CHAPIN FOUNDATION GRANT

The Elfriede Chapin Foundation Grant was developed in the memory of a dear member who was an enthusiastic and dedicated officer of our organization, after her passing at a very young age. Since its inception in the 1990s, NYSMTA has awarded grants based on some very interesting projects proposed by members.  These have included lecture-recitals, designing new teaching materials for special needs children, and research projects which have yielded presentations to the membership at State Conferences or Local Association meetings.

Our purpose and goal are to encourage members to share their expertise, knowledge and research findings with the entire membership.  Our own colleagues’ resources shared in this manner represents great potential for professional growth and development within our ranks. 

The Chapin Grant is meant to support a well-focused project involving NEW research.  After the grant is awarded and the work is completed, the findings are then presented by the recipient.  This can be accomplished by submitting an article for publication in the NYSMTA newsletter, or, if approved by MTNA, for publication in the American Music Teacher magazine. Another option would be for the recipient to present the study’s findings at a State Conference or a Local Association meeting.  There is a required time period of one year from the date of receiving the grant to submission of a final report to the Grant Committee (prior to presentation of the study).

An applicant for this grant must provide information pertinent to membership (name, local association, date membership commenced), a project description, a description of how the project or research will benefit other members, and the method of presentation (newsletter or AMT article or presentation at the State Conference or a Local Association meeting).

If you are interested in applying for this grant, please contact me, Michael Merolla, Chapin Grant chairperson, at 631-473-0307 or by email at mbm00@optonline.net, and  I will forward an application to you. The completed application will be shared with the entire committee for its consideration.  We are hoping to hear from you!  There is a lot of talent and knowledge in our wonderful association, and pursuing new areas of study and research is of vital interest to all of us.

CITATION AWARD

Since 1971, the New York State Music Teachers Association has awarded a citation at each conference.  These citations are offered in recognition of an individual’s contributions to our profession.  NYSMTA members (yes....that means all of you!) are invited and encouraged to nominate potential recipients for review by the Citations Committee.

In the past we have recognized many noteworthy composers such as Lynn Freeman Olson, Samuel Adler, Lee Evans, Paul Sheftel and Joseph Fennimore; performers including Nelita True, Fernando Laires, Jean Barr and Malcolm Bilson; master teachers including Maurice Hinson, Antonia Lavanne, Robert C White, Ruth Lakeway, and Bruce Berr; former state and national officers such as Barbara Woods and Deborah Martin; and others such as Joseph Polisi, Robert Sherman and conductor Brock Mc Elheran.  These are just a few examples of the extraordinary people who have received our citations.

I am encouraging our members to consider bringing forward nominations for new candidates.  Nominees should have demonstrated service to the music teaching profession – at the heart of our organization’s primary purpose.  This could be through dedicated leadership at the State, Division or National levels of NYSMTA/MTNA or through outstanding contributions to music and the arts through community, cultural and artistic activities.

Your nomination for the 2020 NYSMTA Citation Award, to be given at our Conference which takes place at Schenectady County Community College on Saturday, October 17, can be submitted in writing or by email.  It should include supporting evidence or detailed reasons for advancing the nomination consistent with those outlined in the paragraph above.  Please send your nominations to me, Michael Merolla, at P.O. Box 428, Miller Place, N.Y. 11764.  The deadline for this year’s nomination will be September 10, 2020.  Our committee would love to hear from you!