News Releases

The NAMM Foundation announces the 21 recipients of the NAMM Foundation's 2012-2013 program grants, allocating $445,000 in funding. The grants support innovative community-based music learning programs that expand access to active music making and its many benefits.

National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) announces the annual National Music Store Weekend, held this year from May 11 to May 13. Announced by NAMM as the culmination of National Wanna Play Music Week, this weekend of appreciation is designated to applaud local music stores for their role in helping community members start a musical journey – whether as a student in school or later in life. NAMM wishes to thank the thousands of local community music stores who serve as music making’s biggest champions.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) salutes the leading digital apps, websites and tech products that inspire people to play a musical instrument. These new tools from the tech world make learning to play music more tangible for aspiring musicians, as NAMM asks people to feel the benefits and joy of music making during its annual National Wanna Play Music Week, May 7-13, 2012.

Once again, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is calling on all aspiring musicians to pick up a musical instrument and play during its sixth annual National Wanna Play Music Week (May 7-13, 2012).

The NAMM Foundation will support a new initiative lead by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council. The Turnaround Arts initiative being launched in Washington, D.C. today will work to turn around low-performing schools with strategies that expand access to comprehensive music and arts education as part of the core curriculum.

On Monday, May 7, nearly 600,000 students across Canada and the United States will join together in song in a collaborative show of support for music education. For the sixth consecutive year, members of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) will partner with Canada’s Coalition for Music Education in a simultaneous event to celebrate the proven social, wellness and academic benefits of playing music. Music Monday kicks off NAMM’s National Wanna Play Week, offering a series of programs designed to engage the public in playing music.

The NAMM Foundation today announced the results of its 13th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. In all, 176 communities out of 237 that submitted surveys were recognized, including 166 school districts and 10 schools.

Members of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) this week met with members of Congress and the Department of Education as part of its eighth-annual, Advocacy Fly-in for Music Education event in Washington, D.C. to support issues concerning the music products industry.

On March 28, New York Yankees legend and Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Bernie Williams, along with TV star and “Band from TV“ keyboardist Scott Grimes will be in Washington, D.C. advocating on Capitol Hill on behalf of school music education programs in public schools and the benefits that playing music can have for children and teens. Each year the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) sponsors public figures to go to Washington, D.C.

With just 11 days left until the entry period closes, The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) together with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Rock Hall) is reminding amateur company-sponsored bands to enter submissions for this year’s FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands. The annual competition showcases the most talented musicians in the corporate world, representing the nation’s most progressive companies. All proceeds from the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands will benefit the Rock Hall’s educational activities.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced the weeklong activities of its 6th annual National Wanna Play Music Week May 7-13, and is encouraging its Members to participate and inspire new music makers during the week.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that it will be hosting an interactive Community and Recreational Music Making (RMM) for all interested Members on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST. The educational online session will teach retail Members in particular how to find the best RMM facilitator and will provide an in-depth look at the facilitator trainings in the keyboard industry and how their success can be translated to Members’ store programs—for all instruments.