Every year, thousands of people flood to Anaheim California to attend and perform at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). The convention took place from January 25th to the 27th, and over 46,711 people attended this event this year. 

This year my music school, Musicology, in Smithtown got the chance to fly out and see what all the hype was about. The event began in 1901 and has been running ever since, maintaining its mission to strengthen the music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. John Mlynczak is the President and CEO of NAMM, with expertise in the music industry, education, technology, and leadership. 

I got the opportunity to experience this event myself! On January 25, 2024, I flew out with my dad to San Francisco. When we landed we made our way to Anaheim. On the first day there we got to explore the convention, seeing guitars, drums, pianos, and so much more. There were vendors like Yamaha, Sure, Cloud, and Korg, along with everything from microphones to autotune monitors, a musician’s dream in my opinion. 

On the second day, I got to perform at the convention. I got to perform with two of my band members, who I’ve gotten the chance to perform with many times.  It was quite nerve-racking performing in front of the biggest names in the industry but performing is what I love.

NAMM is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had and I can’t wait to go back next year! The best advice I can give for new people going to NAMM is that although it can be overwhelming, it’s important to relax and have fun!