Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SUMMER 2017 • PAN PIPES 17 SAI PHILANTHROPIES C E L E B R AT E C H O I R S F E S T I VA L Supported by the Midland Alumnae Chapter, Alpha C Province SAI Philanthropies' support of the Celebrate Choirs Festival was also very important in helping focus the Midland community's attention on the fine choral program in the Midland Public Schools and the music teachers who organize this Festival as a "labor of love." The Midland Alumnae Chapter has been involved with this project for four years now. The check from SAI Philanthropies, Inc. was presented to the Midland Public Schools Board of Education at its January meeting and was very well received. The teachers involved and the alumnae chapter members were able to share SAI's support of the festival on several occasions during presentations to various groups. Two chapter members served as accompanists and others guided the various classes to their workshops. Each year SAI members prepare a meal and snacks for the adjudicators and volunteers involved with the event. All of these activities helped focus community support on the Midland Public Schools' excellent music program. After the festival, the chapter received some very charming letters from students expressing their appreciation for SAI's support. Spotlight on SAI Chapter Outreach Grants Every year Sigma Alpha Iota awards Chapter Outreach Grants to active collegiate or alumnae chapters in good financial standing with the fraternity. Grants must be in support of an outreach project developed and carried out by a chapter for the musical enrichment of the campus or community beyond the membership of SAI. Grants are for a maximum of $500 and cannot be for more than half the total cost of the project. Past projects have included a workshop on vocal techniques for children's choirs, a 2-day residency by a female composer, and purchasing music materials for an Appalachian settlement school. Here are a few recent examples of projects for which Chapter Outreach Grants have been awarded. E N R I C H A V E T E R A N : M U S I C W I T H A M I S S I O N Supported by Sigma Iota Chapter, Syracuse University, Eta B Province With this Chapter Outreach Grant, Sigma Iota was able to spread its love of music to a larger group of people. The chapter has always looked forward to the visits they make to the Veteran's Affairs Hospital to sing to the veterans and their families. This year, they were able to extend their reach to the rest of Syracuse's campus by opening up the Sunday performances and inviting students outside of SAI to perform with them. Being able to spread their love of music with a broader range of people — from the audience to those performing with their chapter — was a very rewarding experience. Their hope with this grant was to present an opportunity for students who love music but don't always have time in their busy schedules to perform. The students who participated were able to not only participate, but they all really seemed to enjoy being able to share the experience with the veterans. I PA D A N D A C C E S S O R I E S P U R C H A S E F O R N OT E - A B L E M U S I C T H E R A P Y S E R V I C E S Supported by the Reno Alumnae Chapter, Delta B Province Note-Able Music Therapy Services (NMTS) is an independent local non- profit that provides music therapy to people of all abilities. They provide contract services in local hospitals and clinics, as well as independent and group therapy with adaptive music opportunities in their offices. The executive director, Manal Toppozada, is a Patroness member of the Reno Alumnae Chapter, and chapter member Kate Kirkpatrick has served on its board for four years (currently as chair of the board). NMTS does amazing work for people of all ages with physical disabilities, cognitive disorders, and others working towards non-musical goals. NMTS shared the following: "Since we purchased the iPad in late 2014, we have significantly improved our ability to serve the more than 40% of our participants who are either nonverbal or have limited verbal skills. Children with disabilities are familiar with technology in their daily lives (cell phones, computers, video games), and it has been exciting to see how easily many of them have adapted to using the iPad during their therapy sessions." In addition, NMTS has been able to use the iPad to record brief segments of therapy services to play back in gatherings of potential donors, clients, and community members. Seeing music therapy in action (by watching a non- verbal child respond to music, for example) is transformative for someone who has no idea what music therapy can do.

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