MS Retailer August 15, 2007 - Vol.24 No.8 - Music & Sound Retailer

INDUSTRYStudy Shows Power of EducationA study funded by the NAMMFoundation was published in theJournal for Research in MusicEducation’s June 10, 2007 issue,showing that students enrolledin “high-quality” school musiceducation programs scored higheron standardized tests than theirpeers in “deficient music educationprograms.”“It is crucial to note that thisproject has revealed a relationshipbetween quality music instructionand heightened academicperformance,” said Dr. ChristopherJohnson, professor of musiceducation and music therapy andassociate dean of the school of finearts at the University of Kansas,and lead investigator for the study.“Clearly, music supports academicperformance, and quality musicprograms are related to highertest scores.”The study comprised 4,739elementary and middle schoolstudents in four regions of thecountry. Among the elementaryschool students, the ones in bettermusic programs scored 22 percentbetter in English and 20 percentbetter in math. Middle schoolstudents in quality music programsscored 19 percent higherin English and 17 percent higherin math than those without musicprograms, but also 32 percenthigher in English and 33 percenthigher in math than students in adeficient choral program.D’Addario Sponsors EmergenzaD’Addario and Co. partnered with the Emergenza InternationalFestival, which takes place in 180 cities in 20 countries. As a sponsorof the event, D’Addario will promote and sample its products amongthe 10,000 participating bands, and will also offer hands-on producttraining, support for Emergenza’s retail partners, and general marketingsupport, including printed materials, Web outreach, and press.Berklee Wins Scholastic CompetitionCrown Turns 60ClarenceMoore (left)and his son,Clyde, whowould laterbe presidentof Crown,pose withsome of thecompany’searly taperecorders inthe mid-1950s.Crown International, a Harman Pro Group brand, is celebrating its60th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1947 by ClarenceMoore, a minister in Elkhart, Ind., under the name InternationalRadio and Electronics Corporation. The name was eventually changedat the suggestion of Moore’s wife and co-founder, Ruby, to Crown,based on the company’s product offering of Royal and Imperial brandvacuum tube tape recorders. Through the years, the company focusedon pro audio, offering such products as the IQ computer-controlledaudio system, and it became part of Harman International in 2000.Gibson Piano Brands ConsolidatedGibson consolidated all of its piano divisions worldwide—includingBaldwin Piano U.S., Baldwin Zhongshan China, Baldwin DongbeiChina, and Gibson China Shanghai. Along with this move came theannouncement that William Zhou is now CEO of this newly-formedpiano group and will oversee the consolidation effort. Previously hewas president of Gibson China in Shanghai. Reporting to Zhou is AnnePerry, who was named interim general manager of Baldwin Piano U.S.NASMD Plans 2008 Convention(l-r) Kevin Brewer, Jorge Velasco, Miguel Lara, Mike Laglia, Ian Kagey, FarahSiraj, and Professor Rob Jaczko in one of Berklee’s live rooms.Shure’s third annual Fantastic Scholastic Recording Competition hascome to a close, with the winning five-member team coming from TheBerklee College of Music’s Music Production and Engineering Department.Advised by Professor Rob Jaczko, Kevin Brewer, Ian Kagey,Mike Laglia, Miguel Lara, and Jorge Velasco won with their stereo mixof an original composition by Farah Siraj called “Pienso En Ti,” madeusing a “microphone locker” provided by Shure. Berklee won thecontents of the “microphone locker,” which was valued at more than$12,000. Each team member also got a KSM27, and a $3,000 donationwas made toward a scholarship fund at the school.NASMD board members meet in Utah. From left to right, Grayson Zeagler ofLouisiana’s Zeagler Music; Tim Jones from Texas-based N-Tune Music andSound; Ward-Brodt Music’s Connie Smith; Joel Menchey of Pennsylvania’sMenchey Music Service; Texas-based Tarpley Music Company’s JohnTarpley; Scott Summerhays of Summerhays Music Center in Utah; andWhitney Grisaffi from Washington’s Ted Brown Music.The National Association of School Music Dealers’ board of directorsheld its summer meeting to finalize plans for next year’s convention.The event is planned for March 26-29 at Orlando’s Rosen ShingleCreek Resort. Those who attend the conference will be able to takeadvantage of sessions and activities specifically for educational representatives—somethingnever before offered at this conference. AUGUST 2007