HEARING BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES
------------------Tuesday, April 23, 2002.
NAMM: INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
WITNESS
JOE LAMOND, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAMM: THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC
PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION AND ELMO MONSTER, SESAME STREET MUPPET
Mr. Regula. Okay, Mr. Cunningham, I understand you'll
introduce our next witness.
Mr. Cunningham. Well, I'm going to introduce the friend of
Elmo. Mr. Joe Lamond is President and Chief Executive Officer of
International Music Products Association. What do they do? They
basically create more music makers worldwide. Mr. Lamond oversaw
a number of innovative programs including Sesame Street Music
Works, a joint initiative with Sesame Workshop that focuses on
music among children.
The Einstein Advocacy kit, which is an extraordinary
information package that brings music and brain research
together to show how music does help with children. The
expansion of the Weekend Warrior program which is designed to
bring baby boomers--I don't know what effectiveness that
has,Joe--but back to active music making. He's got a partnership
with the Smithsonian Institute, lasting partnerships with
Disney, Miramax, Proctor and Gamble, Texaco, VH1 Save The Music,
Grammy Foundation, Carnation as well as a host of others.
And they're here to bring the message that music plays a
role in intelligence and wellness, not only of children but
everyone else. I know all of us have our own personal stories. I

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 listened to music before every mission when I went into combat
in Vietnam, just to learn how to focus.
Mr. Monster. Wow. [Laughter.]
Mr. Cunningham. Music has brought tears and laughter to all
of us. Joe and Elmo, we welcome you to the Committee. You can
have more than the traditional five minutes if the Chairman will
let you.
Mr. Monster. Well, thank you.
Mr. Cunningham. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Lamond. Thank you, Mr. Cunningham. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman and members of the Subcommittee.
I am Joe Lamond from NAMM: The International Music Products
Association. I'd like to first introduce my co-witness, Elmo
Monster.
Mr. Monster. Elmo's testifying on Capitol Hill. Elmo's so
nervous. What does Elmo do?
Mr. Lamond. Why don't you start by introducing yourself,
Elmo?
Mr. Monster. Okay. Elmo is Elmo. Thank you.
Mr. Lamond. Very good job, Elmo.
Mr. Monster. Elmo's been practicing all morning. And all
day, too.
Mr. Lamond. Elmo and I met through a music education
outreach program with Sesame Workshop.
Mr. Monster. That's right. Mr. Joe taught Elmo lots of
stuff about music.
Mr. Lamond. Why don't you show us some of the things you've
learned?
Mr. Monster. Elmo learned all kinds of things about music,
like anyone can make music. The whole world is full of music.
And best of all, Elmo learned how to dance to music like this.
[Demonstrating.]
Mr. Monster. This is Elmo's favorite. [Laughter.]
Mr. Lamond. We also learned that Elmo looks pretty darned
good in Armani, don't you think?
Mr. Monster. Yes. Elmo got this from Barney's.
Mr. Lamond. Thank you, Elmo.
NAMM is an international, not for profit organization made
up of nearly 8,000 manufacturers and retailers of musical
instruments and music products. NAMM members range from small,

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 family owned music stores that you can find in every town to
large instrument manufacturing companies and publishing houses.
These companies make and sell the instruments that allow people
to make music.
And just like any other in the business community, NAMM
members understand that a quality education is the primary means
of preparing our young people in the business world and success
in life. Like parents everywhere, we are committed to making
sure no child is left behind.
Mr. Monster. And no monsters.
Mr. Lamond. And no monsters left behind either, Elmo.
Mr. Monster. Good.
Mr. Lamond. We have the best education system in the world,
but we all know that there are some serious challenges. Our part
of the solution is based on what we know best and were our
passion lies, which is in music. In our own lives and in the
experiences of the children we reach every day, NAMM members
have seen first hand the power of music to touch the soul and
lift a struggling child to great heights. There is a growing
body of scientific research that attests to this power. Study
after study is demonstrating an unmistakable connection between
music education and success in school.
Mr. Monster. Yes, music helped Elmo learn the alphabet. If
it wasn't for the ABC song, Elmo would be lost, people. Hello.
Mr. Lamond. Research indicates that music education
dramatically enhances a child's ability to solve complex math
and science problems. Scientists believe that there is a link to
literacy skills as well. Students who participate in music
programs score significantly higher on standardized tests,while
at the same time developing self-discipline, communication and
teamwork skills. They are also less likely to be involved in
gangs, drugs or alcohol abuse, and have better attendance in
school.
Mr. Monster. Elmo is in the music program, and Elmo isn't
in a gang. No. Elmo's not in a gang.
Mr. Lamond. Let's keep it that way.
In addition to controlled scientific settings, this effect
is replicated in classrooms all over the country. For example,
in 1999, Public School 96 in East Harlem was one of the lowest
performing schools in the State of New York. Only 13 percent of

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 the students were performing at grade level in reading or math.
Eighteen months after the music program was restored, 71 percent
of the students were performing at grade level. Attendance is
sky high, and the school is now a model turnaround school for
the city of New York. The principal, Victor Lopez, attributes
this astounding success to the restoration of the music programs
through the efforts of one of our partners, VH1's Save The Music
Foundation.
We were able to save the music in PS 96. But what about the
other schools? We are very concerned about the loss of school
music programs throughout the country. Only 25 percent of all
eighth graders have the opportunity to participate in a music
class, according to the most recent Department of Ed studies.
When we were in school, that figure was close to 100 percent.
We must make certain that all children, especially those at
risk, will be given opportunities to reap the benefit of music
education. For these children, if music education is not offered
in school, they will likely never receive it and will be at a
disadvantage throughout their academic lives.
Mr. Monster. Boy, that would be terrible, Mr. Joe.
Mr. Lamond. Yes.
Mr. Monster. Elmo doesn't know what he'd do without music.
Mr. Lamond. Well, NAMM and its partners are working on a
two-pronged approach to give every child a chance to make music.
Mr. Monster. Oh, good.
Mr. Lamond. First, since education is essentially a local
issue, we need to help inform local decision making. We intend
to do this with more science based research on the link between
music education and learning, so that parents, teachers and
local officials can make the best case for funding school music
programs. We are seeking $1 million for the International
Foundation for Music Research for the purpose of funding this
research.
The second part seeks to provide immediate help to
children. We are seeking $1 million to support VH1 Save The
Music Foundation's efforts to provide instruments to schools
where there is no access to music learning. In the education
arena, I can think of no other initiative that can do so much
for so many children with so small an investment.

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 So how will you measure the success of this investment? You
will know the answer when you look into the eyes of one of your
littlest constituents playing their violin with pure joy,
devotion and a sense of accomplishment.
Mr. Monster. Elmo plays the violin.
Mr. Lamond. And you will know it when you see their parents
swell with pride during their first orchestra concert.
Mr. Monster. Elmo's parents swell with pride when they hear
Elmo sing.
Mr. Lamond. And mark my words, you will see it in the
soaring test results and attendance records of the schools
to whom you have given the simple gift of music.
Mr. Monster. Elmo scored a 1550 on his SATs. All because of
music, yeah! Oh, okay, Elmo made up that one. [Laughter.] Elmo
just wants you nice Congress people to please, please, please,
oh, please give the kids the gift of music, please?
Mr. Lamond. I hope the Subcommittee will support our modest
request. Thank you very, very much for your time and
consideration.
Mr. Monster. Yes, thanks, House Labor Subcommittee. Elmo
loves you. Thank you. Thank you.
[The prepared statement and biography of Mr. Lamond
follow:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE]
Mr. Regula. Elmo, why is music so important that you came
all the way here from Sesame Street to talk to our Committee
today?
Mr. Monster. Music is a big part of Elmo's life. Elmo uses
music all the time to sing and dance and learn and even to
remember stuff. Like the time Elmo had to remember what to buy
at the store. Elmo remembers it with music like this, “Elmo
needs a little Swiss cheese, needs some frozen broccoli, and he
needs a jar of pickles now.” See, that's why music is so
important to Elmo. [Laughter.] Elmo's not making a mockery of
this place, no. It's very important.
Mr. Cunningham. We've got a hostile witness. [Laughter.]
Mr. Monster. No, Elmo's not hostile, he's just a monster.
[Laughter.]

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 Mr. Regula. Elmo, what is the best part about making and
listening to music?
Mr. Monster. Well, music really helps Elmo express how Elmo
feels. Like if Elmo's happy, Elmo plays hip-hop. If Elmo's sad,
Elmo plays the blues. And if Elmo's feeling extra saucy, Elmo
likes that word, saucy, Elmo plays show tunes like this:
"Elmo's pretty, oh, so pretty, that the city gave Elmo this
key, House Committee, can't you see how Elmo be. La, la. La,
la." That was terrible. But Elmo loves music.
Mr. Regula. Elmo, if you could be any musical instrument,
which one would you be?
Mr. Monster. Boy, that's a hard question. Elmo loves all
kinds of musical instruments. Maybe a harpsichord, a
glockenspiel. Wait, wait, Elmo got it--Elmo would be a drum set.
Because then Elmo could lay down his fat beats like this, phhtt,
phhhtt, phhtt. Oops. Elmo just got spittle all over the House
floor. [Laughter.]
Mr. Regula. That's why we have those white cloths on the
table today.
Mr. Monster. It doesn't help.
Mr. Regula. Elmo, how can Congress help you and all your
friends?
Mr. Monster. Boy, you have a really bassy voice. It's nice.
[Laughter.]
It's nice. That's not funny. Elmo spent all his life
listening to and playing and loving music. That's because music
is in Elmo. Music is Elmo. And Elmo knows that there is music in
Elmo's friends all over the country. But some of them just don't
know it yet. They don't know how to find their music. So that's
why Elmo needs Congress to help. Please, Congress, help Elmo's
friends find the music inside them. Thank you. And Elmo loves
you very much.
Mr. Regula. And my grandchildren love you, too, Elmo.
Mr. Monster. Ah, get out of here. [Laughter.]
Mr. Regula. Mr. Cunningham, do you have any questions for
our witness today?
Mr. Cunningham. Elmo, you have one person I think I'd be
remiss, actually, two. Mrs. Bell in San Diego, California, her
husband started Taco Bell.
Mr. Monster. Really? You mean that little chihuahua?

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 Mr. Cunningham. Yes. It should have been a Jack Russell.
But they have donated scores of money through their foundation
to enhance music in the Encinido Union School District in San
Diego. There's groups like that. We want to thank you on this
Committee, as well as Mr. Lamond, who's a musician himself, for
appearing before us.
Music does have an important part in life. All of us have
cried at funerals, we get tears in our eyes at the Star Spangled
Banner. I do believe that it enhances a child's education.
When I mentioned I flew in combat, I listened to music.
Music has a rhythm to it. And whether you're flying an airplane
or what, that rhythm helps in the functions. So I think if they
even did some studies on outside of education, athletes, things
like that, I think they'd find it very rewarding.
Thank you, Mr. Lamond.
Mr. Monster. Thank you very much. From all of us at Sesame
Street, we thank you. You're very important to us.
Mr. Regula. Well, thank you for coming, Elmo. You have an
important message, and I know you have a great friend here in
Mr. Cunningham.
Mr. Monster. Yes. Thank you.
Mr. Regula. Thank you, Mr. Lamond.
Okay, the Committee is adjourned.

Hearing on Appropriations for 2003 Before the Subcomm. on the Departments
of Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the
H. Comm. on Appropriations, 107th Cong. (Apr. 23, 2002) (Statement of Joe
Lamond, President and CEO, NAMM, the Internat’l Music Products Assoc.;
and Elmo Monster, Sesame Street Muppet).

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