NAMM Receives $100,000 Grant from Grammy Foundation® for Music Education Research

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that the GRAMMY Foundation® has contributed $100,000 to support the NAMM Foundation’s research initiative called Sounds of Learning: The Impact of Music Education. This is the second contribution the GRAMMY Foundation has made to the research effort.

The goal of the Sounds of Learning project is to expand the understanding of music’s role in a quality education, and the impact of music education on students’ lives in school, home and community. The findings of this research about the impact of playing music on child development and school success will also help shape education policy for years to come.

"The Grants Program is a mainstay of the GRAMMY Foundation's mission," said Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Foundation President Neil Portnow. "As it encourages dialogue about the critical importance of music's history and future, and its impact on individuals, communities, science and culture, we are pleased to support the NAMM Foundation's initiative."

Researchers and research teams in the fields of music, music education, psychology and education are encouraged to explore the benefits of hands-on music making in various education, health-wellness and therapeutic settings. To date, eight Sounds of Learning grants have been awarded.

The NAMM Foundation research division supports studies that explore the effects and outcomes of hands-on music making on various human functions, including cognitive processes, development and learning, skill development and retention, and psychological, biological, social and emotional growth.

"The GRAMMY Foundation is a significant partner in this effort to advance knowledge about the benefits of music education for children," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. "We look forward to new discoveries about the impact of music in the lives and education of children. As an ongoing partner in this and other music-making endeavors, we are extremely grateful to NARAS and the GRAMMY Foundation for this generous donation."

About the GRAMMY Foundation
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture—from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still-unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with The Recording Academy to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.