Each January, music educators from across the U.S. gather in southern California for Music Education Days (MED) at The NAMM Show. The program offers music teachers and administrators informative sessions, inspiring performances, and the opportunity to preview the latest instruments, products and tools relevant to today’s music classrooms.
MED programming included: The Grand Rally for Music Education Featuring Composer and Conductor Eric Whitacre; Music Educator Showcases, and Roomful of Pianos, a Lounge 88 event.
“The Music Educator Showcases allow NAMM exhibitors a quick and easy way to present their products and services to this valuable group of ‘purchase influencers’,” said Eric Ebel, Senior Project Manager of The NAMM Foundation.
The showcases took place on Saturday, Jan. 26 and were moderated by NAMM member Mark Despotakis from Progressive Music. According to Despotakis, both presenters and educators and presenters walked away with a renewed passion and ideas for new classroom products, tools and techniques.
“The NAMM Show is more than anyone can fully take in over four days. These quick sessions allow educators to see products they may never have come across,” said Despotakis. “Presenters are able to talk directly to the end user and get feedback and new ideas. This is as win-win as I can imagine for the chain of manufacturer to end user.”