9/11 Never Forgotten

Some Progressive Music History

Here are some video clips that are included in the NAMM Oral History Program of members of the music products industry who have a connection to Progressive Music.

Helen Tozzi – first Progressive Music employee – she still lives in McKeesport today - http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/helen-tozzi

Ed Garbett – a Progressive Music original owner - http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ed-garbett

Bill Schultz – worked at Progressive Music as a band instrument repairman – went on to be president of Fender – - http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/william-schultz

DCI - Blue Devils

Take a listen to this short excerpt from The Blue Devils warming up for their show this year - listen to how tight that brass is!

Former Yankee Advocates for Music Education

Former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams has become one of the music industry's newest advocates for the power of music education. Williams joined NAMM and Progressive Music on Capitol Hill in May advocating for music education. This interview with ABC News' TopLine shows Williams talking about his two passion - music and baseball.



Williams recently joined the industry last week at the Summer NAMM trade show. Williams has two CD's out, has been nominated for a Latin Grammy award and has a new book out. Williams is the perfect example of how athletics and music can co-exist and how athletics and music can be beneficial to all of us.

Notre Dame Marching Band in a Music VIdeo

Lobbying For Music Education

Last week, Progressive Music joined with other members of the music products industry for a week in Washington, DC to lobby for music education - specifically for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act (referred to as No Child Left Behind.) The effort was designed to keep music as a solid part of a well-rounded education for all children. Industry members were also asking that any reauthorization would allow states greater flexibility in how schools are designated as not meeting AYP (adequate Yearly Progress.) Music, the arts and other "non-tested" subjects are vital to a well rounded education and should be an important part of any student's day - if that subject is tested or not.

More information on the visit is available here - http://www.namm.org/news/press-releases/namm-members-storm-capitol-hill-battle-counterfeit

What Are We Teaching and How?

Here's a video called Changing Education Paradigms with Sir Ken Robinson as the speaker. This is worth the ten minutes to watch if you have an interest at all about education and how it works! Has education become to much of an assembly line? Watch this for some great perspective...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zDZFcDGpL4U#at=689