A Practicing Musician Journey
Last week, the Practicing Musician team joined over 60,000 attendees at the 2025 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. As one of the world’s largest music product trade shows, NAMM brings together the brightest minds in music, sound, and entertainment technology. With over 1,800 exhibitors representing more than 4,000 brands, it was the perfect place for our team to explore the future of music education.
Our amazing team of Jake Douglass (Founder and CEO), Dr. Robert “Rory” Creigh (Director of AI and Education), Jordan Snyder (Director of Business Development), and Sanjeev Kumar (Chief Strategy Officer) spent four incredible days connecting with industry leaders, experiencing innovative technologies, and yes – even spotting a few music legends along the way!
Innovation and Impact
Walking through the bustling halls of NAMM, one thing became crystal clear: the music education landscape is ready for transformation. While many companies are still using traditional approaches, we’re excited to be at the forefront of positive change. Our team engaged in countless conversations with retailers, manufacturers, and potential partners about expanding our educational offerings for band and string ensembles, as well as our exciting new subsidiary Worshiping Musician.
Star-Studded Moments
Between business meetings, we had some unforgettable encounters with music industry titans. We managed to grab a selfie with the legendary Rick Beato, witnessed Stevie Wonder’s magical presence, and even captured what we’re calling our “Bigfoot moment” – a beautifully blurry shot of the innovative Jacob Collier. The incredible Thomas Lang kept everyone entertained as MC for the Roland drum competition, showcasing the kind of virtuosity we aim to help our students achieve.
A Musical Highlight
One of our favorite moments came during Jon Batiste’s performance, particularly during an impromptu piano battle with Cory Henry. The way they traded musical ideas back and forth, building upon each other’s creativity and throwing in playful musical jokes, perfectly embodied what we love about musical collaboration. It was like watching a masterclass in musical conversation!
Behind the Scenes
The team bonding continued well after the show floor closed. One evening, we had the pleasure of being the first to try out a new game developed by our own Jordan Snyder. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, let’s just say our practicing musicians have something exciting to look forward to!
Inspiration for the Future
A particularly moving experience was our visit to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. Watching videos of students writing and recording their own songs on the bus reminded us exactly why we do what we do. Seeing the impact of music education across the United States reinforced our mission to make quality music education accessible to everyone.
Looking Forward
As we reflect on our NAMM 2025 experience, we’re more excited than ever about the future of music education. While many industry players are still catching up, Practicing Musician is ready to lead the charge in revolutionizing how students and teachers engage with music education. We’re combining innovation with accessibility, and we can’t wait to share our upcoming developments with our community.
The NAMM Show reminded us that the music industry is more than just business – it’s about creating connections, fostering creativity, and building a future where everyone has access to quality music education. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements as we implement everything we learned at NAMM 2025!
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