Funding Amount

Full tuition coverage for one year of instrument lessons

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Music To My Ears (MTME) Scholarship Program - Instrument Lessons

Funder: Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR), Illinois, US

Geographic Scope: Chicagoland area, Illinois

Focus Areas: Instrument music education for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children

Program Overview

As a continuation of the Music To My Ears (MTME) scholarship program, FHSR provides a year of tuition-free instrument lessons for deaf and hard of hearing children ages four and above. This program helps deliver high-quality music education programming through partnerships with leading music schools throughout the Chicagoland area.

Target Population: Children ages four and above (up to 13 years of age)

    What This Program Provides

  • Tuition-free instrument lessons for one full year
  • Access to a wide range of instruments:
  • - Piano - Guitar - Ukulele - Drums/Percussion instruments - String instruments - Band instruments - Musical theatre programs
  • Individual and group lesson options
  • Classes at entry level up to expert level
  • Age and level-appropriate instruction
  • Key supports along the way to ensure student success
  • Opportunity to develop music aptitude and skills

    Eligibility Requirements

  • Child must be deaf or hard of hearing
  • Child must be ages four and above (up to 13 years of age)
  • Reside in or near Chicagoland area

    Program Benefits

  • Self-discipline and perseverance development
  • Teamwork and empathy enhancement
  • Social-emotional learning support
  • Skills that serve students throughout their lives
  • Placement with age and level-appropriate peers
  • Teachers trained to support DHH students
  • Multiple partner locations to reduce access barriers

    Partner Schools (Instrument Lessons)

  • Merit School of Music - 38 South Peoria Street, Chicago, IL 60607
  • - Individual and Group Instrument Lessons (ages 4-14) - Instruments: Piano, Guitar, String & Band
  • Old Town School of Folk Music - Logan Square and Lincoln Park locations, Chicago
  • - Individual & group instrument classes (ages 5-12) - Instruments: Piano, drums, guitar, ukulele & fiddle
  • Community School of the Arts - Wheaton College - 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187-5501
  • - Ages 4-6: Keyboard & strings - Additional instrument options available
  • Music Makers of Western Springs - 4332 Howard Avenue, Western Springs, IL 60558
  • - Individual Instrument Classes - Instruments: Piano, Strings, Drums, Guitar/Ukulele & Musical Theatre
  • School of Rock - Multiple locations (Northbrook and Oak Park, IL)
  • - Performance-based music education system - Ages 8-16 - Locations: 3139 Dundee Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062 and 219 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 - Includes individual lessons, group rehearsals and live performances
  • Prospect Music Therapy - Arlington Heights, IL area
  • - Individual Instrument Classes - Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice and Percussion
  • Encore Music Academy - 87 North Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
  • - Music Lessons & Classes - Ages birth - 6 years and beyond
  • Edge Music Academy - Homer Glen & Naperville
  • - Individual Instrument Classes - Pedagogically sound music lessons

    Funding Information

  • Cost to Sponsor: $900 donation will sponsor a year of lessons for one deaf or hard of hearing child
  • This allows children who might not otherwise afford music lessons to experience high-quality instruction

    Contact & More Information

  • Website: fhsr.org
  • Organization: Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR)
  • Tax ID: 36-6082810 (501(c)(3) tax exempt organization)

How to Apply

How to Apply for MTME Instrument Lessons Scholarship

Application Method: Online application form

Required Information

#### 1. Candidate Information

  • Full name (First and Last)

  • Birthday (Month, Day, Year)

  • How you heard about the scholarship program (options: FHSR event, Service provider, Website, Social media)

  • If applicable: Name of service provider or name of referring institution/school
  • #### 2. Parent/Guardian Information

  • Full name (First and Last)

  • Phone number

  • Email address

  • Relationship to applicant

  • Complete residence address (Address Line 1, Address Line 2, City, State, Zip Code)
  • #### 3. Information Regarding the Applicant

  • Hearing loss level

  • Device used (if any)

  • Preferred music school location

  • Schedule preference

  • Open-ended prompt: "Please tell us anything else you'd like to share"
  • Application Process

    1. Access the online application form at fhsr.org 2. Complete all required fields marked with asterisks (*) 3. Select preferred music school location from available partner schools 4. Indicate schedule preferences and instrument interests 5. Provide additional information about your child in the open-ended section 6. Submit completed application

    Note: Application form requires JavaScript to be enabled in browser.

      Next Steps After Application

    • FHSR will review your application
    • Selected families will be notified
    • Students will be placed in age and level-appropriate instrument lessons
    • Year of tuition-free instruction will be provided at partner school
    • Students receive key supports to ensure success in their musical journey

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    music-educationhearing-and-visiondisabledacademic-enrichment

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