PRS Announces Museum Opening and Factory Tours PRS Guitars has announced the opening of its new “West Street East” Museum Room and retail store and the commencement of free public tours of the Stevensville, Maryland manufacturing facility. When touring the PRS factory, visitors will get a first hand look at PRS Guitars’ processes, instruments, and amplifiers from raw wood or blank chassis form to finished guitar or amplifier. PRS intends to give visitors a unique view into PRS quality and the dedication of the people building PRS instruments. “We have a passion for building instruments and also for the music that these instruments help create. Most here are dedicated players, refining our craft as builders and musicians. There is a special kind of pride and individual ownership surrounding our instruments. From our experience, there is no better way to see this unique aspect of PRS than to walk through the shop,” stated PRS president Jack Higginbotham. The guided tour takes visitors through the electric guitar manufacturing line, amplifier department, and acoustic shop. Tours will conclude at the company’s new “West Street East” store and museum room where visitors will find PRS apparel, parts, and accessories. The store also features a selection of guitars from the PRS archives for visitors to see as they learn about Paul Reed Smith and PRS Guitars’ history. A broad line up of current offerings will be available for visitors to play test as well. The start of public tours and the opening of “West Street East” – named as a tribute to Paul Reed Smith Guitars’ humble beginnings in a small shop located on West Street in Annapolis, Maryland – are part of the company’s 30th anniversary. Factory tours are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 1pm. Group tours are available by request. Join NAMM’s Music Education Advocacy Efforts on Capitol Hill NAMM members will take the nation’s capital by storm, May 18-21, making the case that all children deserve comprehensive school music education programs. Leaders of the music product industry, artists and other industry influencers will meet with their senators and members of Congress to forward legislation that advances access to music education for all children. “Public school music programs are the first and in many cases the only opportunity that kids have to play an instrument and become lifelong music makers,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “And lobbying to ensure that music programs receive the support they deserve directly impacts the lives of millions of children across America. In addition, NAMM members say that advocating for music education in D.C. is one of the most meaningful experiences they’ll ever have.” NAMM’s Music Education Fly-In coincides with school budget season, when schools and districts decide where to allocate resources for the coming school year. Research continues to show that music education contributes to student’s overall success in school and life. “It is a rewarding honor to be a part of the diverse group of NAMM members who come together with a common purpose, to ensure that our education system continues to provide the opportunity to learn music,” said Crystal Morris, president of Gator Cases. “In Washington, we are personally educating our country’s leaders on the power of music and helping to protect student’s rights to have music as part of their curriculum, today and into the future.” The music education advocacy effort kicks of on Monday morning with an optional day of service, when NAMM members will share the power of music with students at an underserved D.C. public school. NAMM delegates will spend Tuesday preparing for their role as music education advocates through updates on current music education issues, pending legislation, newly released research, and message delivery. On Wednesday, advocacy kicks into high gear as NAMM members head to Capitol Hill to meet directly with their senators and members of Congress. The day on the Hill concludes with a Celebration for Music Education on Wednesday evening, May 20 overlooking the Capitol. NAMM’s Advocacy Fly-in concludes with a national SupportMusic Coalition “live from Washington, D.C.” conference call on Thursday, May 21 at 11 a.m. EDT. World Record Attempt at Musikmesse 2015: 1,000 Drummers Wanted Musikmesse in Frankfurt will be the venue for a unique spectacle on April 18: the organizers plan to bring together 1,000 drummers and break the record for the world’s biggest drum ensemble. The aim is for all participants to maintain the same rhythm for five minutes, as officially laid down by the Committee of Guinness World Records Ltd. If successful, everyone who comes to Frankfurt with his or her drum kit on the Saturday of the fair will be able to leave in the evening as a world-record holder. The Drums4Peace non-profit event aims not only to gain a place in the Guinness Book of Records but also to serve a good cause. It supports the objectives of the United Nations Refugee Agency and provides financial aid for charitable projects. “Thus, the joint groove by 1,000 drummers will not only be an impressive statement for active music making but also a powerful appeal for peace. We are proud to offer this splendid event a worthy setting”, says Cordelia von Gymnich, vice president Consumer Goods & Entertainment, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition. Everyone who can play a simple 4/4 beat is welcome to take part. The participation fee includes not only a donation but also admission to Musikmesse for the participant and one guest, as well as a parking space at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. Additionally, every drummer taking part in the event will be given an exclusive gift bag with drum accessories. It is also possible to donate more money to the project via the event website – and win valuable prizes donated by NATAL Drums, which is organizing Drums4Peace in cooperation with Musikmesse. The attempt on the world record will take place in Hall 1.2 of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre on April 18. The aim is to beat the current record for the ‘Largest Full Drum Kit Ensemble’, which was set by 798 drummers in England in 2012. Guitar Center Opens New Store in Illinois Guitar Center opened its 264th location in Champaign, Illinois, on February 26. Guitar Center’s latest store, a state-of-the-art musical instrument and technology center covering over 8,000 square feet, is the first in a series of new store grand openings in 2015. The announcement was made by Michael Amkreutz, Guitar Center executive vice president, marketing, merchandising, and e-commerce, and is said to “further [exemplify] the company’s ongoing plans for growth and long-term expansion and its primary goal of providing customers with the widest selection of musical instruments and professional audio products at the best prices sold by an experienced and knowledgeable sales staff.” “Our Champaign, Illinois, store is the first in a series of 2015 new store grand openings,” states Michael Amkreutz. “In addition to opening new stores, we are revamping many of our current locations to bring them in line with our new store designs that foster a hands-on environment in which customers are encouraged to interact with the products. We are always looking to create a more immersive in-store experience for our customers.” Guitar Center’s Champaign location features modern showrooms equipped with the latest products for musicians—from guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, and keyboards to live sound, DJ, lighting, and recording equipment. The store also provides customers with a vast selection of products and a dedicated staff with unparalleled musical knowledge and experience. To commemorate this occasion, Guitar Center hosted a special Grand Opening Weekend featuring exclusive savings, gear giveaways, and a free performance catered to local musicians. The grand opening kicked of with a free live in-store performance on February 26 by The Fights. In addition, shoppers received exclusive savings throughout the grand opening weekend including deals on guitar and drum essentials. Additionally, the new store features Guitar Center Lessons, an in-house, state-of-the-art lesson facility, which will create opportunities for Champaign’s musicians of all ages and skill levels. Guitar Center Lessons provides music lessons from beginner to advanced featuring certified instructors teaching world-class curriculum as well as one-on-one and group courses. Additionally, GC Repairs, Guitar Center’s on-site guitar repair service, will offer a variety of repair and set-up services on stringed instruments. Champaign customers can attend free classes every Wednesday and Saturday through the Music Mentor Series. These classes include introductory instruction on a variety of instruments and Recording Made Easy classes for anyone interested in recording their music. The store will also feature GC Rentals, offering the ability to rent instruments and other gear. JHS Honored with NAMM Milestone Award NAMM has honored John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. in Leeds with the Milestone Award for 50 years of service in the music products industry. The award recognizes retailers and manufacturers who have succeeded over the years through best practices and strong community standing to reach a landmark anniversary. “2015 sees a very different commercial landscape to when John Skewes and his wife Madge started the business from a standing start 1965, but the basics remain constant,” says managing director Dennis Drumm, ”Provide great customer service, offer saleable, well-designed, profitable products, be prudent, follow through on promises, and be reliable, honest, and trustworthy”. He continues, ‘We’ve enjoyed trading around the world like that for fifty years, and continuing to do so is our legacy. In a business environment where domination and control seems such prevalent themes, we’ve always gotten more satisfaction from listening and serving. Fifty years; quite a milestone and one we would not have achieved without the strength and determination of our family, the support and cooperation of our vendors, staff, and customers, along of course with the wonderful relationships we continue to enjoy with our many friends in the industry. Thanks to NAMM for recognizing the moment.” “NAMM is proud to recognize John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. for their 50 years of service to their community, staff and to the music and sound products industry,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. “Their hard work and willingness to adapt, as well as their commitment to making this world a more musical place have helped them stand the test of time and will be the driver of their future success.” Milestone Awards were presented to longtime industry leaders during the 2015 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.