Music Advocacy

Eric Ebel is a Senior Project Manager for the Public Affairs and Government Relations department at NAMM. Working throughout the industry before taking a job at NAMM prepared Eric for a multitude of roles within the organization including in the Trade Show Sales department before finding his passion with Public Affairs and Government Relations. During his 2017 NAMM Oral History interview, Eric discussed the growth of NAMM during his tenure and some of the many highlights from his career with the organization.

David Eccles is the Director of String Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He speaks here about the first steps for any new teacher and how to keep music culturally relevant in the lives of students.

LaRoy Edwards was the celebrated piano technician who began his long association with Yamaha back in 1961, the year before the company officially entered the United States market. Along the way he helped create the bond assurance program for retailers to track customer satisfaction, and the Little Red School House program for piano tuner training on new products. LaRoy was the first person to receive the Yamaha Life Time Achievement Award, an honor that was deeply meaningful to him.  

Dr. Steven Eisenberg is an Oncologist with a deep passion for music making. He followed his family’s tradition of medicine while following his own love of music. Since 2008, he has teamed up with dozens of his patients to write songs together, which he feels is a key element to their treatment. Dr. Eisenberg believes that music has the power of healing and will happily provide you with examples that he has witnessed firsthand.

Roy Ernst is professor emeritus at Eastman School of Music located on the campus of the University of Rochester, the founder of The New Horizons Band program, The Roy Ernst Music Institute, which sponsors music camps as well as the founder of Music for Veterans National Association Inc. Throughout his musical journey, Roy discovered ways to involve people of all ages in the great experience of music making. While teaching at Eastman’s School of Music, Roy designed a program for the 50-plus population who perhaps have not ever played an instrument or have not since childhood.

John Espy teaches at Milford Exempted Village Schools in Milford, Ohio, where he teaches music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Here, he speaks about transitions into middle and high school music programs and about how to retain students by continually seeking and showing the progress of the students.

Don Eubanks made a lot of friends in the music business! His honesty and humor endeared him to many over the years, but perhaps what set Don apart from others was his willingness to try something new. When he had the chance to buy the Symmes Music Store in Chamblee, Georgia, he decided to try something new. When the industry was in need of an organization that could bring music print retailers together with publishers, he decided to try something new. And whenever Don had the chance to mentor others interested in the business he did all he could to help, which was nothing new, but

Janet Faulhaber always had a special interest in the sheet music department of the Ward-Brodt Music Company in Wisconsin. Janet and her husband purchased the store and expanded the product line and involvement in community music programs for several decades. When their son, Mick, returned home after his military service they were proud he wanted to work in the family business.

Michael Faulhaber has successfully carried on the legacy of his father who was the early passion behind Ward-Brodt Music Company in Wisconsin. The store has earned an important place in the history of the industry for a string of unique programs and product lines over the years, but may be best known for its people. The Faulhaber family has always supported music making events such as the American Music Conference (AMC) and industry organizations such as the Retail Print Music Dealers Association (RPMDA), the National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD), and NAMM.

David Feder is a guitarist, composer, and community advocate whose musical journey has been shaped by a lifelong passion for creativity and exploration. Raised in the Buffalo, New York area, David began studying piano at a young age and took up guitar at five, performing publicly by age eleven. Although he pursued a career in engineering for two decades, music remained a constant presence in his life. After relocating to the Florida Keys in 1980, David immersed himself in the region’s unique culture, balancing his work in electronics and communications with his growing musical pur

Michael Feinstein is a student of the American Songbook as well as its cheerleader and Pied Piper! Throughout his career he has specialized in promoting the songs and songwriters from the Tin Pan Alley era of American popular music and as a result assisted in keeping those wonderful tunes in the public eye nearly one hundred years since many were written. Michael’s passion is clear in each of his projects and each of his albums serves as a work of entertainment as well as a history lesson into the careers of such songwriters as George and Ira Gershwin, Hugh Martin and Irving Berli

Cheryl Filipek is the Band Director at Niles North High School. She speaks here about how to connect to students and how to create interest in music to recruit and retain for her program.

Bonnie Fitch has always considered herself a music teacher.  After her time in the classroom, she formed her own music store in Las Vegas and tried to make every customer experience a learning opportunity.  With passion and energy abounding, Bonnie has worked long and hard to serve not only her customers and staff but the industry as well.  She has served on several boards including RPMDA, where she helped grow the educational component of the group’s yearly meetings. As owner of Bonnie’s Music Shoppe in Las Vegas, she has been very active within the local schools and the communit

Richard Floyd, whose school bands have performed all over the country including at the Midwest Band Clinic, is among the best known Texas bandmasters. He has developed programs and materials that have been a tremendous help to up-and-coming directors. The Texas Bandmasters Association named Richard Floyd their Band Director of the Year for 2006. His inspiring NAMM Oral History interview was completed on July 22, 2006. 

Claudio Formisano grew up in Naples in a musical family where at a young age his three brothers convinced Claudio to play drums to complete their Beatle-like band!  When he was 12 years old he formed his own band, which he called Beautiful!  Claudio likes to say his life has been music and he followed his passion to work within the music industry.  He is the president of Dismamusica in Italy and has played a vital role in the growth and development of the music products industry within the country and how it interacts with other countries around the world.

Micki Free is a Native American rock guitarist who has a strong passion for music education. He has worked with many tribes to encourage the youth to become active music makers. His own passion for music has allowed countless others the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that playing a musical instrument provides. As a performer Micki has earned a Grammy Award and has recorded several CDs both as a rock guitarist as well as a flutist playing Native American music. 

Aaron Friedman was composing in his New York City apartment when he was distracted by the constant sound of car alarms. He took action and helped create a city ordinance, which led to his involvement in the city’s government. After visiting France and taking part in the country’s Make Music day events, he thought he would ask his friends in city government to create such a program in New York. The first Make Music Day in New York took place in 2007, since that time he has expanded to other states under his Make Music Alliance.

Jim Funada has dedicated the past four decades to serving the music products industry with passion and commitment. His journey began at the Yamaha Corporation, where he delved into keyboard retailing and laid the foundation for a remarkable career. In the late 1960s, Jim took on the responsibility of overseeing Yamaha school programs across the San Francisco Bay Area, spearheading their success and subsequent expansion to multiple cities and states in the western region. His expertise led him to Yamaha's headquarters in Southern California, where he continued to contribute signifi

Trish Gapik has been volunteering at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music for quite some time now, and could not have wished for anything better. Her aunt was a singer during WWII and has her picture displayed in Gallery 3 of the museum. Trish has great memories of her aunt singing, as well as her late significant other, who played the saxophone and taught college level jazz studies. Volunteering at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music has changed her life, and she wishes to stay as long as she can.

Paul Gentile has created a series of artwork in the form of miniature musical instruments. His art incorporates the passion and history in works such as the saxophone, violin and piano. Like musical performers, Paul feels a great satisfaction when people connect with his art. In creating his miniature musical instruments, Paul is preserving and sharing the philosophy and objectives of the original instrument craftsman. Paul is also a strong supporter of music programs, music education and events that encourage non-players to pick up an instrument and make music.  

Peter Giles, the founder and president of Giles Communications, celebrated 20 years in business at the 2007 NAMM Show. During his interview, Peter proudly recalled his work in promoting the benefits of music making. Over the years, he has worked closely with many industry companies. For 15 years, he worked for the American Music Conference (AMC) and NAMM, the International Music Products Association.  

James Goldberg grew up in Washington DC and was a journalism major in college, which led to jobs as a writer for newspapers. He later received his law degree at George Washington University with the hope of getting involved in government affairs. He began working as a lobbyist in the late 1960s for a retail trade association in understanding and explaining the new truth in lending laws. He later became the legislative advisor to NAMM and the music products industry as the founder of Goldberg & Associates with a focus on labor laws and government relations.  

Dr. Merryl Goldberg grew up inspired by music. Her parents wanted her to learn guitar, but she always had a soft spot in her heart for the saxophone and would sneak in lessons whenever possible. Eventually, her parents gave in, and after graduation, Merryl launched a 13-year career preforming with the Klezmer Conservatory Band. Soon she discovered her passion for music education and serves as professor at San Marcos State University in Southern California. Merryl provides training and lectures for other teachers to develop the curriculum for arts education.

Nancy Golden teaches band in four of the seven elementary schools in the Hinsdale District 181. She discusses various methods of recruiting new students for the band, such as showing recruitment films featuring children throughout their development as musicians in school, interactive programs with singing and dancing with middle school students interacting with elementary children,  and communication with parents.

Janice Goodman shared the history of the music products industry with music lovers of all ages as a docent for the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Among the most rewarding tours she provided were those for school age children who came to the museum by the busloads. Janice played an important part of the annual museum's fundraiser and special events. Her clear love of both music and the museum made each of her tours pure delight.  

Rob Gottfried, known as "Rob the Drummer," was born into a musical legacy, inspired by his father's performances with swing era icons like Paul Whiteman and Bunny Barigan. Influenced by The Beatles' iconic Ed Sullivan Show appearance in 1964, Rob embarked on a lifelong journey with music, honing his craft as a drummer from a young age. His partnership with the Zildjian cymbal company allowed him to not only provide feedback on new products but also conduct clinics, sharing his expertise with aspiring musicians. In 1976, Rob's career took a unique turn when he became a beloved figu

Juan Grecos is the president of Amigos de la Guitarra de Valencia and has served in that position since 2004. The organization is dedicated to showcasing the Spanish classical guitar and more recently flamenco guitar and other related instruments of Spain by presenting concerts at a number of venues and events. Since its establishment in 1950, the AGV has provided over 600 concerts. Juan is the Founder and Managing Director of the RC Strings company and a veteran of the wholesale music industry as well as professional flamenco guitarist and author.

Mike Greene is the president of Greene Music in San Diego, California, a store he started with his father in 1974.  Mike grew up in the business and recalls dressing up like a circus barker to help his dad sell chord organs at state fairs.  After the boom of the home organ, Mike focused on pianos and had the opportunity to become the Steinway dealer in San Diego.  He is also a passionate supporter of music making programs and has sponsored countless events over the years.  He has also served both NAMM and the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music among many other organizations

Bob Hale had a long and successful career as an engineer and was able to devote his retirement time to his passion for music as a docent at the NAMM Foundation’s Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA. Bob soon became the museum expert on the electronic music displays and began training new volunteers on his vast understanding of the subject. He soon helped design the educational component of the volunteer meetings to enhance the docent’s knowledge of the museum’s artifacts as well as special exhibits.

Jon Hammond's career is a testament to his musical prowess and unwavering passion for the industry. With more than 40 years of experience, Jon has not only graced the stage alongside legendary musicians but has also revolutionized the music retail landscape as a clinician and product artist. Born in Chicago and raised in Berkeley, California, Jon's musical journey began at age 9 with accordion lessons, eventually leading to his first gig at a senior citizens’ luncheon at 11. By 1971, Jon's musical odyssey had taken him to new heights, as he performed with bands like Hades and shar

Dr. Sidney Harman, the founder of Harman-Kardon and Harman Industries provided a fascinating interview. He spoke of his early days and the innovative product line that helped develop the “hi-fi” industry (now referred to as the audio industry). He also took the time to outline the background for his influential business model of empowering employees with a sense of ownership in the work that they do. The model became the basis of his book Mind Your Own Business, which is used in universities and business programs around the world.  

Louise Harrison was the older sister of George and played an important role in the Beatle's success in America.  In 1963, the year before the Beatles arrived, Louise was living in the United States when she was asked by her mother to bring some of the records George made with his new band.  Louise struggled to gain the attention of radio stations but ultimately made progress.  In later years Louise followed her brother in becoming a music advocate.  Did you know that the only public service announcement George made in his later career was to promote music in the schools?  Louise t