From Classroom to Convention Floor: Capital at NAMM 2026

In January, a small group of seniors from Capital University’s Music Technology program traveled to Anaheim, California, to attend the 2026 National Association of Music Merchants Show (NAMM), one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the music industry. Accompanied by Chad Loughrige, assistant professor of music, and Neal Schmitt, instructor in music, the students immersed themselves in three days of performances, professional development sessions, hands-on exhibits, and meaningful networking opportunities. What they experienced went far beyond a convention floor filled with gear and celebrity appearances, it was a transformative glimpse into their futures as industry professionals. Below, two students reflect on the moments that inspired them, challenged them, and solidified their paths forward in music technology.

Connecting the Dots Between Education and Industry
Courtney Pittman ’26, Music Technology 

I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, alongside Chad Loughrige and Neal Schmitt and 12 fellow seniors from the Music Technology program at Capital University. The convention was a massive, immersive experience spread across multiple buildings, filled with sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities. Each attendee of the NAMM show used personalized badges with QR codes to access sessions.

On the first day, when I first walked into the Arena Plaza, NAMM was immediately overwhelming, with a lot of people moving between venues. A group of us began at the Hilton for the required GenNext Plenary Session, as we were all GenNext Awardees. This session introduced the 2026 NAMM Show and allowed us to connect with other college students while learning about undergraduate and graduate music programs in the United States. Later, I attended several Sound for Picture workshops, including panels on the music of Bel-Air and on Sync Licensing from a music supervisor’s perspective. Afterward, we explored the main exhibit hall filled with instruments, gear, and nonstop sound from drums, guitars, horns, and more, all playing at once. While taking it all in I came across Earth, Wind & Fire keyboardist Wayne Vaughn performing at a booth. The day ended with a Lamond GenNext meet-and-greet featuring leaders from the NAMM Foundation, followed by a session with Charlie Puth, where he broke down his creative process behind his song “Changes.” Attending this session was very beneficial because I got to learn and take in multiple innovative ways in which to create a song.

The second day focused heavily on professional audio exhibits. I attended a session on Mixing for Worship with Jake Hartsfield where I learned multiple helpful techniques to use for my job at a church, then explored the Pro Audio convention area, which featured mixing consoles, plugins, synthesizers, compressors, and other high-end gear. I also spent time helping at the MusicMax booth, which provided valuable hands-on experience with high-end gear and networking opportunities. Later, I attended Andrew Scheps’ session analyzing Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” where I gained insight into the process behind mixing a hit song.

The third day began with the Grand Rally Breakfast featuring Victor Wooten and Chad Smith. This was the most meaningful experience of the trip for me, as it highlighted the NAMM Foundation’s mission to invest in the future of music. Student musicians from New Orleans performed, received mentorship from Victor Wooten, and demonstrated the power of music education. Chad Smith’s reflections deeply resonated with me, reflecting on the impact that strong music educators have had on my own life. The event concluded with a performance of “Superstition.” The rest of the day included trying instruments, exploring mo    re gear, receiving free merchandise, and passing Stevie Wonder on multiple occasions. Overall, NAMM was an experience of a lifetime, allowing me to witness the shared passion and strong sense of community within the music industry. It was a chance for all of us in the music industry to connect on a personal level through our shared purpose of continuing to do what we love through music.

Blown Away at NAMM: From Starstruck to Self-Assured 
Thomas Secrist ’26, Music Technology 

Any expectations I had for the NAMM Show were blown out of the water before I even got to the convention center. Waiting for the walk sign at the crosswalk, I realized I was standing right next to Jared Falk from the Drumeo company. I had watched Jared’s beginner drumming tutorials for years growing up and seeing him I was absolutely starstruck. After seeing a major industry professional standing there on the street, it finally hit me that NAMM was going to be unlike anything I’d ever experienced. 

Day 1 was a whirlwind. I went to talks and ingested knowledge, met people, took names and business cards, and was floored by the sheer size of the showroom floor. I got access to resources for sync licensing, which is something I’ve recently taken a serious interest in. I also made a few friends through the Lammond GenNext program, which I received a monetary award through to help pay for the trip. Day 2 was much more laid back, especially as the fatigue of the first day started to catch up to me. I worked a volunteer shift at the MusicMax booth, which is coincidentally where I’ll be doing my professional semester internship within a few weeks. I got to know all the executives and connect with some really great people within the company. The NAMM Show opened my eyes to the breadth of the industry, but working at the MusicMax booth made me see just how much mobility there can be within a single company. The second day made me much more confident and eager to make my way into the workforce within the music industry. I also got to see a few YouTubers I follow, which was awesome. During the final day, I felt the most confident. I worked up the nerve to introduce myself to one of my all-time favorite artists, Dibia$e, who happened to be playing a set at the Pioneer DJ booth. I saw incredible live music, and watched Chad Smith of the RHCP and bassist Victor Wooten perform together, which was surreal. I attended another sync music presentation that was full of gems and took lots and lots of notes. 

The NAMM Show was more incredible than I ever imagined. I felt myself evolve from day one to three, becoming more confident in myself, my abilities, and my purpose. I felt I was truly able to say, “I’m a musician,” or “I’m an engineer”, and share my passions and interests with strangers, allowing us to bond. I spoke to people in the sync field, other beatmakers, and musicians, and exchanged Instagram and LinkedIn profiles to stay connected after we all returned home. The biggest takeaway for me in terms of what to do moving forward is to simply put the reps in. Make as many beats, tracks, songs, etc. as I possibly can get and work diligently to improve my craft so I can effectively market myself. I’ve never been an entrepreneurial person, but I can see a clear path forward that involves working a 9-5 music industry job and having a musical side hustle like composing for sync that could eventually blossom into a fully fledged career. The NAMM Show solidified my drive to be an industry professional, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was provided to attend. I hope that in a few years, I’ll be able to attend again and take another giant leap forward as a professional, a musician, and a member of the beautiful music industry.

For more information about Music Tech at Capital, visit https://www.capital.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/music-technology/.