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NAMM has announced that plans are underway to create a float for the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade that represents a "musical extravaganza." Overflowing with live music and depictions of how much fun playing music can be for everyone, the NAMM float will be a special feature for the overall parade theme of "Hats Off to Entertainment."
The108-year-old organization is returning to the parade for the sixth year in a row and is once again showcasing its message to the general public about the powerful and proven benefits of playing music for people of all ages.
The NAMM float is being created in collaboration with "Sesame Street" and Music for All. Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind "Sesame Street" and a well-known advocate for integrating music into its program to help children viewers learn and grow. This is the fourth year that "Sesame Street" has collaborated with NAMM on a float for the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Music for All's mission is to create, provide and expand positive life-changing experiences through music for all. In honor of celebrating music, the organization has formed its Bands of America Honor Band comprising more than 300 high school band members hailing from across the nation, which will march alongside this year's NAMM float. This is the second edition of Music for All's Bands of America Honor Band since it first performed in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade. The band members will meet for the first time in Southern California, Dec. 27, 2008, to prepare for performances in the Tournament of Roses BandFest and Rose Parade.
Combining the missions and commitment of these three organizations, the NAMM "mega" float will highlight the many wonders of making music for all people to enjoy. The flower-covered creation will comprise a first-ever "mega unit" with three satellite "pod" floats following the main float and will feature a variety of musical talent. Onboard the main float will be an animated Big Bird shown playing a horn, and celebrity Bob McGrath, original cast member of "Sesame Street" who plays the music teacher on the show.
Performing on the main float will be a string quartet, a jazz combo, and two backup vocalists—all against the backdrop of the familiar "Sesame Street" lamppost.
The three smaller floats will feature a sculpted Elmo character along with a saxophone soloist; a crafted Abby Cadabby and a Latin guitarist; and a large sculpture of Oscar the Grouch and two garbage can percussionists. Surrounding each pod will be Music for All's Bands of America Honor Band made up of more than 300 musical performers, a 17-member dance troupe and a 32-member flag line. A World Drumming unit will also perform alongside the float and inspire Parade viewers to catch the rhythm and spirit of the music-making extravaganza.
The Bands of America Honor Band will play a live original medley of "Sesame Street" hit tunes, compiled by award-winning arrangers Michael Klesch and Thom Hannum, and a variety of other musical pieces celebrating the joys of making music. The musical compilation will feature six different solo breaks to highlight each of the individual segments of the marching band ensemble.
George N. Parks, a prominent trainer of drum majors and director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, will lead the Honor Band, assisted by an all-star staff comprising directors of some of the nation's top high school music programs. Selected band members auditioned and have rehearsed the music using the latest music teaching technology, MakeMusic's SmartMusic®, which has allowed the teaching staff to help prepare the musicians despite the geographic distances between them.
The 2009 Rose Parade will take place New Years Day on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2009, with millions of people around the world expected to watch.
For more information, visit www.musicforall.org, www.sesameworkshop.org, or www.namm.org. | 
