Elementary Music/Music Technology Blog

Back in 2005, Dr. Tom Rudolph, President of TI:ME, nominated me for the first-ever TI:ME Teacher of the Year. I was so honored to have won the award. It meant a great deal for me that such a fine organization like TI:ME, Technology for Music Education, would award me their Teacher of the Year 2005 for the ways that I integrate technology into the elementary music classroom. I also was impressed that an organization was recognizing the efforts put forth by teachers to utilize technology to enhance their curriculum. Since then, TI:ME has awarded this honor to Karen Garrett, Michael Fein, Ace Martin, and Wayne Splettstoeszer. All recipients received a beautiful plaque, are recognized at the national conference (this year in NJ, February 2010), and receive recognition at local and national levels. It is quite an exciting and tremendous honor. Due to winning the award in 2005, I felt confident to write the book Technology Integration in the Elementary Music Classroom, and to hold workshops and teach graduate courses on how to integrate technology into the music classroom.

It is that time of year to nominate candidates for this award. Some of the criteria:

1. Applicant must have a minimum of three years of professional teaching and/or research in music technology experience and currently teach K-12 students, at the College/University level, or adults.
2. Applicant must be a TI:ME member in good standing.
3. Members of the TI:ME Advisory Board, Board of Directors, and previous recipients are not eligible.

The criteria for the applicant:

The Nominee will have demonstrated outstanding abilities in at least three (3) of the following areas:

1. Develop and use technology with music students creatively and effectively.
2. Demonstrate the use of technology that enhances the national and/or state standards.
3. Utilize current research in music technology effectively.
4. Demonstrate research of significant importance to the field of music education and technology.
5. Develop music technology performance ensembles that exhibit a high degree of excellence.
6. Demonstrate exemplary training of teachers in the field of music education and technology.
7. Publish articles, books, CD-ROMs and related materials that are of significance in the field of music education and technology.
8. Demonstrate leadership and creativity in the field of music education technology, and be active in professional organizations, e.g., presenting at conferences and seminars.

The submission requirements:

1. Vita of Nominee.
2. Narrative of the Nominee’s accomplishments.
3. Supporting written documentation from students, parents, colleagues, supervisor, etc.
4. Video or teaching portfolio demonstrating excellence in music technology.
5. Copy of the teaching schedule of Nominee.
6. Nomination materials submitted no later than December 15, 2009.

The complete application can be found here and is due by December 15 to the following address:

TI:ME
3300 Washtenaw Ave., Ste 220
Ann Arbor MI 48104

Please contact me if you have any questions.

I look forward to seeing who the next music educator will receive this award.