Support Music Education at the 2017 NAMM Show

There is no better time to connect with fellow advocates, resources, and opportunities than at The 2017 NAMM Show. Each day of the show will present a multitude of events and opportunities to learn, network with peers, and to engage on topics at the fore of music education advocacy.

 On Tuesday, January 17 before the show officially begins, NAMM members are invited to join their peers for a day of “advocacy in action.” The day starts with The NAMM Foundation’s Day of Service, where a contingent of NAMM members will participate in musical instruction with the students of Patrick Henry Elementary School in Anaheim. The pre-show Day of Service supports the school district’s administrators, teachers, and students with generous donations from NAMM members that will be matched by The NAMM Foundation up to $10,000 to ensure that every child has access to music during the school day.

 Later that day, music education-minded members are welcome to join the first-ever Coalition on Coalitions Bootcamp. This intensive training session will provide learning resources and peer-to-peer networking to prepare music ed advocates for state-level advocacy activities. The program will offer important updates on the next stages of The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law by President Obama in 2015 and approaching implementation at the state-level by 2018. The session will be held in cooperation with Foundation affiliates, Americans for the Arts (AFTA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Once the show officially opens on Thursday, January 19, the show will welcome NAMM’s GenNext program, which fosters the development of college-aged leaders in the music industry, and includes nearly 2,000 college music students and faculty with NAMM President’s Innovation Award winners, attendees will experience a variety of sessions, speakers, events, and camaraderie curated to enhance blossoming careers and provide professional development. Alongside the emerging leaders, the show will welcome Music Education Days; in its tenth year, this annual program offers music teachers and administrators informational sessions, networking opportunities, and the chance to experience the newest innovations in school band and orchestra instruments. The Music Education Days program at The NAMM Show is open to all music teachers, school administrators, and school board members.

On Friday, January 20, important music education policy updates will be discussed as part of NAMM’s D.C. Fly In Reunion. Presented by NAMM’s director of Government Relations Mary Luehrsen and Leo Coco, senior policy advisory of Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, the presentation will share important updates on “The Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA) and details of the annual member 2017 Fly-In trip, scheduled to take place May 22-25, 2017.

As the day begins to wind down, the beat of The NAMM Show will come alive with sonic possibilities. At the 21st annual All-Industry Drum Circle, presented in collaboration with Remo, all NAMM Show attendees are welcome to join the party and while at it, gather ideas for fun, group-based recreational music making. Once the drum circle is in full swing, the party will continue over on the Grand Plaza stage with The NAMM Foundation’s Celebration of Music Education. Featuring former New York Yankees centerfielder, music education champion, and accomplished jazz musician Bernie Williams and his All Star Band, the act will treat attendees to a musical celebration of music education.

Saturday morning ushers in The Grand Rally for Music Education, an opportunity for all NAMM members, music educators, college students, and faculty administrators to convene to salute and celebrate the many who make music education possible. Presented in collaboration with Yamaha, the rally will feature the dynamic duo of Black Violin. Members Kev Marcus (violin) and Wil B (viola) will treat the crowd to a sonic melding of hip-hop and classical sounds as they discuss the importance of music in their own lives, along with student performances by The Perfect Fourth Quartet, a Sphinx Organization ensemble and recipients of the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.

On Sunday, join The NAMM Foundation for a Recreational Music Making Brunch and Learn in the ACC Member Center. Hosted by Luehrsen, the session will discuss music making as a “vital part of the human existence” as presented in the Oxford Handbook of Music Making and Leisure. Contributing author Lee Higgins, (President of the International Society for Music Education [ISME] and Director of the International Centre for Community Music York St. John University) and co-editor Roger Mantie (Associate Professor at the Music Education School of Music, Arizona State University) will discuss the foundational elements of music making in all of us. Later in the day, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond will moderate The Sandy Feldstein Roundtable. The panel of industry leaders will offer advice and inspiration for those seeking a career in the music industry.

Many more opportunities to champion music education await attendees at The 2017 NAMM Show. For a complete list, or to discover other ways to become involved, visit

https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2017/events/schedule#foundation