By Tom Palmatier
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) had its first show in 1901. From its roots as primarily a group of piano manufacturers, NAMM has grown into the single representative of the entire music industry.
In the past, NAMM focused primarily on manufacturers and dealers, but several reasons have caused them to place a huge emphasis on YOU, the music educators. First, they recognized that to have a large market for music products in the future, they had to grow young musicians today. Second, the most important person influencing what music products are purchased is the teacher in the classroom. You decide what your school will buy and you guide students and parents in their choices.
Nothing demonstrated your importance more than the results of SBO+’s first ever Teachers’ Choice Awards. You submitted thousands of votes, and I can assure you the winners were thrilled to receive your endorsement. Many of the winners will receive their trophies at the show.
The NAMM Show is an amazing experience and should be on your bucket list. Top-flight performers are on multiple stages around the clock. You never know who you will see walking through the exhibits. For instance, Stevie Wonder visits every year and you might hear someone shredding and find out it’s Slash trying out a new guitar.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Music Education Leaders Summit
Thursday, January 22, 2026
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Preparing Students for Careers in the Music Industry
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Building Financial Skills for a Life in Music
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Exploring the Popular Music Ecosystem
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Collaborating With the Future – Looking Back and Looking Ahead
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, SheRocksIt: Women in Music Share Career Insights
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM, Classroom Activities that Bring Audio to Life
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Inspiring Students with the Legacy of Les Paul and Mary Ford
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Film TV and Game Scoring in Music Education
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Connecting Industry and Academia in Music Production
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Building Career Readiness with Guitar
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Preparing Students for the Future of Interactive Sound
Friday, January 23, 2026
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Transforming Music Programs with Industry Partnerships
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Building a Career in Music Photography
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Connecting Students to Real-World Music Career Pathways
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Inspiring Future-Ready Students Through Music Education
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM, An Unexpected Career in Music Retail
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM, Healthy Hearing for Lifelong Music-Making
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Enabling Learning, Enhancing Self-esteem, and Enriching Lives through Music!
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM, Music Careers Beyond the Stage
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Organic Marketing for Private Teaching Studios
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Music Educator as Entrepreneur
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Careers in Music: Women in Lutherie
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM, Reimagining Assessment with AI
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, How Academia and AI Are Driving the Future of Creativity
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Developing a STEM High School Recording Studio
Saturday, January 24, 2026
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Selecting a Money-Making Career in Music
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Strengthening Your Music Program Through Vendor Collaboration
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM, Building a Sustainable Career in the Music Industry
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, From Tiny Desk to Global Sound: Field Recording Belongs in the Classroom
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Building a Career in Theater Music
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM, Preparing Students for Careers in Music Therapy
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM, Reimagining Private Music Lessons for Today’s Learners
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Bridging Music Classrooms from Ensemble to Industry
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Careers in Music: Composition for Sync and Production Music Libraries
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, In-Demand Careers and Education Solutions in Music