Arts & Entertainment

Know a South Tampa Music Teacher Who Rocks?

The Grammy Foundation is taking nominations for its first-ever music educator award and there's $10,000 on the line for the winner.

They battle in the trenches every day teaching youngsters about Beethoven, Bach and the importance of proper form when signing or playing a musical instrument.

In some students, they inspire a simple appreciation for music. In others, they foster a passion that leads them on a path toward life on the stage.

Because of all they do, the Grammy Foundation says music educators rock and now it wants to honor them with a new award it intends to roll out next year.

Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nominations for the first-ever Music Educator Award are now open and the Grammy Foundation is looking for suggestions from all over the country, including right here in South Tampa.

“For every performer who makes it to the Grammy stage, there was a teacher who played a critical role in getting them there,” the Grammy in the Schools website says. “It's time to say thank you to all of those teachers who put in all of those hours to make sure that all of us love and play music today.”

Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That’s exactly what the Grammy Foundation hopes to do with its new award category. The award comes with a $10,000 honorarium attached and will be presented during Grammy Week 2014. A total of 10 finalists will be selected from nominations across the country with the nine runners-up receiving $1,000 each, according to a media release from the Grammy Foundation. The Ford Motor Company Fund is helping underwrite the contest.

Who Qualifies?

The Grammy Foundation is looking for nominations on behalf of music educators from kindergarten through college. Teachers can come from private or public schools and anyone is eligible to submit a nomination. Teachers can even nominate themselves, the release says.

Once a nomination goes in, the teacher will be notified and asked to fill out an application.

The deadline to nominate your favorite music teacher is April 15, 2013.

Know an outstanding music educator in the South Tampa area? Visit the nomination website to tell the Grammy Foundation why that teacher rocks! Be sure to let us know too by commenting below about what makes your favorite teacher so special or email Chris Taylor the details.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here