#musedchat Archive

Each Monday evening at 8PM EST, music teachers get together and share ideas about important topics within music education. It’s a great chance to interact directly with educators from all over the world and to get new tips and tricks to help you succeed in the classroom. The entire #musedchat discussion is organized and moderated by Joe Guarr.

Monday April 30, 2018
8:00 PM EDT

  • MrTeechr Apr 30 @ 8:02 PM EDT
    Hey everyone! Glad to be here tonight. I teach HS Band & Choir at a small public school. #MusEdChat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:04 PM EDT
    Glad you could join us, welcome. How are you this week? #musedchat
    In reply to @MrTeechr
  • edujessication Apr 30 @ 8:05 PM EDT
    Jessica from Fort Worth, TX! First year teacher, K-5 music #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:07 PM EDT
    Welcome to the chat Jessica, I hope your first year is going well #musedchat
    In reply to @edujessication
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:10 PM EDT
    First year was crazy...I remember feeling like I barely had time to come up for air. #musedchat
    In reply to @edujessication
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:11 PM EDT
    Q1 coming shortly...I'm sure we'll have some late arrivals tonight as well #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    Hey #musedchat I’m Sarah I teach k-5 General/band/Chorus/mallets
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:12 PM EDT
    Good to see you Sarah, how was your Monday? #musedchat
    In reply to @SarahMJoncas
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    It was great! Hope yours was good as well! #musedchat
    In reply to @jguarr
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:13 PM EDT
    Q1: Have you ever applied for any grants for your program? How frequently have you done so? How comfortable do you feel applying? #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A1: I have! A local grant fund had funded me two years in a row. I was nervous the first time, but I’m here to tell the story and show the drums! #musedchat
  • edujessication Apr 30 @ 8:16 PM EDT
    A1: I applied for the TMEA elementary grant this year and got some awesome new instruments (the thunder tubes are the kids’ fave). The application itself was easy cheesy, but we have a lot and it’s hard asking for things we *want* not *need* #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:18 PM EDT
    I love thunder tubes! And I totally agree the guilt of asking when you have more than others is hard to get over #musedchat
    In reply to @edujessication
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:20 PM EDT
    A1: Wrote my first grant ever this year, and was able to purchase about 25 new pieces for our music library. #musedchat
  • MrTeechr Apr 30 @ 8:21 PM EDT
    A1: I've never applied for a grant. My booster club has applied and received a couple of grants in the past. #MusEdChat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:22 PM EDT
    Music grant wasn't a need, per se, but it was nice to be able to buy more than 6-7 pieces this year. I think all told, I bought about 35 between the grant and my budget. #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:24 PM EDT
    A mix of grade 1-3 band music. Dystopia by @mrjaycoles, Bonsai Tree by Giroux, a few William Owens pieces, and a few things from the Hal Leonard BandQuest series. Lots by females and POC. #musedchat
    In reply to @edujessication, @mrjaycoles
  • mrerichanson Apr 30 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    A1: Eric from Coppell, TX. Yes - I recently received a very generous grant from our wonderful district education foundation. It was used to purchase a class set of ukuleles (30) and accessories, and some supporting curriculum. #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:25 PM EDT
    Q2: Do you have any experience using crowdfunding like Donors Choose? If so, what are your tips for success with it? #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    a2: I don't, but I've seen others have success. It seems smaller projects are the way to go there, and qualify for a match if possible by integrating other subjects #musedchat
  • StruszMusic Apr 30 @ 8:27 PM EDT
    Don Strusz from South Brunswick, NJ A1- local Education Foundation has $500 or $1000 grants which supported me getting an iPadPro to help create digital classroom for my students and me. #musedchat #sbpdchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    I've been seeing lots of discussion on Twitter this year about a lack of diversity in programming. They were totally right, and I decided to fix it in my little corner. #musedchat
    In reply to @edujessication, @mrjaycoles
  • edujessication Apr 30 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    A2: My only experience with Donors Choose is in college when I was in charge of service for Sigma Alpha Iota and found a local music teacher who had posted in need of egg shakers and we made egg shakers for her. I haven't posted anything myself #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:28 PM EDT
    Welcome to the chat, Don! #musedchat
    In reply to @StruszMusic
  • mrerichanson Apr 30 @ 8:29 PM EDT
    A2: I do not - but I’m interested to hear from those who have. Would the funds be funneled through PTO/As? Or treated as donation to school general acct? #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:30 PM EDT
    That's a good question. I would assume Donors Choose has a policy on that, but I'm not sure. #musedchat
    In reply to @mrerichanson
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:34 PM EDT
    Q3: What other non-budgetary sources of funding have you had success with? #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:37 PM EDT
    a3: Boosters! I love that my district's booster group is for ALL music (not just band or performing ensembles) and they lend a hand by helping us at events in addition to raising $$ #musedchat
  • edujessication Apr 30 @ 8:37 PM EDT
    A3: Our wonderful PTA sold candy at our musical this year! Hershey bars for our production of Willy Wonka, complete with golden ticket winners 🍫 #musedchat
  • StruszMusic Apr 30 @ 8:39 PM EDT
    A3: We had night of food and music. Everything was donated by local restaurants or stores and our program supplied the music. We used it as a fundraiser for local food pantry but you can use $ for what you need. Lots of work but worth it! #musedchat #sbpdchat
  • mrerichanson Apr 30 @ 8:40 PM EDT
    A3: For our major music dept fundraiser each year, we put on a big music theatre production. It runs for 4 shows, and funds most monetary needs for the next calendar year (including next year’s show). In the past, I have done spaghetti dinners w/ all donated food. #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:41 PM EDT
    Awesome! People will flock to events with food #musedchat
    In reply to @StruszMusic
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:42 PM EDT
    School where I student taught had a big dinner called "Band Aid". Loads of pasta, student performances, and a silent auction. #musedchat
  • StruszMusic Apr 30 @ 8:44 PM EDT
    Put people around a table with good food and excellent tunes, we could solve some of the worlds problems! Everyone has to eat. #musedchat #sbpdchat
    In reply to @jguarr
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:47 PM EDT
    Q4: Plenty of local community grants out there...anything available state or nationwide that you've found? #musedchat
  • mrerichanson Apr 30 @ 8:52 PM EDT
    A4: Here in TX there are plenty of grants available through the TMEA process. I am applying for one this year to supplement and add to the coding and robotics I have been infusing. #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:53 PM EDT
    A4: Michigan has the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, which awards up to $1500 for 'equipment'. They also do field trip grants to defray costs. #musedchat
  • SarahMJoncas Apr 30 @ 8:55 PM EDT
    a4: There's some through state chapters of various professional organizations (Orff etc) but I haven't applied for any yet #musedchat
  • jguarr - Moderator Apr 30 @ 8:59 PM EDT
    Thanks for chatting tonight, everybody. Hope you have an awesome week! #musedchat