Artists Join Hands to Promote Music Education
On March 19 and 20, artists Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bernie Williams, former NY Yankee and Latin Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist join leaders of the music instrument and products industry in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress on the importance of music education in schools.
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) organizes the annual Advocacy Fly-In on behalf of school music education programs in public schools, to promote the benefits that playing music can have for children and teens, and to assure that federal education policy and funding advance access to music learning for all children.
NAMM observes that pressure on funding for school music programs continue as many districts struggle with budgets and regulations that force schools to narrow their scholastic offerings at the expense of important core academic subjects, music and arts education.
Nearly 30 NAMM Members, executive committee and industry representatives will join Smith, Williams and NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond for this year’s DC Fly-In March 18-20.
“NAMM Members envision a world in which every child has a deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is a passionate champion and defender of that right,” Lamond said. “Our work in Washington seeks to further that aim.”
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is a not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $16.3 billion music products industry and promote the benefits of making music. It is comprised of approximately 8,500 member companies located in more than 94 countries.
In the picture above: Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Photo courtesy: NAMM, Laura Glass
