Wanna Play? is a public education campaign designed to raise awareness of the many benefits of music making and inspire people of all ages and talent levels to become active music makers.

“Did you know that 82 percent of Americans who don't currently play an instrument wish they had learned to play one? ”   (Gallup Poll)

NAMM Members, download Wanna Play? logos, Web banners and photos here!

For decades, NAMM has funded scientific research to explore the relationship between music making and health, wellness and the brain. Music making has been scientifically proven to:

• exercise the brain
• inspire creativity
• increase productivity
• fight memory loss
• reduce stress
• lower blood pressure

• stave off depression
• enhance cognitive development in children
• build confidence
• create social connections/bonds

Music Making has been tied to a number of scholastic benefits:

“96 percent of public school principals believe that participating in music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school longer.”   (Harris Poll)

“Students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation, according to the The College Entrance Examination Board.”   (College-Bound Seniors National Report)

“Students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self confident and better able to express ideas, according to a Columbia University study ”   (The Arts Education Partnership)

How NAMM Members Can Participate

We are looking for local spokespeople to appear in print, TV, and radio media talking about the proven benefits of making music. Specifically:

1. Host a “how to get started” segment. A teacher from a Member’s store could be interviewed and could display multiple instruments and a step-by-step process to get started playing music that includes: go to retailer to see what you like at the store, try different types of instruments (demonstrate the differences between wind, string, percussion instruments), get lessons from an instructor, etc. Feature an instructor along with a parent and child and both can receive mini-lessons.
2. Feature one or two students from a local school band who can talk about how playing music impacted their lives. Have them play live on the show. A NAMM Member or music instructor could speak about the Wanna Play? campaign.
3. Highlight the latest gadgets from NAMM Members that make it easier for novices to get started playing music.
4. Focus on the growing trend of girls and women in the music industry - identify local girls, female teachers etc. who can play on the show and talk about the trend and the benefits of making music they have experienced.
5. Feature local celebrities (even b or c-list celebs) associated with NAMM Members who could talk about their personal experience with playing music.
6. Have a local doctor or researcher speak about the many health, social and cognitive benefits of playing music.
7. Demonstrate unconventional tools for learning to play music such as DVDs, software, etc.
8. Highlight Weekend Warrior Bands—NAMM Members who are associated with a Weekend Warrior band could appear with the band for an interview and explain the benefits of making music for baby boomers.
9. Highlight New Horizons Bands–NAMM Members who are associated with a New Horizons band could appear with the band for an interview and explain the benefits of making music for the elderly.