Sigma Alpha Iota

saI-natIOnal.ORg sPRIng 2014 PAN PIPES 13 saI phIlanthropIes, Inc. Professional Development Grant t hanks to the generosity of a Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. Professional Development Grant, I was able to travel to Toronto, Canada to present a paper at the 2011 International Symposium for Performance Science conference. As a tenure-earning faculty member, it is expected that I present my research at important national and international conferences. While I am very lucky that my institution provides competitive grant support for such activities, I did not qualify for funding at the time I accepted the ISPS invitation. SAI came to my rescue, providing funds to offset my conference costs. Without SAI funding, I would not have been able to attend or present my research. e conference focused on scientific exploration and measurement of musical performance. My area of expertise is the voice, and it was fascinating to hear several papers discussing the mental, physical, and social aspects of the art of singing. Sessions were not exclusive to the voice and the practice of singing. Topics such as the physicality of performance; creativity and communication in performance; performance health; and the use of communicative movement in performance were researched and discussed by scholars from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Other sessions presented developments in dance medicine, approaches to expressive strategies in harpsichord performance, and the science of string playing and drumming. My paper outlined collaborative research on the preparation and performance of the female character arias in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro based on registration and character development. A lively question-and-answer session followed the presentation, which will lead to further research on this and related topics relevant to Mozart arias. As the conference was held in Canada, an entire day of the event was devoted to the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS), a cooperative grant between several Canadian entities and scholars, designed to support cooperative research in singing across many disciplines, including psychology, music therapy, and neurology, among many others. e spectrum of presentations encompassed research in aphasia in stroke patients to working with non-singing adults to the use of singing in music therapy. e ideas shared in these papers reminded me that singing is more than simply a performance art. Of particular interest to me as a teacher of singing was Colleen Skull's paper on factors that sustain elite performances in opera singers. While so many of us have a general discussion of the factors that allow a singer to perform at his or her best, Skull approached the topic from a methodical, scientific hypothesis, resulting in a systematic survey of opera singers who are currently maintaining national and international careers. e data she presented was at the same time common sense and radical in result. Her discoveries and conclusions have already stimulated exciting conversations in my voice studio. As a result of attending the International Symposium on Performance Science, I have discovered new facets of my own research that I hope will lead to future articles and presentations. My eyes are opened to the vast possibilities of collaborative research in singing and musical performance, and the opportunities available for collaboration and cooperative study. I am encouraged to take these findings back to my university and seek other ways to engage departments across the campus in the study of musical research. I am thankful for the opportunity provided by Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc., both to teach and to learn at the International Symposium for Performance Science. Region 3 Regional Officer Jamie Call Reimer is an initiate of the Eta Nu Chapter and the recipient of the 2000 National Collegiate Leadership Award. She was also a 2006 Graduate Performance Award winner, and the 2008 Doctoral Grant recipient. Prior to being elected RO, she served as Xi A Province Officer. My eyes are opened to the vast possibilities of collaborative research in singing and musical performance, and the opportunities available for collaboration and cooperative study. S igma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. proudly makes available grants in amounts up to $500 to encourage music-related continuing education and professional development among alumnae and affiliated patroness members of Sigma Alpha Iota. A member may receive one grant per triennium to support one educational and professional development activity related to her current employment in the field of music. SAI Philanthropies, Inc. requires only that the recipient share the knowledge she gains from the experience within one year with other SAIs by, for example: 1) giving a presentation at a Province Day or a chapter meeting; 2) writing a short article or summary of the event for Pan Pipes or a province/ chapter newsletter; or 3) presenting an educational workshop at a triennial convention. Examples of activities that may be funded under this grant program include, but are not limited to, the following: • Tuition for a college music course • Registration fee for a music education workshop • Mileage or airfare to attend a leadership training conference To be eligible for this grant, you must be: • an initiated SAI alumnae member or an affiliated patroness • in good financial standing with the fraternity • current with national dues In 2003, Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. began offering the Professional Development/Education Grant for Alumnae and Patronesses with Training. To date more than 120 grants have been awarded to assist members with their professional goals. Your donations to SAI Philanthropies, Inc, DO make a difference. (See pg. 18 for more information about making a contribution or go to sai-national.org.)

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