NAMM, Sesame Street and Music For All to Create a ‘Musical Extravaganza’ Float for 2009 Rose Parade

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that plans are underway to create a float for the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade that represents a “musical extravaganza.”

Overflowing with live music and depictions of how much fun playing music can be for everyone, the NAMM float will be a special feature for the overall parade theme of “Hats Off to Entertainment.”

The 108-year-old organization is returning to the parade for the sixth consecutive year and is once again showcasing its message to the general public about the powerful and proven benefits of playing music for people of all ages.

Rose Parade Partners: NAMM, Music For All and Sesame Street will partner to produce a "musical extravaganza" float in the 2009 Rose Parade, reaching millions with the industry's music making message.

The NAMM float is being created in collaboration with “Sesame Street” and Music for All. Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street” and a well-known advocate for integrating music into its program to help children viewers learn and grow. This is the fourth year that “Sesame Street” has collaborated with NAMM on a float for the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Music for All’s mission is to create, provide and expand positive life-changing experiences through music for all. In honor of celebrating music, the organization has formed its Bands of America Honor Band comprising more than 300 high school band members hailing from across the nation, which will march alongside this year’s NAMM float. This is the second edition of Music for All’s Bands of America Honor Band since it first performed in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade. The band members will meet for the first time in Southern California, Dec. 27, 2008, to prepare for performances in the Tournament of Roses BandFest and Rose Parade.

Combining the missions and commitment of these three organizations, the NAMM “mega” float will highlight the many wonders of making music for all people to enjoy.

The flower-covered creation will comprise a first-ever “mega unit” with three satellite “pod” floats following the main float and will feature a variety of musical talent. Onboard the main float will be an animated Big Bird shown playing a horn, and celebrity Bob McGrath, original cast member of “Sesame Street” who plays the music teacher on the show.

Performing on the main float will be a string quartet, a jazz combo, and two backup vocalists—all against the backdrop of the familiar “Sesame Street” lamppost.

The three smaller floats will feature a sculpted Elmo character along with a saxophone soloist; a crafted Abby Cadabby and a Latin guitarist; and a large sculpture of Oscar the Grouch and two garbage can percussionists. Surrounding each pod will be Music for All’s Bands of America Honor Band made up of more than 300 musical performers, a 17-member dance troupe and a 32-member flag line. A World Drumming unit will also perform alongside the float and inspire Parade viewers to catch the rhythm and spirit of the music-making extravaganza.

The Bands of America Honor Band will play a live original medley of “Sesame Street” hit tunes, compiled by award-winning arrangers Michael Klesch and Thom Hannum, and a variety of other musical pieces celebrating the joys of making music. The musical compilation will feature six different solo breaks to highlight each of the individual segments of the marching band ensemble.

George N. Parks, a prominent trainer of drum majors in the country and director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, will lead the Honor Band, assisted by an all-star staff comprising directors of some of the nation’s top high school music programs. Selected band members auditioned and have rehearsed the music using the latest music teaching technology, MakeMusic’s SmartMusic®, which has allowed the teaching staff to help prepare the musicians despite the geographic distances between them.

The 2009 Rose Parade will take place New Years Day on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2009, with millions of people around the world expected to watch.

“The Rose Parade is a great event that is enjoyed by millions each year and we’re excited to participate once again with our partners Sesame Workshop and Music For All on this very special parade entry to promote the many benefits of playing music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM.

“Music has always been a central part of the fun on ‘Sesame Street’ and its educational message,” said Gary E. Knell, president and CEO, Sesame Workshop. “We are honored to once again be a part of this renowned parade and to collaborate with NAMM to bring the power of music to life in a vibrant new float that is sure to be harmonious and entertain ‘Sesame Street’ fans of all ages.”

“We are thrilled to return to the Tournament of Roses Parade and to be partnering with these great institutions,” said Scott McCormick, president and CEO, Music for All. “As part of Music for All’s commitment to showcase the importance of music education, the Bands of America Honor Band represents America’s best and brightest high school musicians. The Honor Band gives these students the opportunity to perform in one of the nation’s finest musical ensembles before an international audience in one of the world’s most spectacular events.”

2009 will be NAMM’s sixth year as a float sponsor in the Tournament of Roses parade. In 2007, NAMM’s “Natural Harmonies: Oh Say Can You Sing,” won the Craftsman trophy for Exceptional Showmanship and Dramatic Impact for a float more than 55 feet long.
In addition, NAMM’s 2006 float “Making Music is Magical,” designed with Disney’s Little Einstein characters, won the prestigious Grand Marshal’s trophy for excellence in creative concept and design; NAMM’s 2005 float with Sesame Workshop, “Music Makes Us a Family,” won the Bob Hope Humor trophy as the most comical and amusing float in the parade; and NAMM’s first-time entry in 2004 in partnership with Sesame Workshop won the Isabella Coleman Award for Color and Color Harmony through Floral Use.

About Music for All
Music for All uniquely combines regional and national music-event programming with awareness campaigns, research and advocacy aimed at expanding access to music in schools and communities. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization, Music for All promotes the widely documented lifetime benefits of music education and addresses the growing concern that public policies have created barriers to providing music and arts programs as part of a basic education for all children. The organization is the product of the 2006 merger between Bands of America and the Music for All Foundation.

Music for All’s 25-plus annual events include the Grand National marching band championships, to be held this November in Indianapolis’ new Lucas Oil Stadium, the Music for All National Festival for concert bands, orchestras and percussion ensembles, the Summer Symposium international music camp and a series of regional marching band championships held across the country each fall. For more information, visit www.musicforall.org.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. As the single largest informal educator of young children, local Sesame Street programs produced in countries as diverse as South Africa, Bangladesh and India are making a difference in over 140 nations. Using proprietary research to create engaging and enriching content, Sesame Workshop produces programs such as Dragon Tales and Pinky Dinky Doo. In addition, multimedia needs-driven initiatives provide families tools for addressing such issues as children’s health, military deployment and emergency preparedness. As a nonprofit, product proceeds and philanthropic donations support Sesame Workshop’s educational research and creative content for children around the world. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.