Just a couple of days ago I wrote about the 55th Annual Grammy’s Awards. It was a tongue-in-cheek piece in which I proceeded to give my opinions about the winners, losers, and performances. Lost in my unfiltered ramble mode I totally missed one of the most important announcements of music’s most important evening – the new Music Educator Award!
In a much welcomed shift of attention, music celebrities are taking the time to shine the spotlight on one of the most underrated professions ever – teaching. Alongside Justin Timberlake and Ryan Seacrest, Neil Portnow (President and CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), took the stage to tell us the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy are joining forces to sponsor a new award for outstanding music teachers, The Music Educator Award.
For eligibility teachers must be U.S. based but they can teach any grade between Kindergarten and college, and have affiliation with either public or private schools. Anyone can nominate a teacher; in fact teachers can nominate themselves! Upon nomination, you’ll be notified by the program and asked to complete an application. A winner will be chosen out of top ten finalists; the first official award will be handed out the week of the 2014 Grammy Awards.
This is an excellent opportunity for us, as Latinos, to support the educators making a difference in music classes. Latin music is filled with fire and soul, and what better way to recognize those individuals teaching us how to compose and arrange the music in our hearts to make something tangible out of it!
For more information on how to nominate a worthy music teaching professional please visit their official site Grammy In the Schools.
Also available on the site above: Grammy Music Camp Applications.
Because hey, until you start to pillage your artistic abilities, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.
