NAMM's Float in 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade Featured in First-Ever Post Parade Audio Tour Available on iTunes and Amazon.com

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced its float, themed “Passport to the World of Making Music,” which was featured in the 119th Rose Parade on New Year's Day is highlighted in a free audio tour available for download at iTunes® and Amazon MP3.

The audio tour is the first-ever produced by the Tournament of Roses. It begins with details about the making of a float and continues to provide interesting details about each of the 46 floats featured in the 2008 Rose Parade in the order that they appear in the Parade. Tracks on the tour are matched to float numbers, which are displayed on the floats at Post Parade and are available in advance from the Tournament of Roses Web site at www.tournamentofroses.com. NAMM’s float is 10th in the lineup.

The entire tour is approximately two hours long and is the perfect companion for the Rose Parade fan who wants to learn more about each float while watching the Parade, visiting the float decorating places, or while taking the self-guided walking tour at Post Parade: A Showcase of Floats.

NAMM’s float displayed an international family of Sesame Street characters showcasing music as the ultimate expression of celebration for all cultures and representing the importance of making music as part of a complete education for all children. Sesame Street has been a long-time advocate for integrating music into its program to help children viewers learn and grow.

Onboard the float were Sesame Street celebrity Bob McGrath, an original cast member of the TV program who plays the music teacher on the show, and an international cast of Sesame Street characters representing may countries including Elmo strumming a banjo; The Count, who like many musicians is also good at math; Halum from Bangladesh who enjoys playing the drum and laughing; Lola from Mexico, who is 4 and loves rhymes, songs and surprises; and Googly from India, who loves science and music.

Two other residents of the “street” making music at the front of the float with McGrath were Olamide Faison, who plays Miles on the show, and a walkaround Rosita, who loves to play music and sing in both English and Spanish.

All the characters were playing their instruments along to Sesame Street songs from around the world. The characters at the back of the float stood on top of an elevated colorful globe surrounded by a rainbow and musical notes, representing how music helps people and children of the world celebrate both their diversity and their unity.

The 2008 Rose Parade, featuring the theme “Passport to the World’s Celebrations,” was viewed by millions of people around the world.

The NAMM float was once again designed by Studio Concepts, Inc., of Portland, Ore., and incorporated flowers such as light and dark dendrobium orchids, yellow roses, carnation petals (for Elmo’s fur) and even such edibles as peanuts, almonds, dried fruit, diced carrot and onion seed.

An interactive drum circle was onboard, which has become a signature element of each NAMM float, reminding onlookers that everyone can make music. This year’s drum circle invited parade viewers to jam along with Sesame Street songs.

“Research has proven that children’s social, verbal, reading and math skills are significantly improved by being involved in making music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “NAMM’s float is designed to send the message that making music is an important component to every child’s overall growth and development, and is equally important for people of all ages and cultures as a wonderful form of expression and creativity.”

2008 was NAMM’s fifth year as a float sponsor in the Tournament of Roses Parade. In 2007, NAMM’s “Natural Harmonies: Oh Say Can You Sing,” won the Craftsman trophy for Exceptional Showmanship and Dramatic Impact for a float more than 55 feet long. In addition, NAMM’s 2006 float, “Making Music is Magical,” designed with Disney’s Little Einstein characters, won the prestigious Grand Marshal’s trophy for Excellence in Creative Concept and Design; NAMM’s 2005 float with Sesame Workshop, “Music Makes Us a Family,” won the Bob Hope Humor trophy as the most comical and amusing float in the parade; and NAMM’s first-time entry in 2004 in partnership with Sesame Workshop won the Isabella Coleman Award for Color and Color Harmony through Floral Use.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of children worldwide. The Workshop launched a learning revolution when it created Sesame Street, and continues to break new ground with children’s media that’s as engaging as it is educational.