The Music Educator Experience at The NAMM Show

Each year in January, music educators go to The NAMM Show for a 360-degree professional development experience. They attend to discover new music products and technologies, participate in education sessions to grow their careers, and stay current with trends in music education. The show is also a place where music educators can network with each other, share related experiences and get exposure to the wider music industry.

Below, hear what musical instrument teachers, music therapists and music production instructors have to say about their NAMM Show experiences and why they value the once-a-year opportunity to connect with the people and companies that make up the music products industry.

Alyssa Bryan and Lucas Johnson | Banding Together

“I think music is everything. I think music is therapeutic, it’s educational and it truly enriches all parts of a person.” — Alyssa Bryan

• Banding Together provides music experiences for the special needs community.     
   
• As a music therapist, attending the Grand Rally for Music Education gives Alyssa renewed passion for working with the children and young adults she serves.     
   
• Lucas says he enjoys seeing all the represented communities within the music industry and that the advocacy for music education is vital to his profession.

Suman Khatri | Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory

“I always dreamed about being here.”

• Suman is a guitar instructor and music educator at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory in Nepal, the only jazz school in the country.     
   
• He is enthusiastic about being a teacher because when he was kid, he struggled to get a guitar and learn to play. Now he wants to be a role model for his students and help them find their way to musicianship.     
   
• At the show, Suman focused on attending education sessions covering teaching methods and curriculum. 

John Ellis | Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences & Dramastic Audio Corp.

"Seeing one's students and how they're progressing in their careers ... and to know that I've helped in some way for them to get there is pretty rewarding."

• John is a music production instructor at CRAS, an audio engineering and music production school, and a design engineer at Dramastic Audio Corp. He's been attending The NAMM Show since 1990.     
   
• A highlight of attending the show is to see his former students and learn how they're progressing in their careers after graduation from CRAS. John says it's rewarding to know that he's played a part in helping his students achieve their careers.     
   
• Networking is another benefit for John. He attends the show to meet up with friends and colleagues, make new connections, explore new technology and stay up to date with the music industry.

Chloe Maguire and Jim Maguire | Jim Maguire Music

"Music is the one thing that brings everyone together, no matter what."    
— Chloe Maguire   

• Jim Maguire Music is a music school in Houston, Texas.     
   
• Music education goes beyond music, says Chloe, helping other avenues of life — it teaches kids discipline and confidence, and educators see kids develop over time. When students are excelling in music, their grades in other subjects often improve too.     
   
• Jim says that being a music educator is an unsung profession and that at The NAMM Show, “it’s inspiring to see people placing a value on what we do.”

Rob Gottfried | Rob the Drummer

“The camaraderie at The NAMM Show is remarkable.”

• Rob the Drummer is a motivational educator who has appeared on Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, MTV, Entertainment Tonight and Kid’s World.     
   
• He uses drums as his teaching method, building trust and opening dialogues around difficult subjects such as bullying, drugs and self-harm.     
   
• Rob says it's best to get kids “hooked on something positive and natural rather than something artificial.”     
   
• He agrees with Victor Wooten’s comments that today’s educators are the role models for children.

Are You Ready for the Music Educator Experience at The NAMM Show?

Register for The NAMM Show and join us in January for the world’s largest event for the music products industry, where music educators and many other professionals go to network, attend education sessions and explore the latest innovations and gear. We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Author

Jessica A. Baris is a writer on the marketing team at NAMM and editor of Playback Blog. She shares member stories, covers The NAMM Show and collaborates with industry experts to create content that educates and informs NAMM members. Baris leads a musical life as a Latin dancer, growing singer and player of instruments, including castanets, clave and tongue drum.