Playback - Summer 2008 - (Page 19)

TOP rOW: NAMM Chairman Chip Averwater and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley meet with lawmakers; Jonathan and Susan Lipp, Tom Schmitt and Zach Philiips pause to take a photo during a Congressional meeting; The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus makes a stop on Capitol Hill BOTTOM rOW: Dennis Houlihan, Terry Lewis and Sandra Jordan in a meeting; NAMM’s Mary Luehrsen addresses the Fly-In delegates; Chip Averwater, Joe Lamond and Sec. Riley in a meeting; Denny Senseney, Bill and Jo-Ann Harvey take a photo with David Cassidy at the reception in the U.S. Capitol. The remainder of the day was filled with presentations from Bob Lynch of Americans for the Arts, and an insightful look at the current voter data from Lake Research Partners. And all of this activity was leading up to the real work ahead—meeting face-to-face with members of Congress. “I don’t have any idea where I would be today without music education in school growing up,” said Belle. “Playing music helped me with math—to come up with answers to problems more quickly—and gave structure to my life. Music helped me to find confidence that I didn’t have within myself. It gave me a great thirst to learn that much more.” Cassidy, an actor and musician best known for his role on the 1970s TV series The Partridge Family, said, “I was a horrible student. I got kicked out of three high schools. I would go to school in the morning for chorus and band, then I’d leave at lunch and go to my friend’s house to play music all afternoon. The United States must continue to give our kids the creative tools they need to achieve their dreams.” Armed with talking points, research binders and their own passion for the cause, the NAMM Members then separated into eight groups and took our industry’s message to Capitol Hill, logging an unprecedented 73 meetings with elected officials and staffers. Jim D’Addario, president of D’Addario & Sons Inc., expressed his strong convictions going into the first day of meetings. “I think it’s extremely important that NAMM advocate for music education. There’s a shortage of teachers in this country. I think we have to work as an organization to entice people to become music teachers and then we have to work hard to advocate at the government level to support music education. It’s certainly been one of the most important things in my life. Not necessarily because I’m in the music business, but because I’m a musician and everyone in my family is a musician, and I think it’s made us better people. Music education is where it all starts.” In addition to the powerful message, the NAMM delegates brought something else with them to their Hill meetings—invitations to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a rolling high-tech recording studio funded in part by NAMM, which was parked at the bottom of Capitol Hill and open for Congressional staffers to tour all day. The group also brought invitations to a private reception hosted by NAMM in the U.S. Capitol Building later that day, featuring celebrities David Cassidy and R&B/gospel singer Regina Belle, winner of both GRAMMY and Academy Awards. When the week was over, good legislative work had been done, new friendships had been made and, true to Luehrsen’s prediction at the beginning of the week, some NAMM Members had indeed emerged “transformed.” Liane Rockley of Rockley Music said, “When you’re home in your own little world far away, you really don’t think you can make a difference. But this experience has shown me that I can. I never believed that until now.” Neil Lilien of Meisel Strings commented, “You know, I’ve never really been much of a political person. It’s a great look at how our government really works and I’m pleased to have been a part of it this year.” Bill Harvey from Buddy Rogers Music added, “I’ve always done it from afar—it’s much easier to send a letter or e-mail message. But to really get face-to-face with these guys and explain your message, I think that does a whole lot more.” SUMMER 2008 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Playback - Summer 2008

Playback - Spring 2008 Contents From the President NAMM Events Music in the News The Local Community Music Store: A Family Affair Commercial Retail Washington Watch Reps in the Field New Domestic Members International NAMM Foundation Music Notes Resources Viewpoint Playback Supplement : Summer NAMM08 Concerts & Events Artist Appearances What to See NAMM University Sessions

Playback - Summer 2008

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