of the U.S. Congress to support music education programs in schools nationwide.
NAMM announced today that its fourth annual National Wanna Play Music Week May 3-7 featured a series of high-profile public relations activities touting the benefits of music for people of all ages, and generated more than 150 million media impressions worth approximately $4.3 million according to independent media measurement firm BurellesLuce.
The NAMM Foundation today announced that it will be moving ahead full force with its inspirational and educational event for music educators and invites school music teachers and administrators from across the United States to come to Nashville to experience “Music Education Days,” being held during the 2010 Summer NAMM Show June 18-20 at the Nashville Convention Center.
Are you a NAMM member under 40 years of age? Looking for new business ideas, strategies and networking opportunities? Look no further. Join NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP) as it kicks off Summer NAMM 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.
NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced the 25 recipients of the NAMM Foundation's 2010-2011 program grants, allocating $585,000 in funding to support innovative community-based music learning programs that allow more people the opportunity to experience the proven benefits of active music making.
Mike Huckabee continued to make good on his promise to fill kids' lives with music today as the national spokesperson for the NAMM Foundation's Wanna Play Fund as he donated new musical instruments to several New York-area youths at his FOX News studios today. The kids were selected by the NAMM Foundation in conjunction with the VH1 Save the Music Foundation after they sent in letters containing inspiring stories about how much they love music and wish they could play with their own instruments.
The NAMM Foundation launched its non-profit Wanna Play Fund last September on “Huckabee." The Wanna Play Fund seeks public donations to support programs and activities that strengthen music education in schools and provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn to play music. The instrument donation was made possible through funds raised by auctioning autographed guitars and art by featured musicians and artists that appeared with Gov. Huckabee on his weekend program on FOX News in addition to cash donations to the Fund by private individuals.
"I've always said the music helps kids achieve their full potential," said Huckabee. "And I know that these instruments we're giving here today will inspire and help these wonderful children be the best they can be in school and in life for many years to come."
<?php
$video_width = 400;
$video_height = 225;
$transport_height = 25;
$flashvars = array('skin' => '/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/skins/bluemetal.swf');
$flashvars['streamer'] = 'rtmp://media.namm.org/flash';
$flashvars['file']= 'HuckabeeWPSpring2010.mp4';
$flashvars['image'] = 'images_cck/huckabee_show.jpg';
$flashvars['allowscriptaccess'] = 'always';
$flashvars['plugins'] = 'gapro-1';
$flashvars['gapro.accountid'] = 'UA-1576864-1';
$flashvars['gapro.trackstarts'] = 'true';
$flashvars['gapro.trackpercentage'] = 'true';
$flashvars['gapro.tracktime'] = 'true';
$flashvars['gapro.trackcompletes'] = 'true';
global $base_url;
$playerpath = $base_url . '/' . drupal_get_path("module","swftools") . '/shared/flash_media_player/player.swf' ;
print swf($playerpath, array('width' => $video_width, 'height' => $video_height + $transport_height ),$flashvars);
?>
The following excerpts are from some of the letters from the kids about their passion for playing music and need for musical instruments:
"...And then I asked my mother for a trumpet. I wanted one really badly, but my mom said “I can’t afford it." I was really hurt because I wanted a trumpet to share with others. So people's hearts will be filled with my music." Areisha, age 10.
"My passion is music, specifically playing the Alto Saxophone. In the summer it is hard to get access to an instrument, also my parents can’t seem to afford a saxophone at this moment however, it is hard to except that when I’m so devoted to music." Amber, age 10.
The Wanna Play Fund stems from a national public awareness campaign called Wanna Play? created by NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, to educate people of all ages about the many social and wellness benefits of making music. More than 85 celebrities currently support the campaign, including Gov. Huckabee, Gary Sinise, Isaac Slade, Sara Bareilles, Robert Downey Jr., and John Legend. Wanna Play? celebrities include actors, authors, musicians, sports figures, executives, politicians and personalities who play a musical instrument.
For more information about the Wanna Play? campaign and how to get started playing an instrument, visit www.wannaplaymusic.com.
Gov. Huckabee, an avid guitarist and bass player since childhood, is a national advocate for the powerful role music plays in learning and his program regularly features celebrity musical guests. He can also be heard providing insightful commentary on more than 500 radio stations daily delivering "The Huckabee Report."
To donate to the NAMM Foundation's Wanna Play Fund or learn about special online fundraising activities, visit www.nammfoundation.org. All contributions to the Wanna Play Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Fund donors can elect to receive regular e-mail updates highlighting current activities directly from the NAMM Foundation. For more information about the NAMM Foundation's Wanna Play Fund, visit www.nammfoundation.org or send an e-mail to info@nammfoundation.org.
GRAMMY-nominated artist Taylor Dayne and Journey keyboardist and songwriter Jonathan Cain joined the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) along with partners VH1 Save the Music Foundation and Dosomething.org at a reception in the U.S. Capitol Building yesterday with the goal of keeping music and the arts as core components in every child’s education. During the evening reception, Dayne and Cain spoke about how music has influenced and impacted their lives.
Today, 16 blue-chip bands were named amongst Wall Street’s best in the 10th Annual Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands, all advancing to the regional qualifying rounds of the worldwide amateur music competition. Each corporate-sponsored band will compete for one of eight coveted spots in the finals, which will take place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, October 1-2.
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the non-profit John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and SupportMusic.com yesterday hosted U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education Richard Riley and local Washington DC-area students on board the state-of-the-art recording facility where The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, John Legend and more have recorded tracks.
National Wanna Play Music Week, May 3-7, ends on a high note with the Friday announcement of National Music Store Appreciation Day by NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry. The commemorative day will recognize and thank the thousands of local business heroes who help to promote music making.