Introducing THE

You have probably noticed The NAMM Foundation logo on our Museum letterhead, our website, as well as in our eblasts, mailings, and various other communications. So, you likely know that the Museum of Making Music is a signature program of The NAMM Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. What you may not know is that the foundation, in addition to the Museum, is involved in a wide variety of additional activities. The broad mission of the foundation is to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan through supporting scientific research, offering awards for excellence and innovation, providing scholarships for career development, and developing and supporting programs to encourage involvement in music and music education. That’s a lot! We’d like to introduce you to just a few of the many foundation activities:

MUSIC RESEARCH about the effects of music and music making is constantly expanding. The foundation supports projects such as the work by Dr. Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, which offers insight into how musical experience affects brain function across the lifespan. For example, she found that individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers.

BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION is an award The NAMM Foundation bestows upon schools and school districts that demonstrate excellence in their support and commitment to music education. Last year, 738 school districts and 80 schools across the U.S., including San Marcos Unified School District and Chula Vista Elementary School District right here in our own backyard, received the award. This year's application cycle recently closed and the winners will be announced soon!

Do you know of a school or school district that should apply for this recognition?

If so, please have them contact sharonb@namm.org

PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT for K-12 Teachers, College Faculty, and College Students is at the core of Foundation programming at the annual NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. This April 13–15, NAMM Show programming will include over 90 sessions such as Exploring the Benefits of The Ukulele as a Melody Instrument, From College to Colleague: Profs and Pros Discuss the Transposition of Student Skills Sets into Successful Music Industry Careers, and Teach Guitar? Why Me?!

Do you know a classroom teacher, college faculty member, or college student that would benefit from this programming? Please have them visit registration.namm.org or contact carolyng@namm.org for more information.