Scientific American May 2003 [antikvár]

on the beat NASMD AT 25 by Bob O'Donnell he worlds of commerce and education do not form easy alliances. If educators or administrators need the goods or services of a particular business, they usually only agree to work with the supplying company on a very limited basis. In some instances this method of business works and is accepted as standard practice. In others, however, it may cause problems which can affect the quality of educational programs. School music programs, which have produced—or at the very least had a powerful effect upon—players like Pat Metheny, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Steve Smith, and many others, are particularly prone to its side effects. Band directors and school administrators need a source for the instruments, music, accessories, and other services they require to run a successful program, yet often shy away from developing relationships with the music dealers who can supply these goods and services. Part of the problem seems to be that educators and administrators are not completely aware of the total services that school music dealers are capable of providing. Many of them are also unaware that a national organization of dealers exists which spends a great deal of time and money promoting the value and importance of music education. This organization, the National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, prides itself on the fact that all 200 of its members work diligentiy to support and ensure the futures of the music education programs in their area. "NASMD dealers have a vested interest in school instrumental music," says current NASMD president Dan Palen of Palen Music in Springfield, MO, "and they view their role as a partnership with educators and administrators in providing students with quality music education." The organization's beginnings were quite humble. "NASMD was fomied by sbc school music dealers the day before a NAMM trade show in June of 1962," according to Jim Kleeman, former co-owner of Karnes Music, Elk Grove Village, IL, and a member since 1964. "They got together and decided to form an association because they wanted to have a group that would spend time just discussing the business of school music dealers and not the music industry as a whole. "The basic intent and purpose of the group, which is still the same today," Kleeman continued, "was to exchange ideas and try to improve their businesses. They would discuss what they did in the way of promotions, and also what they could do to better assist the band director." Founding member and second president Ziggy Coyle of Coyle Music Centers, Coliun. bus, OH, admitted that he had no idea that the organization would outgrow its meager beginnings and live to see its 25th anniversary. "Never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine that NASMD would grow to be as significant as it is within our industry." The organization has grown, though, and its members have continued to address the expanding needs of school music programs. Of course, as business owners, NASMD members believe they have a right to profit from their efforts. "Supporting music education is the business of the school music dealer, " Palen said, "and as with any other business, a dealer's objective is to convert goods and services into profitable dollars." Nevertheless, the primary goal of NASMD dealers is the same as that of educators: to have a successfijl music program. Only with a successful program can a band director claim to be adequately fulfilling his role as an educator and can a music dealer share in the pride and funding available to support that program. To attain a successful program, Palen claims that four different elements must come together to create the proper environment. "First, you need quality teaching; second, a supportive administration; third, a supportive community; and fourth, the support of a full-service school music dealer. If any one of these elements is unavailable, then the program will suffer." The services that NASMD members provide, of course, vary in specifics from store to store, but nearly ail members help directors with recruiting efforts: they test students for musical aptitude, help organize student/parent orientation meetings, provide instruments for beginning students to rent or buy, and generally, share the knowledge they have acquired from overseeing 70 or 80 recruiting meetings a year. Most members also offer extensive repair fecili-ties, free loaner services, and a large inventory of instruments and music for both directors and students to choose from. As computers and electronic instruments start to play a larger role in school music programs, NASMD dealers are respondii^ by offering yet another service to their dealers—product knowledge. "The really progressive school music dealer toda.v is spending a lot of time getting in touch with electronics," according to Kleeman. "Tbat CONTINUED ON F»G6 56 6 DOWN BEAT MAY 1987