Local Music Products Retailer Joins National Effort to Support Music Education in Schools
CARLSBAD, Calif., December 19, 2006—NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, announced today that Progressive Music of McKeesport, Pa., recently joined the SupportMusic Coalition, a public service led by NAMM and MENC, the National Association for Music Education, that intends to strengthen music education in local communities around the United States.
The coalition comprises 120 organizations that represent more than seven million concerned Americans looking for ways to provide a complete education that includes music and arts instruction for children in their local schools and communities.
“I have the great fortune to work on both sides of the school music world,” said Mark Despotakis, director of market development at Progressive Music. “I am the assistant band director with a high school marching band and I get to deal with school music programs everyday with my work at Progressive Music. I am acutely aware of the importance and benefits of school music programs. The SupportMusic Coalition has proven to be an important resource for information and action plans to keep music alive. We feel it’s important to join this coalition and do anything we can do to keep music in our schools.”
The coalition invites individuals and all interested arts, parent, education, civic engagement and youth-serving organizations to become affiliates. Affiliate organizations actively participate via task force efforts, dissemination of pertinent information to constituents and members, and by adding tools and materials to www.supportmusic.com that advance the advocacy mission and messages.
For more information and links to national, state and local organizations working together to keep music education strong, go to www.supportmusic.com. Organizations interested in participating in the music education coalition, write to info@supportmusic.com.
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies located in more than 87 countries. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org, call 800-767-NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
About Progressive Music
Progressive Music is a business with a mission to enrich the quality of life serving as a cultural and community center for all who make music for a living or personal enjoyment, regardless of age of ability. Progressive Music is the link between the public and suppliers of quality musical merchandise. The Progressive Music staff are professionals whose expertise assist, guide, and motivate people in the selection of music industry products as well present music education to the public through lessons, seminars and advocacy. Progressive Music is committed to their products with an experienced and knowledgeable service center. To learn more, visit www.progressivemusiccompany.com or visit Progressive Music on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.