Vote Now for 2014 Best Tools for Schools

Help Select the Best Tools for Schools from the 2014 Winter NAMM Show

Help select the 2014 Best Tools for Schools on display at the 2014 NAMM Show, the annual music products convention featuring the latest musical instruments, accessories, books, apps, tools, and inventions. 

For the past five years, educators in attendance have perused the exhibition halls at the Anaheim Convention Center looking for the best music tools for classroom use. This year, mindful that not nearly as many educators are able to make it to NAMM as would like to, we’re opening up the voting to educators everywhere. 

In advance of the 2014 NAMM Show, exhibiting companies have sent us a list of the products that they are most interested in showing off to music teachers and the education community.  

Browse through each company’s offerings below, and submit your choice for the Best Tools for Schools via the linked form. Winning products will be announced at the NAMM Show on Sunday, January 26, and will appear in the March issue of SBO magazine. Check back frequently, as new products are being added to this list daily. And remember, you can vote as many times as you like!  

Note: The below products are the results of an email survey asking exhibitors about the educational products they’re most excited about presenting at the NAMM Show. If you will be exhibiting at NAMM and you’d like to have a product listed below, contact editor Eliahu Sussman at [email protected]

Happy hunting!

Click Here to open the nominations window so you can vote as you read!

 

AIM Gifts

Booth Number: 4227

Primary Product Category: Student Reward Incentive

Description: World’s Largest Manufacturer Of Music Gifts.

Company Contact: John Fullerton, [email protected]

Website: www.aimgifts.com

 

Alfred Music

Booth Number: 4618

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive

Description: Music Puzzler is a 100% reproducible workbook that reinforces music theory lessons in an engaging and entertaining way using kriss kross, crosswords, word searches, musical sudokus, and complete the story puzzles. Teachers love to use this book as a fun supplementary classroom tool, homework or extra credit assignment, or as great last minute activities for substitute teachers. http://4wrd.it/A.MUSICPUZZLERNAMM

Fresh Beats is a groundbreaking program for secondary general education classrooms, designed to help teachers involve more students in their music programs. This resource provides a high-quality, contemporary music education, while also improving students’ critical thinking skills. Students enjoy learning about hip-hop culture and music as they critique popular music and write their own rap songs. http://4wrd.it/A.FRESHBEATSNAMM

Company Contact: Danielle Braus, [email protected]

Website: www.alfred.com

 

Avid

Booth Number: 6400

Primary Product Category: Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool; Percussion Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: Sibelius is the world’s best-selling music notation software, offering sophisticated tools that meet the demands of top composers, yet simple enough for students of all ages, making it ideal for teaching notation, composition and theory. With over 1,700 teaching materials included, a Classroom Control window to track student progress, and unified license server that makes assigning software licenses simple, Sibelius offers the fastest, smartest, easiest way to teach and learn how to write music.

Company Contact: Tony Cariddi, [email protected]

Website: www.avid.com

 

Barr None Music Publishing

Booth Number: 1167

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: Music books for beginners to advanced students for guitar, piano, violin/fiddle &mandolin. (More to come) The course is fun and easy to use and teachers will find that their students will learn to play because of the amount practice time the student will spend playing the fun to play music. A very complete, comprehensive course with over over 3000 song in the first 3 levels. There are 2 more levels for the more advanced students.

Company Contact: Jim Barrient, [email protected]

Website: barrnonemusic.com  

 

Beamz Interactive

Booth Number: 6286

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Student Reward Incentive

Description: Beamz is a universally designed interactive music system that gives users of any age, physical or cognitive ability instant access to hundreds of musical instruments, sound effects and songs. Through the pre-programmed “interactive” songs players experience satisfying recreational music making within minutes. Its product design and activity guides also enable non-musicians to lead music making for kids of all ages and capabilities, including special needs and occupational therapy.

Company Contact: Al Ingallinera, [email protected]

Website: www.thebeamz.com

 

Breezin’ Thru Inc.

Booth Number: 4707

Primary Product Category:  Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: Breezin’ Thru Theory – New Auto-Assessed Music Theory Online: Easy to Use, Fun to Do! Let Breezin’ teach the theory so you can spend more class time making music! Breezin’ Thru Theory’s cool tools and new Auto Assessment Student Tracker gets measurable results, saves you marking, and makes it fun. Teachers love seeing the phenomenal results and the student engagement as kids race against themselves and the clock to build mastery. Perfect for grades 5-12 & AP prep. Use online at home or school.

Now the thrill of creating music comes to the iPad & more! Breezin’ Thru Composing is a cool new interactive composition lessons app that can be used on any device: computer, iPad/tablet, or smart phone. Easy to use and fun to do – Each chapter provides engaging interactive lessons, a composition model and videos, cool “create your own composition” and “expand it” activities, plus a space for student reflection. Breezin’ Thru Composing is designed for Grades 5-12 but can be enjoyed at any age.

Company Contact: Nancy Helstab, [email protected]

Website: http://BreezinThruTheory.com / http://BreezinThruComposing.com

 

Cakewalk

Booth Number: 6491

Primary Product Category Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: With SONAR X3, students can create music in any style with cutting-edge instruments, effects, and creative tools. SONAR X3 can do it all at an economical price for student musicians. No other PC recording software offers a more complete set of features: – Record unlimited audio tracks – Sequence unlimited MIDI tracks – Unlimited RAM usage for optimum performance – Ability to add third party VST plug-ins – Compose with Traditional music notation view – Import video and export to YouTube

Company Contact: Tara Zanett, [email protected]

Website: www.cakewalk.com

 

Cannonball Musical Instruments

Booth Number: 4424

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive; Jazz Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: Cannonball Musical Instruments manufactures saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, and flutes. We are musicians, and our instruments are of the highest quality. We value each music teacher and want to give you a teacher care package with things you can use with your students. Please stop by our booth, and say hello to me. After 30 years of teaching instrumental music in the public schools, I recently retired and I’m now an Education Specialist for Cannonball. We would love to meet you!

Company Contact: Leesa McBeth, [email protected]

Website: http://cannonballmusic.com

 

Casio America

Booth Number: 5900

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: Music teachers and administrators: visit Casio America in booth 5900, Hall B during the 2014 NAMM Show! Meet the education team and try our exceptional line of Privia digital pianos — lightweight, portable, feature-rich — perfect for today’s school or home music studio. Find out why the best educators have been outfitting their schools and districts with our quality instruments. Register to win a Privia PX350 digital piano and pick up other surprises. Valid for educator badgeholders only.

Company Contact: Sandra Jordan, [email protected]

Website: www.casiomusicgear.com

 

Critter & Guitari

Booth Number: 1687

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students;

Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive; Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: We design and manufacture fun, intuitive electronic musical instruments! The Video Scope visualizes an audio signal on a TV or projector. It’s a great way to view the relationships of notes, timbres and different musical instruments! The Rhythm Scope generates visual patterns in response to beats. It’s a cool visual aid for drum, percussion and dance students. The Pocket Piano is a mini keyboard synth that offers lots of sounds, wooden keys and a built-in speaker. Fun for everyone!

Company Contact: Christopher Kucinski, [email protected]

Website: www.critterandguitari.com

 

Creative Concept Instruments LLC

Booth Number: 2812

Primary Product Category: Jazz Teaching Tool; Student Reward Incentive; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Rozannas Violins inspire creative possibilities for string players. with their natural appeal to young children, leading teachers are beginning to sing the praises of fine sounding instruments that have a compelling visual appeal. Rock, pop, jazz are all styles that lend he selves to the string player who plays a Designer Violin. Inspired by the guitar world, with its infinite possibilities, Our new Designer Decals are fun for students, while utilizing creative centers. Teachers will love them!

Company Contact: Rozanna Weinberger, [email protected]

Website: http://www.rozannasviolins.com

 

Cympad

Booth Number: 2762 Hall D

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: The Cympad Moderator Cympad Moderator cymbal pads are made from premium-quality cellular foam. They can be used to reduce cymbal volume and unwanted overtones, moderate sustain and increase articulation and are available in a choice of 6 sizes. Moderators are recommended for a wide range of rehearsal, recording and performance applications as well as practice rooms and teaching studios. Moderators are hearing protection at the source!

Company Contact: Reto Hirschi, [email protected]

Website: www.cympad.com

 

Deering Banjo Company

Booth Number: 1509

Primary Product Category: Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Deering Banjo Company is the number one manufacturer of American-made banjos in the world. Our Goodtime introductory line of banjos have been used extensively to teach students from grammer school through college and beyond to play the banjo. We have a special program called “Banjos in the Schools” that helps school music programs acquire the banjos at special pricing.

Company Contact: Carolina Bridges, [email protected]

Website: www.deeringbanjos.com

 

Eliton, LLC

Booth Number: 2708

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: The Eliton {c} is the world’s finest portable cello. This instrument redefines cello portability without compromising sound production. Great for music students as well as accomplished musicians, the Eliton {c} folds down to 36”x5”x5” size to accommodate the overhead compartment of a commercial airliner. See more at www.ElitonMusic.com.

Company Contact: Slava Miniaev, [email protected]

Website: http://elitonmusic.com

 

eMedia Music Corp

Booth Number: 6504

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: eMedia offers instructional software for schools to teach guitar, piano & keyboard, voice, violin as well as solution for ear training, accompaniment and music creation. Our newest product for schools is the eMedia Singing Method program featuring over 230 interactive audio and video enhanced lessons with performance evaluation and interactive feedback on pitch.

Company Contact: Dave Kurtiak, [email protected]

Website: www.emediamusic.com

 

Fable Sounds

Booth Number: 6427

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool

Description: Fable Sounds is a developer of high-end professional multi-sample-based virtual instruments. Its flagship product BROADWAY BIG BAND is often used on major film, television, commercial and musical theater projects, as well as major live concerts and studio albums, by the top of the music industry worldwide. We are currently offering special pricing for educational music programs interested in incorporating our products. Our products offer unique advantages to jazz composition, contemporary music production, and orchestration students.

Company Contact: Yuval Shrem, [email protected]

Website: www.fablesounds.com

 

Fishman

Booth Number: 4340

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool

Description: TriplePlay Wireless Guitar Controller was designed with music education in mind. Now students can use a guitar instead of a keyboard to compose, perform and record with an unlimited palette of instruments. Take advantage of music notation software to share arrangements with students. Customize the fretboard to perform with any virtual instrument. Suitable for a variety of classroom environments from learning basic chords to labs in theory, composition, arranging, MIDI sequencing, and production.

Company Contact: Paul Gallo, [email protected]

Website: www.fishman.com

 

Fretlight Guitar – Optek Music Systems, Inc.

Booth Number: 2493

Primary Product Category: Music Novelties & Gifts

Description: Fretlight Guitar and GT Control software represent a significant breakthrough to advance the process of learning to play guitar. Acoustic and electric guitars include the world’s only built-in LED learning system. Fingering positions for chords, scales, songs, riffs and even tablature light up where players need the information most, right under their fingers. And now with GT Control software, anything a teacher plays on their MIDI equipped guitar will be displayed on the students Fretlight.

Company Contact: Tony Miller, [email protected]

Website: www.fretlight.com

 

Hal Leonard Corporation

Booth Number: 5720

Primary Product Category: Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Essential Elements Interactive (EEi) is a new online resource center that helps music teachers better connect with students and parents – anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Hosted by Charms Office, EEi introduces the first-ever, easy set of technology tools for online teaching, learning, assessment, and communication, ideal for teaching today’s beginning band and string students, both in the classroom and at home. Components: Music Studio, Resources, Assignments, Calendar, Communication.

Company Contact: Bruce Bush, [email protected]

Website: www.halleonard.com

 

Hamilton Stands

Booth Number: 4814

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: Hamilton has been making music and instrument stands for over 131 years.Today, Hamilton continues to create practical solutions in support of music and music education. Consider our: KB95E Symphonic/Classroom Music Stand (affordable yet superior in performance), System X Wind Instrument Stands (for a custom fit to any horn), KB200 Folding Music Stand (beginner’s stand with auto height adjustment), and our KB2010 Zuki Beads (a simple and fun lesson practice tool).

Company Contact: Bob Jespersen, [email protected]

Website: www.hamiltonstands.com

 

Hunter Music Instrument Inc.

Booth Number: 3101

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: We are a band & Orchestra Instrument supplier for beginning and intermediate students and rental for owner from our dealer.

Company Contact: Paul Chu, [email protected]

Website: www.huntermusical.com

 

Icon Digital USA

Booth Number: 7220

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive

Description: Icon provides instruments and devices for creating, performing, mixing and recording music. Icon’s “direct to consumer” sales model eliminates the middleman resulting in decreased prices for Icon products when compared to competitive options. This model allows Icon to offer one-of-a-kind iSchool Programs that benefit students, teachers and music education. These programs provide classrooms with gear, discounts on Icon product and generates an ongoing revenue stream for schools world wide.

Company Contact: Steve Cohan, [email protected]

Website: http://icondigitalusa.com

 

Indies Innovations

Booth Number: 1165

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool

Description: This unique wheel is an ideal tool to help all musicians, young and old alike, to grow in understanding of how keys and chords and notes relate to each other naturally. Whether it be changing from one key to another, figuring out which chords to play when using a capo on a guitar, flowing between songs, or playing with differently tuned instruments, this tool will be the launching pad you need to broaden your abilities and make learning and understanding music fun and easy for everyone.

Company Contact: Nathaniel Latimer, [email protected]

Website: www.TransposeYourself.com

 

Inspired Instruments, Inc – You Rock Guitar

Booth Number: #6695 Hall A

Primary Product Category: Jazz Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: The You Rock Guitar (YRG1000) is the first zero latency MIDI guitar. Connect to iPAD, MAC, PC, iPhone, MP3 and other devices via USB. Never needs tuning so more time for learning scales. Learn guitar with our interactive fretboard. Portable! – backpack friendly – neck is removable. Practice with earphones in quiet. No hurt fingers with our patented revolutionary fretboard!

Compose on iPAD via connector kit  with Garageband. Recording, tablature and notation programs. iPAD program perfect!

Company Contact: Chasey Elion, [email protected]

Website: www.yourockguitar.com

 

Jammit

Booth Number: 1384

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: Jammit® is the first music software that isolates individual audio tracks from the original multi-track master recordings and synchronizes each track with complete precision. Musicians can now play or sing their favorite song exactly the way the artist did, with the only 100% accurate transcription. Alfred Play-Along (Alfred-playalong.com) powered by Jammit, offers a variety of play-along tracks for high school music programs and beginning to intermediate students.

Company Contact: De Ivett, [email protected]

Website: www.jammit.com

 

JodyJazz Inc

Booth Number: 3317

Primary Product Category: Jazz Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: JodyJazz HR* saxophone mouthpieces are a vital tool for Band Directors in enabling students to transition from the concert band to a Jazz sax section.  “The sound of my sax section opened up immediately with JodyJazz mpcs. This is the best mpc that I have come across for my needs,” says Roosevelt Griffin, Band Director with the acclaimed Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School.  JodyJazz also offers Instructional DVDs and Playalong CDs that put you in the studio with Jazz greats like George Garzone.

Company Contact: Colin Schofield, [email protected]

Website: www.jodyjazz.com

 

JoyTunes

Booth Number: 1525

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students;  Student Reward Incentive

Description: JoyTunes develops software that changes the way people practice playing an instrument & work with a music teacher by transforming musical skills into fun experiences. JoyTunes uses the built-in iPad microphone to register notes played by your acoustic pianos, making our wireless apps low-cost solutions for practice motivation. Fun play-a-long tracks and appealing graphics, JoyTunes’ technologies are must-haves for any teacher wanting to keep students engaged, parents dazzled, & a studio full.

Company Contact: Yuval Kaminka, [email protected]

Website: www.joytunes.com

 

Journey Instruments

Booth Number: 1141

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: We make the best travel guitar in the industry. Our acoustic travel guitar has the best tone and volume available in a guitar that collapses to fit within overhead bin diminsions: 14″x22″x9″.  Our travel backpack fits pedals, music books, laptop, tablets and more. If you’re looking for a guitar that is easy for students to travel with – this is a great value. Youtube Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCfLKMYdwlY, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOeUMjMRh2U.

Company Contact: Rob Bailey, [email protected]

Website: www.journeyinstruments.com

 

Kala Brand Music Co.

Booth Number: 5320

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: Kala Brand Music Co. is the leader in facilitating ukuleles in music education. Kala’s Ukulele in the Classroom method offers an exciting resource for teachers and students that uses the fun, easy-to-play ukulele as a vehicle for music literacy and enjoyment. Accompanying Teacher Edition books and Companion CDs are also available. Kala donated over 1200 ukuleles to Guitars In The Classroom this year to help jump start programs. 2014 brings the debut of Kala’s new Mariachi Music for Ukulele.

Company Contact: Rick Carlson, [email protected]

Website: www.kalabrand.com

 

KAMAKA HAWAII, INC.

Booth Number: 1517

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. was established in 1916. Kamaka ukuleles are world-renown, and possess a lasting, rich tone that cannot be duplicated. Kamaka player Jake Shimabukuro has said, “There’s something about the ukulele that just makes you smile. It makes you let your guard down.” He has also said, “I love the fact that people don’t see the ukulele as a serious instrument. A lot of people see it as more of a toy… it just proves that people aren’t intimidated by the instrument.”

Company Contact: Fred Kamaka, Jr., [email protected]

Website: http://www.kamakahawaii.com

 

K.J. Music – DrumClip

Booth Number: 2359

Primary Product Category: Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: The DrumClip is a useful tool for percussionists that comes in two sizes: small and large. The DrumClip Accessory Adaptor will hold video camera of all kind — you just have to have the camera’s attachment to attach it to my adaptor. It’s simple and very clean looking, especially for watching how students are sticking and marching bands are moving.

Company Contact: Keith Jones, [email protected]

Website: www.TheDrumClip.com

 

Legere Reeds Ltd

Booth Number: 3014

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: Legere Reeds is a manufacturer of premium synthetic woodwind reeds. Teachers across America and around the World are saving money and turning out better musician’s quicker. Students using Legere reeds are more consistent from the beginning and enjoy less squeaking. Teachers enjoy more time to teach music because they are fussing less with reeds. Because Legere reeds are unaffected by the elements, teachers and students enjoy longevity and durability not found in cane thereby saving money.

Company Contact: Tim Elvy, [email protected]

Website: www.legere.com

 

Loog Guitars

Booth Number: 4197

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Regular 6-string guitars can be overwhelming for little kids and beginners. Loog Guitars, with their 3 strings, make it easier for kids to tune, play and listen to the notes they are playing. They offer a more stimulating experience that allows children to play music right from the start. And because Loog Guitars come with nylon strings, not only it is easy for kids to play, it is also easy on their hands.

Company Contact: Rafael Atijas, [email protected]

Website: www.loogguitars.com

 

MakeMusic, Inc.

Booth Number: 6210

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: MakeMusic, Inc. offers a suite of music education tools for computers and mobile devices. SmartMusic interactive practice software provides visual and aural feedback, allowing for more efficient learning. The SmartMusic Gradebook documents this feedback to help the teacher assess student growth. With Finale, everyone can create professional-level music notation, access thousands of pre-made worksheets and repertoire files, and create repertoire for SmartMusic. View our NAMM Clinic Schedule.

Company Contact: Robert Grifa, [email protected]

Website: www.makemusic.com

 

McNally Instruments LLC

Booth Number: 1726

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Designed for successful learning, the Strumstick offers students just the right blend of ease and reward at the start, and creative musical development as they progress. A 3-string, diatonic instrument, it is much easier than other instruments. The Strumstick is intuitive enough that you can dive into really making music. Rudiments, harmony, composition and improvisation are all a joy to learn when the instrument is a graceful tool instead of a distracting barrier.  Make music, not struggle!

Company Contact: Bob McNally, [email protected]

Website: www.strumstick.com

 

Miselu

Booth Number: 1385

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: San Francisco based Miselu develops music interfaces and instruments to enrich the experience of creating music with the iPad.  The C.24 is a two octave wireless music keyboard designed for iPad. The ultra portable C.24 transforms from a protective cover into a piano-style keyboard at the touch of a spring-loaded latch.

Company Contact: Jeffrey Horton, [email protected]

Website: www.miselu.com

 

MusicNomad

Booth Number: Hall E Booth 1309

Primary Product Category: Music Novelties; Gifts

Description: MusicNomad is a leading supplier of instrument care products. We recently launched GuitarTracker which is the first web based app to keep track and maintain your gear. It’s a free tool for musicians, teachers, schools that have a lot of inventory(gear) and want to keep one online place and access by mobile, tablet or desktop. Can document serial number, price paid, pictures, strings brand, gauge, special notes on each instrument. Also, it has task email reminders for key maintenance.

Company Contact: Rand Rognlien, [email protected]

Website:  www.TheGuitarTracker.com

 

myMix

Booth Number: 6981

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: myMix supports the creativity of the student. Students who hear themselves better, play better. myMix offers: impeccable sound quality & the ability to create a 3D sound image with effects; students and teachers can choose what they want to hear; each myMix multi-track records 16 tracks + a stereo mix for play back or play along; talk-back feature allows a teacher to listen & talk to multiple or single students; pre-record tracks for practice; add a click track; flexible, scalable; functional.

Company Contact: Mathias Von Heydekampf, [email protected]

Website: www.mymixaudio.com

 

Norris-Whitney Communications Inc

Booth Number: 4609

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: Music Books Plus is operated by Norris-Whitney Communications who has been providing information services to the music, pro audio, lighting, multimedia and broadcast industries for the past 35 years. We work with elementary, high schools, colleges, universities and private schools worldwide. Music Books Plus features an extensive selection of teaching tools (Books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, Software, Posters) for students of all levels and areas of interest. We can be reached at 1-800-265-8481.

Company Contact: Maureen Jack, [email protected]

Website: www.musicbooksplus.com

 

Panyard, Inc.

Booth Number: 3589

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: Panyard’s affordable Jumbie Jam Steel Pan (Made in USA) is designed for beginners and advanced players. A blend of simple design, durability and ease of teaching makes it a fantastic instrument for education. The Steel Pan is a multi-faceted instrument providing both percussive and melodic musical capabilities. Originating in Trinidad it is a culturally rich instrument providing the opportunity for cross curricular studies. 

Company Contact: Randy Kerns, [email protected]

Website: www.panyard.com

 

Pearl Drums/Adams Musical Accessories

Booth Number: 204B

Primary Product Category: Best Marching Band Teaching Tool, Best Tool for Intermediate Students, Best Tool for Advanced Students, Most Innovative Teaching Tool, Best Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: The PAD-35LA Quickmount Lalo Rehearsal Pad is designed to get your drummers to stop hacking, and start being productive! The 3.5” Rubber pad can be mounted on marching drums, concert snares, or drumset using a standard 3/8” accessory mount. This allows your students to silently rehearse musical passages without playing on the rim or on the drum. You can have your wind players play a phrase alone, and the percussion section can still be working on their music and staying out of trouble. This is also perfect for in the stands at football games, when your students are excited and want to play but can’t make any noise!

Never again will chairs be used as a bass drum stand! The PMBDL-3 Multi-Fit Bass Drum Legs allow your students to play any wooden rim bass drum horizontally for use in multi-percussion set ups, front ensembles, concert band, the stands at the football game, and anywhere else that you need a sturdy horizontal playing surface for your students. Use these at band camp with your bass drum line to ensure everyone is playing the correct parts with matched grip first. The Multi-Fit legs allow you to mount any sized drum from 14”-40” with rock-solid stability, and allow you control height and tilt with ease.

Company Contact: Matt Jordan, [email protected]

 

Website: www.pearldrum.com

PowerFingers by System5

Booth Number: 1031

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool;

Description: Powerfingers is an exercise tool that increases finger strength & forearm strength, & finger dexterity, speed & independence. This is a complete set of 5 small rings each w/ 5 holes, each progressing upward in resistance. ALL 5 lightweight rings are sold together, in their own portable 3″case which can easily attach to an instrument case. Washable, odorless & latex free; discs return to their original shape after thousands of continuous uses w/ no loss of resistance. Great for warming up too!

Company Contact: Hilary Mackler, [email protected]

Website: www.thepowerfingers.com

 

PreSonus Audio

Booth Number: 5700

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: The mission of PreSonus for Music Education is to provide high-quality audio products and continued support to music educators and students in order to promote learning that reflects current and evolving practices in the fields of music education and the music industry. We provide product bundles and training for educators and students to serve all music education technology needs, as well as present sessions at all major music education conferences.

Company Contact: John Mlynczak, [email protected]

Website: musiced.presonus.com

 

Pukanala Ukulele Inc.

Booth Number: E1209

Music Ed. Target Group: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description:  If you love innovation, PukanaLa is definitely for you. Based in Taiwan, PukanaLa not only loves the instruments we make, but also promotes the acoustic music style.

Pukanala invents hundreds of ukulele models ranging from entry-level to high-end with our own factory proudly presenting handcrafted MIT (made in Taiwan) products, and opens new lines of high quality acoustic guitar and bass to fill in the market demands. Customer satisfaction has always been our motto.

Company Contact: Lily Liao, [email protected]

Website: www.pukanalaukulele.com

 

QRS Music Technologies, Inc.

Booth Number: 808

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: QRS Music Technologies, Inc. founded in 1900 – manufactures and distributes application specific digital audio technologies and content. It’s PNOscan and PNOmation® technologies deliver digital keyboard capabilities to an acoustic piano. It enables you to network, store, track, and score your work. Most third party applications play well with it, plus direct access to such as QRS’s free network storage PNOcloud, PianoMarvel, You Play, and Home Concert. It can be added to any piano.

Company Contact: Thomas Dolan, [email protected]

Website: www.qrsmusic.com

 

Remo, Inc.

Booth Number: 3440

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: The Remo Silent Stroke drumhead is a revolutionary new product designed for low volume practice applications. As the winner of the “Best in Show” product award at Summer NAMM 2013, the Remo Silent Stroke features a durable single-ply mesh fabric, providing excellent feel and response with more than 90% reduction in volume compared to standard drumheads. Just replace the top (batter) drumhead on your snare drum or your entire drum kit with the Silent Stroke drumhead and practice in peace.

The Remo Silent Stroke drumheads are mesh practice heads designed to give you realistic feel in almost complete silence. Turn any drum or drum set into the ultimate practice tool by simply swapping out the head. Works great for either marching or drum set drummers.

Company Contact: Bruce Jacoby, [email protected] and Courtney Kaericher, [email protected]

Website: www.remo.com

 

Rhythm Band Instruments / Boomwhackers

Booth Number: 1815

Primary Product Category: Percussion Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Boomwhackers Tuned Percussion Tubes are lightweight, hollow, color-coded, plastic tubes, tuned to musical pitches by length. They are used as musical instruments in the percussion family. Boomwhackers produce musical tones when struck together, on the floor, or against nearly any surface. They can also be grouped together and struck with mallets in different configurations, in specialized holders (homemade or available from the manufacturer), similar to a horizontally-aligned xylophone.

Company Contact: Bob Fogle, [email protected]

Website: www.rbidealer.net www.boomwhackers.com

 

Rock-Tips

Booth Number: 5569

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Rock-Tips is a specially formulated, safe, non-toxic application for use in protecting sensitive fingertips while playing a guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, violin or other stringed instrument. When applied to your fingertips, Rock-Tips creates a thin, protective membrane that is extremely tough, allowing you to play longer and build your natural finger tip calluses up faster.  All levels of musicians will find it extremely handy.  Better than glue!

Company Contact: Dana Teague, [email protected]

Website: http://rock-tips.com

 

SABIAN

Booth Number: 3254

Primary Product Category: Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: Sabian Performance Accessories – New for 2014, Sabian is proud to announce their new accessories line. Three new items for consideration for the Best Tools for Schools are: the Stick Flip, New 360 Stick Bag, and New Quiet Tone practice solutions.

Company Contact: Debbie Malave, [email protected]

Website: www.sabian.com

 

Saga Musical Instruments

Booth Number: 5760, Hall B

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Description: The Cremona family of bowed instruments from Saga Musical Instruments continually sets the high-bar of quality and value when it comes to instruments specifically designed to meet the needs of students and teachers. For more than 30 years, the violin to set that standard has been the Cremona SV-175!  From material selection to build quality each outfit encourages the learning process and leads the elementary or beginning student on the road to success and a lifetime of music enjoyment.

The Cremona family of bowed instruments from Saga Musical Instruments continually sets the high-bar of quality and value when it comes to instruments specifically designed to meet the needs of students and teachers. For more than 30 years, the violin to set that standard has been the Cremona SV-175! From material selection to build quality each outfit encourages the learning process and leads the elementary or beginning student on the road to success and a lifetime of music enjoyment.

Company Contact: David Gartland, [email protected]

Website: www.sagamusic.com

 

SuperMegaUltraGroovy Inc

Booth Number: 1686

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool

Description: SuperMegaUltraGroovy, Inc. will be a first time exhibitor showcasing Capo 3 and a preview of Capo for iPhone. Capo is an award-winning app that allows musicians to learn songs in their iTunes libraries faster and more accurately using automatic chord and beat detection as well as slowing music, changing key and guitar tabbing. Capo provides tools for editing the automatic chord detection, offering a valuable companion to traditional music theory and ear training studies.

Company Contact: Dot Bustelo, [email protected]

Website: supermegaultragroovy.com

 

Tama Marching Percussion Silver Armor Carriers

Booth Number: 4634

Primary Product Category: Best Marching Band Tool/ Best Percussion Teaching Tool

Description: Tama brings its four decades of drum gear innovation to the marching drum market, creating equipment solutions to age-old problems, maximizing drummers’ comfort, safety and performance. The Silver Armor Carriers provide unprecedented adjustability, comfort and durability for snares, tenors and bass drums. All carriers have adjustable height, adjustable shoulder pads, and adjustable back support with shoulder and back pads that self-rotate to fit any size player. Carrier can be custom fitted with a standard tuning key and each carrier is equipped with a duel locking system. For Tama drums or others that utilize J-type hooks.

Company Contact: Ed O’Donnell,  [email protected]

Website:  www.tamamarching.com

 

The Dube Limited

Booth Number: 2556

Primary Product Category: Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Marching Band Teaching Tool; Percussion Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description: Invented by ex England footballer Dion Dublin, the Dube. A stylish cube percussion instrument, with four playable sides each producing their own unique sound & a choice of either Acoustic or Pro. Both are available in four sizes 9”, 12”, 15”, 18” and 3 colours Natural, Black or White. As a teaching tool the Dube is extremely versatile, each side can be customised to correspond with the different tones & it aids in the teaching of rhythm, coordination & timing either in groups or individually.

Company Contact: Dion Dublin, [email protected]

Website: www.thedube.com

 

thinkplay

Booth Number: 2394

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: Founded by Cornell undergrads, thinkplay has developed a patent-pending technology with significant implications for musical composition and performance. Our software allows musicians to map audio and video clips to notes on their instruments for real time triggering. EDM on a guitar, hip-hop on a violin, techno philharmonics, and custom visual music are all now possible! Music without limits. Please check out this short demo: https://vimeo.com/82792907

Company Contact: Brendan Garrity, [email protected]

Website: www.thinkplayaudio.com

 

Trevor James

Booth Number: 2814

Primary Product Category: Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students

Description:  Trevor James is a flute-specialty company with headquarters in the UK and distributed by West Music Company. 

The 3x UK Music Industry Award-winning Trevor James 10x model is the perfect introductory instrument for beginners. Each hand finished specially-shaped headjoint is designed to enable new players to quickly achieve strong, flexible sound production which encourages long-term enthusiasm for playing the flute. Rental retention rates tracked by-brand have proven the TJ 10x success.

Company Contact: Nora Epping, [email protected]

Website: www.tjflutes.com

 

Vic Firth Company

Booth Number: 3040

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students;

Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: HingeStix® are a revolutionary learning tool that force drummers to hold their drumsticks correctly. Adjustable plastic swivel pads position the thumb, index finger and middle finger for the perfect fulcrum. The player will develop proper finger technique and learn to feel the natural rebound of the drumstick. HingeStix® are offered in two of the world’s most popular models: American Custom® SD1 and American Classic® 5A.

Company Contact: Chuck Moulton, [email protected]

Website: www.vicfirth.com

 

VocalBooth.com, Inc.

Booth Number: 4334

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students

Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Percussion Teaching Tool; Jazz Teaching Tool; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: VocalBooth.com™, founded in 1997, is an award-winning and industry-leading innovator and manufacturer specializing in state-of-the-art portable sound recording and sound isolation enclosures—VocalBooths™. Internationally recognized as a robust, well engineered, modular sound room, the VocalBooth™ is a master blend of art and science. The VocalBooth™ is easy to assemble and unparalleled in the industry. VocalBooths make excellent lesson rooms and are used by schools worldwide.

Company Contact: Guy Coleman, [email protected]

Website: www.vocalbooth.com

 

Westheimer Corp.

Booth Number: 4458 Hall C

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students

Description: In our Cort guitar line we have several models of acoustic guitars that lend themselves to school music programs. The Cort L100C , grand concert solid top acoustic.

Company Contact: Larry Goldstein, [email protected]

Website: cortguitar.com

 

Wi Digital Systems, Inc.

Booth Number: 5828, Hall B

Primary Product Category: Teaching Tool for Young/ Elementary Students; Teaching Tool for Beginning Students; Teaching Tool for Intermediate Students; Teaching Tool for Advanced Students; Student Reward Incentive; Concert/Orchestra Teaching Tool

Description: Wi AudioLink Pro and Wi AudioStream Pro EL are new ALL-IN-ONE products are must have audio tools for students and teachers alike. They represent the best in stereo digital wireless audio technology for live performance, studio recording or provide practice with massive instruments support, extreme portability and uncompromised universal audio connectivity to match todays digital gear. The entire system can fit in the palm of your hand.

Company Contact: Pierre Abboud, [email protected]

Website: www.widigitalsystems.com

 

Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division

Booth Number: Marriott Marquis Ballroom

Primary Product Category: Best Beginner Tool, Best Intermediate Tool, Best Jazz Band Tool, Best Advanced Tool, Best Marching Band Tool

Description: NEW Silent Brass System utilizing Brass Resonance Modeling™

With Yamaha’s new Silent Brass System, you can enjoy playing and practicing anytime, anywhere, in silence, as if you’re playing without a mute. In addition to its small size that fits in the bell of the trumpet, this new version has been significantly upgraded from previous versions and is more pedagogically-efficient, making it a “must have” item for young players. The Silent Brass System encourages proper practicing habits, and the mute responds and plays in tune in all registers, leading the player to discover on their own a much improved balance with the trumpet. The influence on a player’s air flow and tongue position that this new mute creates is extremely beneficial with or without the headphone amplification, though that aspect of the Silent Brassy System is also much improved.

Company Contact: Roger Eaton [email protected]

Website: usa.yamaha.com