NAMM as Rebecca sees it.

Hey, have you guys met Rebecca and her awesome family? If you remember from last summer, Rebecca gave me my first flute lesson at The Master Musician. She is such an important part of the store. We wanted to feature her in this year’s blog post about NAMM. She attended with her husband, Rob and their teens James and Julie. Here’s Rebecca and her experience at NAMM.    ~Kelly

“Wow! What an experience! Attending for my second year, I knew what to expect and wasn’t as overwhelmed — in a good way! NAMM is truly a Disneyland for musicians. As a performer, teacher, and Master Musician rep, I had a variety of things to focus on. Julie & I enjoyed playing lots of bari and alto saxes, while Rob & James were experimenting with bass trombones and interesting brass inventions.

It’s a bugle — no, it’s a baritone without valves!

Cannonball Dark Lacquer Baritone Sax

Kanstul Contrabass Trombone

 

 

 

 

 

S.E. Shire Bass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerodrums

Aerodrums Visual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Possibly the most fun new product we found was the Aerodrums. With three drummers in the house, this is an amazing invention! It consists of mallets, 2 small metal plates to put on your feet, a camera and some software — that’s it! It’s literally airdrumming, but actual sound comes through the headphones as a real drumset. Gotta love technology!

This is truly the tip of the iceberg at NAMM. Every night, starting on Wednesday, is great live music throughout the Hilton, Sheraton and the courtyard of the Anaheim Convention Center. Whether you prefer jazz, latin, heavy metal, classic rock or funk, you’ll find it somewhere! There are even drum, ukulele and pbone circles that you can participate in! And don’t even get me started on the people watching!

Just for fun!

I feel very blessed to have a musical family I could share this with. Thank you to The Master Musician for making this possible!”

— The Schumacher Family

What is NAMM anyway?

Is it February already? Time flies when you’re having fun! We had a wonderful January because The Master Musician traveled to Anaheim, California for NAMM. If you are like me 2 years ago, you would have been looking at pictures and comments on Facebook about NAMM and thinking to yourself “what is Namm anyway?”  I have been enlightened so let me help you. First things first, NAMM is an acronym for National Association of Music Merchants.

I had my first experience of NAMM in 2012. My husband Marc and I traveled to the Anaheim Convention Center in January of that year, complete with a 10 month old baby boy and his carrier (since strollers are not allowed). We all had badges, including baby Levi…which was super cute when he had to flash his badge to get into buildings. I was not even involved in the family business at that time, but was there to support my Honey Bunny as he learned the music business ropes.

I walked around in SHOCK! This “convention” was HUGE!! So many people (some a little strange for my taste, but that’s a different story) and tons of companies promoting their music products. I knew right away that this experience was going to give me a new appreciation for the music industry.

My parents were there and I watched as my mom went from booth to booth reconnecting with their vendors. She talked to them like she had known them for years! It was a little intimidating at first, but eventually I started to understand what this NAMM thing was all about. It is a music lovers dream come true. You get to see all the new products, negotiate deals with your vendors, and plan out your purchases for the next year.  If you are having a hard time following me, picture your favorite thing to do and then imagine a 3 story convention center, plus local hotels dedicated to showcasing that favorite thing. Oh yeah….I can see the scrapbooking paradise now!!!

Ok, I have to mention the food in hopes that somewhere someone from NAMM is listening….2012 NAMM had IN-N-OUT inside the convention center!!! Why is that important you ask? Because this year there was NO In-n-Out and that is no bueno! That is all I will say about that.

So fast fast forward to NAMM 2013 this past January. This year I came as an actual real, music employee. (I know, what are they thinking! Don’t worry, I’m not working the sales floor!) I went to NAMM with a different mind set.  This time I was going to learn. On Wednesday, NAMM offered a day long class on everything about how to make your business better! Who doesn’t need that, right?! It was AWESOME!!! We are so excited because we have the tools we need to help the business improve, which will bless the socks off of our customers!! Can you feel the excitement!!!  This is another part of NAMM that is invaluable! There are so many classes to attend (most of which give free food!) that the whole purpose of going to NAMM is revolutionized. It is part Vendor stuff and part Training!

Now, here is the BONUS of NAMM! The M-U-S-I-C! Could you have a music convention without music? I think not! Let me give you a taste…Tower of Power, Jack Mattingly and The Procrastinators, Heavy Mellow, The Rob Balducci Band, Muriel Anderson and Tierra Negra, Snarky Puppy, Rock Nation, The Kruger Brothers, Matthew Von Doran Trio, Tori Roze and The Hot Mess, Dave Hill, The Delgado Brothers, Miles Schon Band, Monte Pittman, ZZ Ward, Hammond Organ Performance, The Cabana Boys, The City, Don Edwards, Sirens of Soho, Keith Kenny, Jesse Ruben, LEOGUN, Dessy Di Lauro, Boxcar 7, Kiki Ebsen, Scott Wilkie Band, Will Champlin, Jamey Geston, Derick Sebastian, The Sledge Grits Band, Mariachi Divas, and soooo many more!! Basically, this is the place for live music! All day long musicians performed and then every night after the convention closed, we could go experience the musical night life. Date night anyone?!

NAMM is an amazing event that is limited to members, employees of exhibitors, and credentialed members of the press. The Master Musician has been a member since 2006 and we feel privileged to be able to attend every year. I hope I have given you a small glimpse of how important NAMM is to our business and to music in general. Besides the conventions, NAMM has shown how much it believes in keeping music alive. They support the research of music, offer program grants, began the Wanna Play? Fund, and have the Museum of Making Music at their headquarters in Carlsbad, California. You can find more information at http://www.nammfoundation.org.

We are proud members of NAMM! We are looking forward to a new 2013 with many positive changes at The Master Musician that will both INSPIRE musical greatness and make your experience with THE MASTER MUSICIAN helpful, educational, and fun!

Talk to you soon!  ~Kelly