NAMM’s ‘Million More Music Makers’ Initiative Aims to Expand Music Learning Opps

During The 2023 NAMM Show, The NAMM Foundation will launch NAMM’s Million More Music Makers, a new initiative that offers hands-on training to expand guitar, ukulele and bass music learning opportunities in schools and communities for people of all ages. Million More Music Makers will take place across The NAMM Show campus in Anaheim, California, from April 13–15, and welcomes professional and amateur musicians, teachers, college students and faculty, school administrators and curriculum specialists, as well as community music organization leaders and participants, to take part in focused programming designed to build and encourage music makers at all stages of life.

“Research continually demonstrates the true joys and benefits of making and learning music for people of all ages and abilities. NAMM’s Million More will engage, educate, and inspire participants to expand music learning opportunities,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of The NAMM Foundation. “Every person we train and support at The NAMM Show will impact hundreds and thousands more in schools and communities. We come together at the NAMM Show to move our collective impact forward to assure music learning opportunities for all.”

This 2023 inaugural edition of Million More Music Makers will spotlight the teaching, learning and playing of guitar, ukulele and bass. Specialized programming will include teacher trainings for classroom and group instruction in schools and community organizations; a review of school curriculum planning and alignment with education standards; workshops and hands-on learning experiences; performance classes with artists open to players of all levels; and more.

Joining The NAMM Foundation in this endeavor are the American String Teachers Association (ASTA); California Music Educators Association (CMEA); College Music Society (CMS); Guitars 4 Vets; Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA); Guitars in the Classroom (GITC); Langley Ukulele Association; Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock); National Association for Music Education (NAfME); Save the Music Foundation; Teaching Guitar Workshop; Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) and more.

“Music Will is excited to be a part of NAMM’s inaugural Million More Music Makers initiative in April,” said Dave Wish, CEO and founder of Music Will. “Creating hands-on learning opportunities for the hundreds of music teachers who attend the NAMM Show is a game changer and one that will allow us to reach more students and turn them into lifelong music makers.”

In addition, the Million More Music Makers programming will complement long-established NAMM Foundation signature programming, including GenNext, in collaboration with The College Music Society (CMS) for college music students and faculty; Music Education Days for music teachers and school administrators seeking what’s next in music products and classroom technologies; The Nonprofit Management Institute for nonprofit arts organizations; and the annual Grand Rally for Music Education to celebrate the advocacy and impact of music education, educators and advocates.

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