NAMM Joins Stand Up 4 Arts Education Advocacy Day at the California State Capitol
April 29, 2026
On April 29, NAMM joined music educators, students and arts advocates from across California for the annual Stand Up 4 Arts Education (SU4AE) Advocacy Day at the State Capitol’s West Steps — and the NAMM team brought some of the music industry’s most passionate voices with them.
NAMM Associate Director of Public Policy Claire Kreger-Boaz represented the association alongside a delegation of NAMM members who came to Sacramento ready to advocate: Natalie Morrison and Jeff Queen of Yamaha, Scott Mandeville of Tim’s Music, and Justin Emord, professional bass player and champion for music education.
A Day of Advocacy, Music and Community
The event, organized by California’s four arts education organizations — the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), California Art Education Association, California Dance Education Association and California Educational Theatre Association — drew hundreds of students, teachers and advocates to the Capitol’s iconic West Steps for a morning of performances, presentations and legislative meetings.
Kreger-Boaz addressed the crowd from the podium, speaking to the urgent need for sustained investment in arts and music education at a pivotal moment for California’s schools. “NAMM has been a coalition partner of Stand Up 4 Music since its founding, and the association’s presence at SU4AE underscores its long-standing commitment to music education as a cornerstone of a well-rounded public education,” she said.
CMEA President Chad Zullinger spoke on the importance of industry coming together with educators. “Bringing together industry and education in music advocacy strengthens our collective impact by aligning classroom learning with real-world opportunities and workforce needs,” he said. “When these sectors collaborate, we amplify a shared message — ensuring that policies, resources and programs reflect both the educational value of music education and its vital role in the creative economy.”
Taking the Message to the Legislature
The NAMM delegation fanned out across the Capitol for a full slate of meetings with state legislators and their staff, bringing the coalition’s 2026 legislative priorities directly to decision-makers. Their asks centered on:
- Proposition 28 implementation — ensuring the $1.06 billion guarantee for arts and music education reaches students equitably
- Teacher recruitment and retention — supporting a strong arts educator pipeline, including addressing gaps created by new federal student loan limits
- Seal of Arts Literacy — advancing recognition of student arts achievement
- Student retention and graduation requirements — protecting the role of arts courses in meeting graduation standards
Kreger-Boaz met with the office of Assembly Member Christopher M. Ward (78th District), who chairs the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism — a critical ally for the arts education community in the legislature. Ward and his team expressed interest in working with the coalition on a bill supporting the Seal of Arts Literacy.
The delegation also secured meetings with Assembly Member Joe Patterson (5th District), as well as with the offices of Senator Lena Gonzalez, Senator Tony Strickland, Senator Tom Umberg, Senator Henry Stern, Senator Roger Niello, Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal, Assembly Member Nick Schultz, Assembly Member James Hoover and more.
“Arts advocacy is so important, and having the privilege to share my story and the attributes that are gained from growing up in music and the arts with legislators is an honor and a highlight of both my personal and professional life,” said Jeff Queen, district manager, school service sales at the Yamaha Corp. of America.
Why This Matters
California’s creative economy is one of the largest in the nation, generating an estimated $288 billion annually — representing 7.5% of the state’s total economic impact. The pipeline for that workforce begins in the classroom, making arts education not just a cultural investment, but an economic one.
“Music education opens doors — to careers, to community, to a sense of belonging in school,” Kreger-Boaz said. “Events like this give us the opportunity to remind our state legislators that when students have access to music and the arts, everyone benefits.”
Proposition 28, passed by California voters, has been a landmark protection for arts education funding. But the coalition’s 2026 priorities reflect the ongoing work required: monitoring implementation, strengthening the educator pipeline and ensuring that every student — regardless of ZIP code — has equitable access to quality arts instruction.
NAMM’s Role in the Coalition
NAMM, founder of the SupportMusic Coalition, is a proud member of the Stand Up 4 Arts Education coalition, which includes organizations representing music, dance, theatre and visual arts educators across California. Together, coalition members represent hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and industry advocates who believe in the transformative power of arts education.
Senior Segment Marketing Specialist for Education at Yamaha Corp. of America Natalie Morrison solidified her company’s commitment to advocacy. “Yamaha is committed to strengthening the health of the music education ecosystem,” she said. “This includes not only at the federal level but state advocacy alongside NAMM and CMEA as industry partners.”
The participation of such industry members as Yamaha, Tim’s Music and professional musicians like Justin Emord sends a powerful signal: the music products industry is not just a business community — it is a stakeholder in the educational system that inspires the next generation of musicians, music teachers and music lovers.