FCMEA Visiting Scholar Pilot Program

PURPOSE

To invite an expert on a certain topic in music education. The guest scholar would come to the chosen campus during the Spring 2025 or Fall 2025 semester and provide 3-4 sessions on a united topic.

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DESIRED OUTCOMES

(1) To impact university students – It is desired that music education majors at your university and the surrounding higher education institutions will be positively impacted by attending workshops and presentations from an expert in the field. (2)  To impact FCMEA Members – All sessions must be recorded and made available to other members through the FCMEA website. It is desired to build a high-quality digital library of guest scholars so that FCMEA members can integrate high-quality pre-recorded presentations into their teaching and learning.

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AWARD AMOUNT

Up to $1500 (reimbursement for expenses + optional per diem)

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ELIGIBILITY

Active membership in the Florida College Music Educators Association.

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PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Proposals will be accepted until January 3rd, 2025 11:59 pm. Be prepared to provide

1. Short description of the proposed visiting scholar’s topic and presentations (visiting scholar(s) must agree to have their presentations filmed for educational use).

2. Guest scholar’s bio and connection to topic(s).

3. Strategic Reason for FCMEA to consider the present topic

4.  University host's ability to accommodate a guest and high-quality video recording of sessions.

 

All expenditures covered by this grant must be completed by December 31 of 2025. Award recipients will be announced during the FCMEA business meeting at the FMEA Professional Development Conference in January. 

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PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals are evaluated by the FCMEA Professional Development Committee. Reviewers will consider the following criteria: TBA

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SAMPLE PROPOSAL

Description: Dr. Rachel Grimsby (James Madison University) is an expert on accessibility in music education. She will come to the [university] campus during the Spring 2024 semester to provide four special sessions on accessibility in music education:
1. Disability Theories and Music Education
2. Common Discord: Collaborating with Special Education Paraprofessionals in the Music Classroom
3. Assistive Devices in the General Music Setting
4. Using Children’s Literature to Guide Important Conversations

Guest Scholar Bio: Dr. Rachel Grimsby has over fifteen years of experience teaching elementary general music and choir. Her research interests, while varied, are centered in teaching music to students with disabilities, preservice music teacher preparation as it relates to teaching music to students with disabilities, and the relationship between music and language acquisition. She has been published in the International Journal of Music Education, Arts Education Policy Review, Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Qualitative Research in Music Education, Journal of General Music Education, Music Educators Journal, and the Orff Echo.

Strategic Reason for FCMEA to consider the present topic: Accessibility in music education can be intimidating. The landscape of diagnoses and adaptations for learners with individual needs is constantly in flux and it can be difficult to stay current. The sessions would improve collegiate teaching at Florida colleges and universities by having an expert in the field share the latest findings in theories, pedagogical adaptations, and awareness of assistive devices for music educators. This in turn improves the preparedness of faculty to teach accessibility to their students in courses such as “Music in Special Education."

Accommodations: I am able to schedule the proposed presentations during two music education classes, a school of music common hour, and a music education forum (spanning Thursday morning-Friday early afternoon). I will work with the head of tech at my school of music to set up and use two high-quality streaming cameras. I will work to edit A and B reels using my own software to create a presentation to ensure a high-quality presentation for digital viewers. 
 

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