Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Del- egates also urged members of Congress who sit on the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees to provide targeted tariff relief for musical instruments, their components and the raw materials used to manufacture them. “Our members travel from across the country to share a unified message with law- makers: Music education is vital to student success, workforce development and the cul- tural fabric of our society,” Mlynczak said. “This consistent and persistent messaging that our NAMM members have delivered for the past 20 years is working, and we will continue to champion music education and industry trade for the benefit of every NAMM member around the world.” This year’s Fly-In also featured Congres- sional Record, a bipartisan event on May 13 celebrating the unifying power of music and the arts — with participation from members of the Congressional Musicians Caucus and Congressional Arts Caucus, all made possible by NAMM’s support. The NAMM Foundation began the week by hosting its annual Day of Service at McKin- ley Tech High School in Washington, D.C., connecting students with music industry professionals through its Careers in Music initiative. The program provides mentorship and career insights, helping inspire the next generation of music makers and industry leaders. Look out for in-depth coverage of the event from music retailer and attendee Myrna Sislen in a future issue. {namm.org}
The 2026 NAMM Fly-In delegation.
NAMM’S 20TH FLY-IN HIGHLIGHTS TARIFFS, MUSIC EDUCATION
F rom May 9–13, NAMM concluded a se- ries of high-impact advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., advancing the association’s commitment to protecting the U.S. music products industry and expanding access to music education for more than 54 million students nationwide. Before the Fly-in on May 8, NAMM CEO John Mlynczak delivered oral testimony be- fore the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Section 301 Com- mittee, where he outlined the unintended consequences of current and potential tariff policies on the U.S. music products industry. NAMM’s testimony also highlighted a decline in imports of beginner instruments in 2025 — trends that could threaten the long-term pipeline of musicians and the broader music ecosystem. NAMM urged USTR to adopt targeted, evidence-based trade remedies and implement an exclusion process for musical E astman Music Company has announced a new international distribution ar- rangement for Jewel Musical Products’ Expressions ligatures. Eastman will offer the Expressions ligature line to dealers, educators and musicians, with models in stock at Eastman’s Pomona, California, facility and available immediately. The Expressions ligature line includes signature models developed by Dave Knox of Jewel Music for such artists as Ricardo Morales, Jonathan Wintringham of the International Saxophone Academy and Eddie Daniels. Designed for clarinet and saxophone players, the line is built around Jewel’s focused approach to reed contact, instrument response, and tonal expression.
instruments, components and raw materials. Then, from May 10–14, NAMM returned to Capitol Hill for its 20th annual Advocacy D.C. Fly-In, bringing together a strong, diverse delegation of industry representatives. The Fly-In convened over 100 NAMM members and industry partners for more than 200 meetings with members of Congress and staff to advocate for federal funding supporting music and arts education. Additionally, two celebrity delegates — Miss America Cassie Donegan and legendary drummer Queen Cora Coleman — joined the effort as advocates to help elevate the industry’s message. Delegates called for increased investment in key federal programs, including Title I, Title II, Title IV, Part A and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These pro- grams are essential to ensuring that music and arts remain integral components of a well-rounded education, as defined by the
Eastman to Distribute Jewel Musical Products’ Ligatures
Ricardo Morales and ISA Expressions ligatures feature Jewel’s Flex Rail design, which promotes even reed response and improved vibration for a projecting, con- trollable tone. The Eddie Daniels Ex- pressions ligatures use a coated fabric construction, open pocket design and unique rail design intended to enhance reed vibration while supporting a warm, balanced sound with clear projection and
responsive articulation. “We’re excited to partner with Jewel Musi- cal Products and bring their innovative Expres- sions ligatures to our dealer network,” said Joe Montgomery, wind accessories product manager at Eastman Music Company. “These ligatures deliver fantastic responsiveness and tonal core for developing players and profes- sionals alike.” {eastmanmusiccompany.com; jewelmusic.com}
16 I MUSIC INC. I JULY 2026
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