NAMM and Making Music Magazine Share
Top Musical Gift Picks for 2008 Holiday Season

National Consumer Survey Results Confirm the Gift of Music as the Perfect Choice for Kids and Adults

Learning to play a musical instrument is one of the top New Year's resolutions, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers conducted this week by Impulse Research and commissioned by NAMM, the international trade association for the music products industry. Survey results also show that giving musical instruments may be the perfect gift to help friends and family reduce stress, provide a fulfilling form of entertainment, and bring the family closer together this holiday season.

In the survey, which polled men and women aged 18 years and older across the United States, singing and playing holiday music with the family was reported as one of the top two holiday stress-busters. Additionally, an overwhelming 86 percent of survey participants responded that given the current economic climate, they will be seeking less expensive forms of entertainment during the holidays, such as music making, that the family can enjoy together at home.

"More than ever, people of all ages are making music as a means of stress relief, personal enjoyment and a way to bond with friends and family," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. "The survey results illustrate the continued, valued role of music in our society, especially during the holidays."

Recognizing the increased appeal of music this holiday season, Making Music magazine, a consumer lifestyle magazine that reaches music makers of all ages and skill levels, has picked the most popular music gifts for the year, helping to remove the guess-work from holiday shopping. Listed below are the music world's most highly anticipated, in-demand new instruments and musical technology available on the market. (Note gift categories are separated into appropriate age categories and tailored for every musical level and budget.)

"It's never too early or too late to learn how to play music, and instruments are perfect gifts for anyone on your holiday list, no matter what age or level of experience," said Antoinette Follett, editor-in-chief of Making Music magazine. "Music gifts can be enjoyed by both the recipient and the gift-giver, as they're also an investment in the lifelong appreciation of music."

"To give the gift of music this holiday season, there's no better place to look than your local, community music store," added Lamond, "where you can find quality instruments and other tools to make music a greater part of holiday traditions."

For more information on NAMM, to find a local music dealer near you, or to learn how to play music at any age, visit NAMM's Wanna Play? Web site at http://www.wannaplaymusic.com.

TOP MUSIC GIFT PICKS FOR 2008 HOLIDAY SEASON
by Making Music magazine in association with NAMM

Top 10 Hot Holiday Gift Ideas

1) Ovation iDea - MSRP: $859
It is the first and only guitar featuring a built-in MP3 recorder/player, allowing musicians to record music, for lessons or songwriting--ideal for guitarists of all ability and style.

2) Schecter Stiletto Studio-4 Bass - MSRP: $969
The EMG-Hz pickups and active 3-band tone circuitry provide bass players output for all situations.

3) Normandy Chrome Archtop Guitar - MSRP: $3,199
The first-to-market aluminum body electric guitars are a perfect holiday gift for experienced guitarists, and players who need a lighter body guitar.

4) Yamaha Clavinova CVP 40 - Starting at $3,995
Audio recorder feature of the Clavinova digital piano lets you record your performance directly to a USB storage device; you can also connect a microphone to record singing or other instruments.

5) Roland V-Drums Lite - MSRP: $999
Conveniently compact and stylish all-in-one electronic drum kit.

6) iKEY Plus - MSRP: $69
Records live audio to MP3 or WAV to a USB storage device in real time.

7) Numark TTi - MSRP: $449
Allows quick, easy connection to any mixer for instant playback from your iPod or vinyl records.

8) Roland FR-2 V-Accordion - MSRP: $7,000
Has the look and feel of a traditional accordion but all the advantages of digital control--enriched with a wide palette, from percussion to bass, organ, strings, etc., to provide wider tonal choice.

9) Hohner Bob Dylan Signature Harmonica - MSRP: $129
Premier harmonica designed by the legendary harpsmith Bob Dylan.

10) Peavey Vypyr 30 30W 1x12 Guitar Combo Amp - MSRP: $279
Technologically advanced and affordable guitar modeling amplifier.

Top 10 for Youth
1) Daisy Rock Siren Vivacious Violet - MSRP: $399
Looking for a guitar for the next Hannah Montana in your family? This purple-licious guitar has a slim neck profile, making for easier playing for people with smaller hands.

2) Fender Squier MINI Player - MSRP $249
For a young guitarist, there may be no better starting guitar than the Squier MINI Player. An amplifier, speaker and distortion are built right into the guitar.

3) Raven RG20 Amplifier - MSRP: $199
A powerful and affordable amplifier with tons of features, includes a chromatic tuner, distortion switch, global EQ, digital delay/reverb, and an MP3/CD/Tape input. The headphone jack makes it perfect for quiet practices.

4) Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Signature Wah - MSRP: $205
Unmistakable wah tone heard on several Hendrix classics

5) Yamaha NP-30 Digital Piano - MSRP: $399
Yamaha's Graded Soft Touch action helps bring the overall weight of the NP-30 down to less than half of Yamaha's previous light-weight champ, the P70.

6) M-Audio Torq Xponent - MSRP: $759
DJ performance production system.

7) Gemini CDJ-505 Professional Tabletop Player - MSRP: $399
Ideal choice for serious home, mobile and club DJs.

8) Panyard, Inc. Jumbie Jam - MSRP: $250
Small steel drum, brings the sounds of Calypso home.

9) Alesis USB PRO Drum Kit - MSRP: $799
Electronic drum kit, great for taking the next step from RockBand!

10) Tama IS58C Imperialstar 18 5-Piece Compact Drum Kit - MSRP: $899
Great "entry-level" drum set.

Top 10 for Beginners
1) Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar and Amp Pack - MSRP: $480
Everything you need to get started with a super low price.

2) Ibanez V Series V70CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar - MSRP: $299
A solid guitar at a beginner's price--sounds great plugged in or played acoustically. Soft cutaway helps you reach the high notes.

3) Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany Electric Guitar - MSRP: $1,379
The most affordable carved-top mahogany Les Paul on the market, provides the warm tone Les Paul's are known for
.
4) Yamaha PSR-E413 portable keyboard - MSRP: $399
USB connection allows beginner musicians to download and play along with pieces from the internet.

5) Line 6 POD X3 Guitar Multi Effect Processor - MSRP: $559
Awe-inspiring multi-effects processor.

6) Tascam Portable CD-GT2 trainer - MSRP: $199
Practice and learn fast licks, rhythm parts, and solos from your favorite artists. Slow down the speed of a CD without changing the pitch. Includes pitch and key control; tuner; and metronome
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7) Roland RMP-5 Rhythm Coach - MSRP: $279
Makes doing rudiments fun-Over 50 onboard sounds and a roster of invaluable exercises; measures accuracy score, quiet control, and stroke balance

8) Alesis SR-18 Professional Drum Machine - MSRP: $259
SR-18 raises the bar for sound quality, ease of use, and flexibility--a versatile percussion bank. Whatever the playing style, the SR-18 has something for you!

9) Toca Black Mama 13" Djembe - MSRP: $270
Hand carved from authentic environmentally friendly mahogany wood--a perfect drum for any drum circle or gathering where durability, tone and stability are prerequisites.

10) Meinl Siam Oak String Cajon - MSRP: $249
Drummers and percussionists appreciate the cajon for its diversity of sound--perfect for unplugged gigs or sessions. Authentic Afro-Cuban wooden box percussion instrument with beautiful Makah burlwood frontplate.

Stocking Stuffers
1) The Slapstik - MSRP: $9.95 (each)
Innovative drumsticks with flexible tips.

2) Prohands Exerciser Gripmaster - MSRP: $15.95
Hand exerciser to help to increase speed, endurance, or strength for better music playing.

3) iKey iConnex - MSRP: $69.99
A portable USB sound card is perfect for musicians on the go.

4) BOSS TU-80 - MSRP: $39
This pocket-sized tuner offers a bright LCD and a built-in metronome and can tune almost any instrument.

5) Roll up the Drum Kit - MSRP: $59.99
Equipped with 6 sensor pads, this drum kit can roll up neatly and be stored in a desk drawer.

6) SmartMusic accompaniment software - Home Subscription Price: $30/year or $11.95/month

Allows students to play along with professional ensembles.
7) De:Chorder - MSRP: $29.95
Musical Chord Transposer quickly and easily transposes chords from one key to another.

8) Remo Didgeharp Shaker - MSRP: $12.95
Combines the sound of the Jaw Harp and Australian Didgeridoo in a compact instrument.

9) Tone Gear String Cleaner - MSRP: $12.99
Helps extend the life of your strings by cleaning in a revolutionary 360 degrees.

10) Robo Key - MSRP: $29.95
Quadruples wrist-turning speed to quickly loosen and tighten long drum bolts.


ABOUT MAKING MUSIC
Better Living through Recreation Music Making(R) is a bi-monthly consumer lifestyle magazine for adult amateur and recreational musicians. The magazine publishes articles on music theory, technique, health, and the benefits of music making. It is intended for musicians at all playing levels, and is available nationally on newsstands and by subscription. For more information visit www.makingmusicmag.com.
SOURCE: National Association of Music Merchants