NAMM Foundation Provides Learning, Networking Opportunities for College Students at 2010 NAMM Show

 As the industry was conducting big business at the 2010 NAMM Show, college students hoping to break into the music products business were at the event learning lessons from seasoned professionals and gaining valuable insight about the trade. 

For the first time, the NAMM Foundation hosted the recipients of its Music Products Industry Scholarships and President’s Innovation Awards to offer the best and brightest music product industry hopefuls first-hand industry experience at the NAMM Show.

The Foundation also organized a collegiate program, where industry professionals spoke about how they broke into the industry. NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond also addressed the students, welcoming them to the industry’s largest gathering and offering encouragement to pursue their dreams of becoming future leaders in the industry.

In addition, scholarship recipients were invited to attend an interactive Sandy Feldstein Industry Roundtable forum presented by the Crane Institute for Music Business at SUNY Potsdam during the NAMM Show. The panel discussion, called  “Enhancing the Music Education & Music Business Partnership,” explored how to jointly benefit from the synergistic relationship between the music education and music products sectors. The panel comprised Marty Albertson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Guitar Center; Carol Calato, vice president of sales and marketing of J.A. Calato Manufacturing Inc.; James D’Addario, chairman and CEO of D’Addario & Company, Inc.; Rick Young, senior vice president of Yamaha Corporation of America. Lamond was also on the panel and shared his industry insight and experience. Carol “Kickie” Britt, executive director of the Crane Institute for Music Business and coordinator of music business at SUNY Potsdam moderated the discussion.

Scholarship recipients were also invited to kick off the 2010 NAMM Show by marching in the all-industry Fernand L. Petiot Marching Band, a group of NAMM Members that play instruments and march through the hallways of the NAMM Show to mark the official opening of the annual event. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the yearly tradition.

“Joe Lamond definitely inspired me to keep following my passion in the music industry and to keep pushing forward,” said Ryan Longenecker, music business student at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Chris Schramski of Ferris State University said, “I am thankful to NAMM for the opportunities they have provided for me as well as this scholarship that is aiding me with my education expenses.”

“There is no better place than the NAMM Show for students to learn about the inner workings of our industry,” said Lamond. “The Foundation also thanks the NAMM Members who shared their valuable insight and advice with the students at the collegiate program. It is this type of experience that resonates with industry hopefuls and helps them to envision their future more clearly.”

If you are enrolled in a college or university music education or music business program and are hoping to pursue a career in the music products industry, the NAMM Foundation is now accepting applications for Music Products Industry Scholarships for the 2010 fall semester. The deadline for submitting an application for the fall 2010 semester is June 1. Recipients will be notified of their awards by Aug. 1. Interested parties can view scholarship guidelines and submit an electronic scholarship application at www.nammfoundation.org or e-mail grants @namm.org.

Students can also apply in September for a President’s Innovation Award, which supports travel costs to attend the 2011 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 13-16, 2011. Information about the President’s Innovation Award will be available in the fall at www.nammfoundation.org.

About NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry.  For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.