Second Annual SchoolJam USA Teen Band Competition Officially Opens Today

Just in time for back-to-school, teen bands have the chance to showcase their talent beyond their garage jam sessions by entering the second annual national SchoolJam USA competition. Beginning today, middle and high school teens, who aspire to be discovered by music industry professionals, have a passion for music, and want to help promote the significance of their schools’ music programs, can enter the SchoolJam USA competition at www.schooljamusa.com.   

This battle of rising stars is produced by NAMM, the not-for-profit association of the international music products industry, and its promotional sponsors MENC: the National Association for Music Education, SchoolJam Germany, Music For All, Drum Corps International, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, Vans Warped Tour and Channel One News. The competition highlights quality musical teen talent, gathers students to support music and the arts, and promotes active participation in school music programs.

Teen musicians between the ages of 13 and 19, with the majority of band members currently registered in a middle or high school in the United States, and are in an unsigned band, are eligible to participate and apply from Aug. 2, 2010, to Oct. 15, 2010.  Bands can perform any genre of music but the song must be original content or designated as “public domain.” To view full competition rules and regulations, and for information about how to apply, visit www.schooljamusa.com.   

Semi-finalists will be chosen and names will be posted on the SchoolJam USA website on Nov. 1, 2010, and online voting will be open to the public that day until Nov. 30, 2010. On Jan. 15, 2011, the top 10 finalists will take the big stage  in Anaheim, Calif. during the world-famous NAMM Show in front of a panel of professional judges and hundreds of fans for the chance to take the title of Best Teen Band in the USA. The winning band will walk away with the grand prize trip of a lifetime to perform at the original SchoolJam festival in Frankfurt Germany, as well as receive a private music video recording session on the John Lennon Educational Bus, $1,000 towards the purchase of new gear and $5,000 for their school music program.

As budget cuts are continuing to affect music education programs in schools across the country, activities such as SchoolJam USA are vital to promote the importance of music making, and to provide an outlet for young adults to showcase their musical interest and talent. Reinforcing the competition’s mission to encourage active music making among teenagers, all finalists will receive a credit toward the purchase of musical merchandise from a local NAMM Member music product retailer of their choice. Also, each of the top 10 finalists’ schools will receive funding to support their school music programs.

“NAMM not only supports music education programs, but believes strongly in the passion young adults have for playing music,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. “As we begin our second year of this national teen band competition, we are looking forward to providing a continued outlet for young adults to showcase their talent, which we hope will inspire others to pick up an instrument and discover the many benefits of playing music.”

In 2009, more than 200 aspiring bands from across the country submitted applications for entry in the SchoolJam USA competition. With the help of more than 115,000 online votes, Austin, Texas-based band, “After Math” was crowned the first-ever SchoolJam USA champion, and was awarded the opportunity to perform at the SchoolJam Germany Finals in Frankfurt.

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.

In the United States, NAMM has collaborated with MENC, Music For All and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus to develop SchoolJam USA, following two successful years of SchoolJam Texas, produced by NAMM and the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) in 2007 and 2008, in conjunction with the original SchoolJam in Germany.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM is the sponsor of the Wanna Play? campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to get more people connected with the proven benefits of playing music. For more information about Wanna Play?, please visit www.wannaplaymusic.com. For more information about NAMM, please visit www.namm.org.

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