Museum of Making Music

NAMM's Museum of Making Music offers musical ensembles designed for adults seeking entry into playing instruments in a group setting. These programs are perfect for those new to music-making and musicians who have played in the past but haven’t picked up their instrument in several years. Regardless of your experience or background, the New Horizons Band and North Coast Strings provide a welcoming, non-intimidating environment where you can explore the joy of making music.

Gunnar Biggs grew up in a deeply musical family, guided by his father, Dr. Millard Biggs, a professional French horn player and longtime professor at San Diego State University. Following in his father’s footsteps, Gunnar became both a performer and an educator, teaching double bass at SDSU for over 25 years and directing jazz ensembles at Palomar Community College, while also maintaining a thriving private studio.

Steve Eastwood grew up in New Jersey and discovered his love for the trumpet in the fourth grade, playing all the way through high school. In addition to the school band and marching bands, he performed with friends in a local group humorously called The Psychotic Blues Band. While studying engineering at Cornell University, Steve kept music close by performing and attending unforgettable concerts, including seeing Joni Mitchell in the early 1970s.

Allison Hargis was teaching middle school in the Poway Unified District when a student’s mother approached Allison about an opening for a band director in nearby Carlsbad. Allison learned about the need for a conductor for the New Horizon Band located at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music.  She was thrilled as she had always enjoyed teaching music to beginners and found educating adults very rewarding. She later joined the museum staff as education manager, a role that has resulted in her many lifelong friends with fellow music lovers.

Steve Helmbold began playing trumpet at age eight, inspired by one of his early musical heroes, New Orleans jazz great Al Hirt. He remained active in school music programs through high school, including playing in the marching band. At 20, he left his native Ohio for Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Soon after he began his eight-year journey at the legendary Troubadour, working his way from bartender to manager, all while soaking in the venue’s eclectic and inspiring live performances. While studying at West LA College, a classmate introduced Steve to the Waddell Quartet,

Bill Kilpatrick radiates an unwavering commitment to both the craft of musical arrangement and the preservation of its storied heritage. From the tender age of nine, when he first cradled a guitar in his hands, Bill embarked on a journey fueled by an insatiable passion for melody. The echoes of the Beatles' harmonies resonated deeply within him, spurring him to master classics like "Hey Jude" on both guitar and piano by the age of 15. Amidst the coastal allure of Long Beach, his musical odyssey took a unique turn as he became a tour guide aboard the venerable Queen Mary, serenadin

Jeff Snell is a dedicated volunteer at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California, where his passion for music and curiosity for learning enrich both visitors and the museum team. Growing up in New York during the vibrant folk revival of the 1960s, Jeff was shaped by the music of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and a young Bob Dylan, while also drawing inspiration from the traditions of jazz and blues. He began with piano lessons and school music programs before discovering the guitar, which became his lifelong companion.