Collaboration of Music Leaders Strengthens Education Organizations and Creative Industry as NFHS and NAMM Unite for 2nd Meeting

Last week, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) jointly hosted the 2nd annual Performing Arts Education and Creative Industry Meeting in Anaheim, California. Building on the success of its inaugural gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana the previous year, this event brought together over 60 leaders representing 19 states and 57 state and national organizations. Held at the Anaheim Hilton from January 23 to 24, the meeting served as a prelude to the 2024 NAMM Show, providing a dynamic platform for collaborative discussions and networking opportunities.

The meeting was designed for the educational and creative industry sides of music to work together to raise awareness, dive into data, and learn about trends industry wide. The 2024 meeting served to showcase the projects that came out of the meeting last year and strengthen the bond between this unique group moving forward.

"We are honored this group of national organizations, state associations, and performing arts companies nationwide, wanted to attend this meeting to engage in creating solutions for a lifetime of music-making access for our students,” said Dr. James Weaver, NFHS Director of Performing Arts and Sports.

The room was made up of CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, and thought leaders from all areas of the music space. The overall theme last year was that the education and industry sides are stronger when they are working together. This year pivoted to talking about how both sides can collaborate to ultimately benefit students and educators.

Weaver, along with Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation, served as the catalysts for the meeting. Luehrsen has led NAMM’s public policy and advocacy efforts for two decades and guided the development of efforts such as this meeting to expand music learning opportunities. Weaver and Luehrsen helped to facilitate a collaborative style environment where feedback and open discussion were encouraged.

“This meeting had a lot for attendees to think about when it comes to expanding opportunities for more people to engage in music,” said Luehrsen. “The sessions: Political Realities of Arts Educations in Schools, Careers in Music, Teacher Satisfaction Data, School Counselors, and Creating Equipment Replacement Plans, were great conversation starters for this powerful group of leaders who are creating education and career pathways in music and the creative sector.”

Other speakers at the Performing Arts Education and Creative Industry Meeting included representatives from Quadrant Research, NAfME, APME, San Diego Unified School District, Music Education Consultants, Amro Music, California Music Educators Association, California Association of School Counselors, and the LAUSD. Other various national music associations, state associations, music industry and music retail companies, all of which expressed an interest in working to provide resources for the K-12 space, came away with a deeper understanding of needs and important conversations within the community.

As a follow-up to the Performing Arts Education and Creative Industry Meeting, the NFHS is working to finalize an Instrument Replacement Plan and continue to work on the Careers in Music and Teach Music initiatives.

For more information on the NFHS or NAMM, please click on the respective links.

To access the pictures, presentations, and discussion that took place at the meeting, please click here.