Since its inception, the New Mexico Music Awards has provided free workshops throughout New Mexico on everything from copyright and publishing to tech workshops for musicians looking to better understand their instrument.

Over the years we have had some incredible guest artists present for us. Songwriter and Grammy nominee Harriott Schock (Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady) who has written for film and TV was an early presenter as was Capitol Records producer Nick Venet who worked with Glen Campbell, Jim Croce, Linda Rondstadt and even Mel Brooks.

Albuquerque native and session guitarist Tim Pierce, ( Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Demi Lovato and more) has participated in our programs. Music director for Rascal Flatts, Jim Riley, gave an incredible drumming workshop. New Mexico Symphony Orchestra percussionist Douglas Cardwell taught attendees how to tune their drums.

Jazz guitarist and former Tonight show bandleader Kevin Eubanks answered questions about guitar technique and legendary bassist and studio musician Nathan East led a bass workshop as did LoCash music director and bassist and Albuquerque native Zach Fowler.

Grammy Award winning recording engineer J Douglas Geist regularly taught recording, pre and post production workshops until his retirement in 2020 and NMMA producer and songwriter Jose Antonio Ponce teaches songwriting, publishing, money management, copyright, film & TV music leasing, contract and performance workshops.

Our most important workshops, however, have been our Therapeutic Songwriting Workshops for veterans, victims of sexual assault and first responders. In these workshops, we pair songwriters with attendees and work toward creating new music that tells their story. It is one of the most effective ways of communicating the trauma and confusion some of these men and women have faced in their lives.

Our workshops have ranged from “How to tune your guitar” to “Getting your music into the movies.” We have partnered with the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, Grandma’s Music, the City of Albuquerque, The Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts, the New Mexico Music Commission, The El Morro Theater in Gallup, The Mimbres Region Arts Council in Silver City, The Raymond G Murphy Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and others to bring workshops to every corner of the state. Best of all, these sponsored workshops are free to the participants

While the New Mexico Music Awards makes a big splash each year each spring with our banquet and show, out heart and soul are in our workshops. Here’s a list of some of the workshops the NMMA currently produces. Just click on a title for a summary.

Why Music Matters

Everything you wanted to know about the music business, but were afraid to ask.

Copyright & Publishing

Closing the Deal

A Career in Music

Marketing 101

Telling Your Story

How to read a contract

Booking

Re-booting Your Career

Marketing to film & television

Social Media Marketing

Songwriting

Recording 101

Money management

Therapeutic Songwriting Workshops

We are always looking for partners to assist us in presenting our workshops. If your business or organization is looking to expand its audience by sponsoring a workshop or if you are a musician, producer, engineer, songwriter or other music industry pro and want to teach a workshop anywhere in New Mexico, reach out to us at contactnewmexicomusicawards@gmail.com or call us at 505-269-7777 and let’s chat.