The SMTA offers a variety of grants to provide financial assistance to its member teachers, including support to attend conferences and trainings, teach low-income students, purchase studio equipment, and pursue NCTM (Nationally Certified Teacher of Music) certification. Descriptions and application dates for the 2024-2025 season are below.
MusicLink Teachers Stipend
Chair: Amanda Snell
The Dorothy Woodcock MusicLink Teachers Stipends supports the SMTA values of access and widespread availability of music instruction expressed in our Vision and Mission. The MusicLink Foundation is a national non-profit that links promising music students experiencing financial need with qualified music teachers willing to teach them at up to half of their normal fee.
SMTA teachers registered through MusicLink with active MusicLink student(s) may apply for an annual $600 teaching stipend to support their outreach and commitment to teach students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to take music lessons. For more information about MusicLink visit www.musiclinkfoundation.org.
Five $600 Dorothy Woodcock MusicLink Teachers Stipends will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to SMTA teachers who are registered through MusicLink and actively teaching students registered through MusicLink for at least 3 months. Teachers are eligible for one stipend per year, regardless of how many MusicLink students they are teaching. The stipend contributes to the teacher’s reduced income for teaching at half their normal fee. The application period closes June 1 or when funds are exhausted.
Application Process
Complete every section of the application in order to qualify.
The application period opens November 1st at 8:00am and closes when funds are exhausted.
No applications accepted prior to 8:00am on November 1st.
Please apply as early as possible as these stipends will go fast.
Stipends are awarded on a first-come first-served basis, except that preference is given to those applying for the first time. The balance will be awarded to teachers who received the stipend in previous years and have applied again this year.
You may not apply until you have registered with MusicLink.
Teachers are eligible for one stipend per year regardless of how many MusicLink students they are teaching. Please complete every section of the application in order to qualify.
National Certification Grant
Chair: Karin McCullough
Application Period: July 1 – June 30
Encouraging and supporting SMTA teachers in obtaining their National Certification is a priority for SMTA. For this reason, SMTA offers five $100 grants to teachers who successfully apply for MTNA Certification during the fiscal year. When you submit a request for the SMTA grant, you will need documentation that you have applied for certification and paid MTNA. Requests for grants must be made prior to receiving NCTM designation. Contact Chair for more details.
Caroline Allen Certification Grant (see the WSMTA website for details)
WSMTA will reimburse one-half of the certification application fee for WSMTA members who successfully apply for MTNA Certification. Documentation that the member has applied and paid MTNA must be submitted to the WSMTA Certification Chair. Requests for grants must be made prior to receiving NCTM designation.
Teacher Education Grant
Chair: Katie Levine
The Dorothy Woodcock Teacher Education Grant assists SMTA member teachers financially to attend workshops, lectures, master classes or other learning situations. Excluded are degree programs and MTNA or affiliate-sponsored programs or events. Grants are given for up to $150 per teacher per year for one event. For the fiscal year July 1 to June 30, grants will be awarded until the $450 total has been exhausted. Each grant is awarded after attendance as a reimbursement for some of the expense. The application can be found on the SMTA website. Requests can be made throughout the fiscal year; the annual deadline for requests is June 1.
Conference Attendance Grants
Co-chairs: Kathy Mortensen and RoseMarie Tamburri
To encourage participation in State and District conferences, the SMTA Board of Directors approved $1,500 to help defray the registration fee for members who wish to attend. Grant requests for one-half the early-bird registration fee must be made after registration and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Reimbursements will be issued until the $1,500 amount is exhausted. Please fill out the short application, and then send RoseMarie Tamburri and Kathy Mortensen a copy of the receipt that lists your mailing address.
