NAMM Announces Regional Semi-Finalists in SchoolJam USA Nationwide Teen Battle of the Bands

School music programs across the U.S. being threatened by lack of funding will get some unexpected help from NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, and some great teen bands as part of the national SchoolJam USA competition.  The first year of the event drew more than 200 entries from a variety of unsigned bands across the country, with each band made up of talented teen musicians between the ages of 13 to 18. NAMM’s qualified panel of judges selected a total of 50 semi-finalist bands from the five qualifying regions, but ultimately, the bands’ fans will help to determine the top 10 bands by voting online at SchoolJamUSA.com.

Each of the 10 finalist bands will win money toward the purchase of musical merchandise from a local NAMM-member music product retailer, as well as money for their school music programs. The winning band also will receive a grand-prize trip for its band members to perform live at the SchoolJam Germany finals in Frankfurt, Germany. Combined prizes total more than $30,000.

“NAMM congratulates all of the outstanding, talented bands who have made it to the semi-final round of SchoolJam USA,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “This achievement is certainly a credit to the bands’ schools that have played a role in their music education and their supportive hometowns for encouraging youth participation in music.”

The complete list of semi-finalist bands and their hometowns is also available online at SchoolJamUSA.com, where visitors can log on to vote once per day for their favorite band until December 5, 2009. The top two bands from each of the five regions will be invited to the finals to perform live at the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., on January 16, 2010, when one band will be crowned the first official SchoolJam USA champion.

“Music making has been scientifically proven to benefit people of all ages, especially teen musicians,” added Lamond. “It not only gives them the freedom to express themselves, but teens perform better in school, improve their listening skills, and deal with stress and peer pressure more effectively, as many scientific studies have shown.”

SchoolJam USA is the first live music competition of its kind, providing youth bands the chance to rock out while also providing support for local school music programs. The competition is sponsored by NAMM, and its promotional partners MENC: the National Association for Music Education, Music For All, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and InTune Monthly magazine.

To vote for one of the 50 semi-finalist bands (full list also follows) or find more information about the competition, please visit SchoolJamUSA.com. Every time an individual votes online, the voter is entered into the Voter’s Sweepstakes. Five lucky voters will receive a Flip video camera and one voter will receive a complete iPod Touch prize package. Voters also can play the instant SchoolJam USA game daily for a chance to win an iTunes gift card.

SchoolJam USA 2009
Top 50 Semi-Finalist Bands

West
Almost Chaos - Santa Cruz, CA
Dance Over Anaheim - Colorado Springs, CO
Jackie Rocks Band - Springs, CO
Left Of Bromely - Santa Cruz, CA
R5 - Oak Park, CA
Rapid Fire – Northridge, CA
Starparty – Santa Cruz, CA
Subsequential – Portland, OR
The Grenettes – Carson, CA
The Suspenders – Superior, CO
 
Midwest
Chasing the Skyline – Carol Stream, ILClean Cut – Hastings, NE
Day of the Weak – Garner, IA
Delinquent Scholars – Marysville, KS
Off Brand – Comstock, MI
Paradise Fears – Vermillion, SD
Switchfits – Saint Louis, MO
TJ6 – Homewood, IL
Trancemitter – Independence, OH
Village Idiot – Fort Atkinson, WI

Southwest
Aftermath – Austin, TX
Amber Open Skies – Coppell, TX
Blake Olvera – Plano, TX
Carson Brock w/ Powerhouse – Lakeway, TX
Comintern – Austin, TX
Edison Chair – Austin, TX
Jaci and Those Guys – Rowlett, TX
Perpetual Jet Lag – Auburn, WA
Radiorain – Paradise Valley, AZ
Second Story Feedback – Arlington, TX
 
Northeast
Adrenaline – Burlington, CT
High Tide – Sharon, MA
Plain and Simple – Norfolk, MA
Radio The Ape – Trumansburg, NY
Simply Society – Somerset, MA
Sleeping Lessons – Old Saybrook, CT
The Jessica Prouty Band – Marblehead, MA
Vibratribe – Roslyn, NY
Clearly From Negligence – Fairport, NY
Fyve – Winthrop, ME

South
Captain John and the Explorers – Clarks Summit, PA
In The Summer – Henniker, NH
Lame Radio Station – Montague, NJ
Power Pirate – Washington, DC
Sublimation – Alexandria, VA
The Portland Organ – Richmond, VA
Vanilla Extract – Berryville, VA
Vinapaw – Vestal, NY
HyeTension – Fairfax, VA
Crimson Fire – Ridgefield, NJ

SchoolJam is an established music initiative, originally developed by MM MusikMedia Germany to promote popular and rock music in schools throughout Germany. The program has provided thousands of music-loving young adults with the opportunity to perform and network with their peers, increasing their love for playing music and encouraging them to become active musicians.