The NAMM Foundation Launches Million More Music Makers at The 2023 NAMM Show

Elizabeth Dale

In November, The NAMM Foundation announced the launch of its newest initiative, NAMM’s Million More Music Makers, which will take place April 13 – 15 at The 2023 NAMM Show.

Million More Music Makers will shine a light on teaching, learning, and playing guitar, ukulele, and bass throughout the NAMM Show campus in Anaheim, California, by offering workshops, hands-on learning opportunities, and pop-up performances. By welcoming amateur and professional musicians, teachers, college students and faculty, school administrators and curriculum specialists, community music organization leader, and passionate participants to The NAMM Show, Million More Music Makers and its focused programming will build and encourage music makers at all stages of life.

The dedicated programming includes teacher trainings for classroom and group instruction in schools and community organizations; a review of school curriculum planning that aligns with educational standards; workshops and hands-on learning experiences; performance classes with artists open to players of all levels; and much more.

Every person we train and support at The NAMM Show will impact hundreds and thousands more in schools and communities. We come together at The NAMM Show to move our collective impact forward and to assure music learning opportunities for all.

Mary Luehrsen, The NAMM Foundation Executive Director

In its inaugural year, Million More Music Makers programming will focus on educational opportunities to increase interest in learning bass, guitar, and ukulele, with plans for other instruments to be represented in future iterations. The NAMM Foundation will partner with organizations like the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), College Music Society (CMS), Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA), Guitars for Vets, Teaching Guitar Workshop, Guitars in the Classroom (GITC), Langley Ukulele Association, Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), Save the Music Foundation, Technology in Music Education (TI:ME), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and more.

The founder of Music Will, David Wish, reflected on the program’s creation. He said, “Creating hands-on learning opportunities for the hundreds of music teachers who attend The NAMM Show is a game changer and will allow us to reach more students and turn them into lifelong music makers.”

Outside of the addition of the Million More Music Makers program, The NAMM Foundation will continue to present its staple programs, including GenNext, Music Education Days, The Nonprofit Management Institute, and its Grand Rally for Music Education.


To learn more about NAMM’s Million More Music Makers and to attend The 2023 NAMM Show, please visit https://www.nammfoundation.org/projects/million-more-music-makers-initiative and register today at https://registration.namm.org/.