NAMM Grants: Growing the Market

In July of 2005, NAMM issued a "request for proposals" (RFP) for the 2006 Grant funding cycle, actively seeking projects that are in alignment with NAMM's mission of creating more active music makers.

As a result of this RFP we received 68 very strong grant applications. From this group of worthwhile initiatives, NAMM's Board of Directors has unanimously approved funding for the following fifteen programs:

Information on how to apply for the 2007 Grant funding cycle is coming soon. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Bryant at (760) 438-8001 or e-mail sharonb@namm.com.

2006 Grant Recipients

American Music Therapy Association
AMTA's mission is to increase public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and to increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.

NAMM's funding supports an early intervention program for returning military personnel and their dependents which combines Recreational Music Making with post-traumatic stress therapy techniques.
www.musictherapy.org

American String Teachers Association
ASTA was founded 60 years ago to help address the shortage of quality string instrument programs in secondary schools and universities and to promote student involvement in these programs.

NAMM's funding supports their "Extreme Strings" pilot program which instructs teachers in public schools to incorporate alternative techniques attracting students who normally would not be interested in traditional orchestra programs.
www.astaweb.com

Bands of America, Inc.
Bands of America's mission is to create and provide positively life-changing experiences through music for students, teachers, parents and communities.

NAMM's funding will support their SYNERGY performance troupe pilot designed to provide community-based Recreational Music Making programs such as "Family Days" in city parks where young children can hold, hear and play all types of instruments.
www.bands.org

Coalition for Music Education in Canada
The Coalition for Music Education in Canada is dedicated to ensuring that all Canadian children have access to music education. They work with parents, educators and government officials to ensure every child has an opportunity to receive music education.

NAMM funding will expand the Coalitions annual "Music Monday" Public Relations music advocacy event while enhancing its Web site and online discussion forum. The project guides advocacy efforts in Canada and fulfills NAMM's international market development goals.
www.coalitionformusiced.ca

Guitar Accessories Marketing Association
Since its inception, the GAMA program has established itself as an industry model introducing over 660,000 students to guitar for an estimated fiscal impact of over $47 million.

NAMM's funding will help to expand GAMA's successful guitar program to ten training sites including one pilot site for advance – level two training.
www.discoverguitar.com

Guitars in the Classroom
GITC brings music into public elementary and middle schools by offering regular classroom teachers free guitar, music education, song leadership, and music integration lessons through regionally based programs.

NAMM's funding will expand Guitars in the Classroom K-6 "Strum and Sing' programs by hiring and training regional directors who will coordinate and supervise regional trainings.
www.guitarsintheclassroom.com

International House of Blues Foundation
IHOBF is dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that increase public awareness of African American contributions to American culture.

Funding will expand and strengthen The International House of Blues Foundation Roots of Rhythm program offering by delivery the Roots of Rhythm teacher guide and workshop to ten locations.
www.ihobf.org

Little Kids Rock
Little Kids Rock inspires children to express themselves through music, building the creativity, confidence, and self-esteem that are critical to success in school and beyond.

Funding will help to expand this successful grassroots program that offers integrated music instruction providing basic music-making, improvisational skills and songwriting teacher training for general education teachers, elementary music educators and after-school youth workers.
www.littlekidsrock.org

National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts
The National Guild of the Community Schools of the Arts is the national service organization for a diverse constituency of non-profit organizations providing community-based arts education in urban, suburban and rural communities throughout the Unitesd States.

NAMM's funding for the Creative Aging Project will create a Web-based tool kit and a training institute to assist Community Schools of the Arts to replicate music programs for seniors.
www.nationalguild.org

Percussive Arts Society
The Percussive Arts Society, a non-profit, music service organization, promotes percussion education, research, performance and appreciation throughout the world.

NAMM funding will help create a Recreational Music Making pilot program for families in hospitals, introducing them to the health benefits of music making.
www.pas.org

Percussion Marketing Council
The PMC's mission is to provide professional marketing and advertising campaigns, programs and activities that bring increased public awareness to drumming, thus increasing the number of people playing all types of drums.

Funding will help PMC to create more music makers by launching an "Awareness into Action" campaign, promoting their "Play Drums," "Developmental Drumming" and "Roots of Rhythm" programs through alternative channels such as parent-teacher and after-school organizations as well as home school networks.
www.playdrums.com

Rhythm Gym Community Outreach
Rhythm Gym is committed to enriching the lives of people in undeserved communities by providing music and movement based activities that emphasize community, creativity and healthy living.

NAMM's funding will help Rhythm Gym to develop and implement Recreational Music Making community outreach pilot programs.
www.rhythmgym.org

Roots of Rhythm World Drumming Summer Teacher Workshop
The Roots of Rhythm program provides standards-based music instruction, integrated with social studies, science and other academic curricula.

NAMM's funding of the World Drumming Teacher Workshop will expand to phase two of the training and certification in the use of the innovative Roots of Rhythm curriculum at two major universities.
www.WorldDrumming.net

SoundHouse Music Alliance
SoundHouse is a member of the SoundHouse Music Alliance and is particularly involved in the delivery of Professional Development courses designed primarily for teachers.
As well as its involvement in the delivery of Professional Development courses, SoundHouse is actively involved in the promotion, development and use of Learning Technologies, especially in the area of music, in order to enhance our community's cultural richness and diversity.

NAMM funding supports the Soundhouse Music Making program for children with cerebral Palsy; training teachers to use a special music access kit while expanding the programs outreach to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, U.K., Ireland, South Africa, and the U.S. The Special Access Kit™ is a unique system designed to allow people with disabilities access to the wonderful world of music creation.
www.soundhouse.com.au

TI:ME Interdisciplinary Multimedia
The Technology Institute for Music Educators mission is to assist music educators in applying technology to improve teaching and learning in music.

NAMM's funding will help create an innovative, multimedia based pilot program that uses musical concepts to teach technology, literacy and other core subjects to middle-school students.
www.ti-me.org