COVID-19 Updates​​



March 30, 2020

Music Teachers and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

Last Friday, March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the third phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response relief package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $2.2 trillion emergency stimulus package includes important provisions for the arts sector and its multiple constituencies. In addition to supplemental Federal Arts Funding for a number of arts-related organizations and nonprofits, the act also addresses the plight of small businesses and individuals who have experienced devastating economic losses as a result of the pandemic.

Music teachers, especially independent studio teachers, may be eligible for many of the economic relief provisions for entrepreneurs, independent contractors and small businesses.

MTNA wants to assist our members in understanding the CARES Act and the relief it can provide for you as individuals and as music teachers and entrepreneurs. The information that follows below summarizes some of the important features most pertinent to music teachers.

However, the CARES Act contains extensive tax and non-tax stimulus to individuals and businesses too extensive to be included in this brief summary. Click here for a comprehensive summary of the CARES Act provided by the MTNA Auditor, Clark Schaefer Hackett, which describes the various tax measures for businesses, business loan programs, cash and retirement plans, unemployment, charitable deductions and student loans.

Community Development Block Grants, Small Business Administration and Unemployment Insurance

  • $5 billion for Community Development Block Grants to cities and counties. Arts groups should work directly with their mayors and local economic development offices for grant support.
  • $350 billion for Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency loans of up to $10 million for small businesses—including nonprofits (with less than 500 employees), sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (like individual artists)—to cover payroll costs, mortgage/rent costs, utilities and other operations. These loans can be forgiven if used for those purposes.
  • $10 billion for Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for loans up to $10,000 for small businesses and nonprofits to be used for providing paid sick leave for employees, maintaining payroll, mortgage/rent payments and other operating costs; Click here to apply or for more information.
  • Expanded Unemployment Insurance (UI) that includes coverage for furloughed workers, freelancers and "gig economy" workers. The bill also increases UI payments by $600/week for four months, in addition to what one claims under a state unemployment program.

Charitable Giving Tax Deduction

An “above-the-line” or universal charitable giving incentive for contributions made in 2020 of up to $300. This provision will now allow all non-itemizer taxpayers (close to 90% of all taxpayers) to deduct charitable contributions from their tax return, an incentive previously unavailable to them. Additionally, the stimulus legislation lifts the existing cap on annual contributions for itemizers from 60 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) to 100 percent of AGI for contributions made in 2020.

Checks for Individuals

Each individual with annual income under $75,000, single, or $150,000 for married filing jointly, will receive a check for $1,200 plus an additional $500 per child. The amount is completely phase out for those whose income exceeds $99,000, single, or $198,000 married filing jointly.

Retirement Withdrawals

Through December 31, 2020, eligible taxpayers can take up to $100,000 in Coronavirus distributions out of their retirement plan without incurring the 10% penalty or repay it within three years. Eligible taxpayers include those who have been diagnosed with or taking care of a dependent with the COVID-19 virus or are experiencing financial hardship from being quarantined, laid off, etc.

Unemployment

A temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program has been established through December 31, 2020, to provide payment to those not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits (self-employed, independent contractors, those with limited work history and others) who are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency. This legislation will fund an additional $600 per week payment to each recipient of unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for up to four months. In addition, it will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits through December 31, 2020, to help those who remain unemployed after weeks of state unemployment benefits are no longer available.



March 20, 2020

Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, the coronavirus, in January, we have been closely monitoring the situation as it has rapidly evolved. Our utmost concern has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of our members, affiliates and partners across both the country and the world.

Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with national, state and local health advisories, we cancelled the 2020 MTNA National Conference in Chicago, which incidentally was scheduled to begin tomorrow, March 21. We have advised countless state and local affiliates regarding various ethical, legal and operational issues surrounding their own meetings and events. They, too, out of an abundance of caution have cancelled their events for the health and safety of their members, students, parents and others.

In addition to providing guidance and assistance to our leadership and affiliates, MTNA is also working hard to support our individual members, who are facing extraordinary disruptions in their personal and professional lives. We are seeing increasing levels of anxiety among music teachers across the U.S. In addition to health fears, there is also financial uncertainty, which can lead to intense mental distress and apprehension.

We are deeply aware of the severe impact the pandemic has had on their families, studios and livelihoods. Some have had to put their teaching on hold in order to provide support and care for loved ones. Others have embraced online, remote lessons as a new adventure in teaching and learning. Still others have continued to teach in their studios by taking extraordinary measures to maintain a safe and sanitary environment along with appropriate social distancing.

We know the community of music teachers needs us now more than ever. We are taking necessary steps to ensure we serve you by providing relevant information through our updates, emails, webinars and other online resources at mtna.org. We will continue to offer vital assistance via phone calls, emails, and postings on social media. MTNA has taken and will continue to take a measured, methodical approach to the crisis in order to ensure our decisions, guidance, and support are not only responsive to your needs, but also based on the most current and accurate information available.

As the situation continues to evolve, MTNA will continue to lead the music teaching profession through the lens of our Mission and our organizational values, which are to advance the value of music study and music making in society and to support the professionalism of music teachers. We promise to listen to you, to provide relevant answers to your questions, and to nurture your creative and resilient spirit—one member, one student and one affiliate at a time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gary L. Ingle
Executive Director & CEO



BREAKING NEWS

The 2020 MTNA National Conference Has Been Cancelled Due To The Coronavirus

March 11, 2020—As you know, the MTNA leadership has been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Based on the latest guidance from public health officials and our concerns for the safety and health of our attendees, it has become clear today that having the 2020 MTNA National Conference in Chicago on March 21–25 is impossible and that cancellation is the right thing to do.

We regret that the cancellation had to be made with such short notice, but given the rapidly evolving circumstances surrounding the virus, we wanted to be certain a responsible decision was made. We thank our professional community for your understanding, especially those who wanted the conference to be held. Read More

In response to this unique situation, we have adjusted our published refund policy for this conference and will refund registration fees in full for all attendees as well as exhibit booth fees. We are currently working through this process and appreciate your patience during this time. We will alert all attendees through email and website FAQs as further information becomes available.

Looking ahead, we urge attendees to expedite cancellation of travel arrangements and hotel reservations. Most airlines are waiving cancellation fees right now. If you made your hotel reservation with the Chicago Marriott, you should cancel it as soon as possible. Reservations cancelled less than three (3) days prior to your arrival date are subject to a fee equal to one-night’s room rate plus applicable taxes.

We know that great things happen when the music teaching profession comes together and connects at MTNA. Our conferences are a valuable and treasured event for our community. We are working on means to provide online opportunities to foster communication, teacher education and professional development offerings in lieu of an in-person conference in 2020. We will send you an update as soon as possible.

On behalf of the MTNA Board of Directors and the 2020 Conference Planning Committee,
Gary L. Ingle
Executive Director & CEO



MTNA National Conference Update

(March 9, 2020)

As of today (March 9), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U. S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not consider the situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a public health emergency in the United States. In addition, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has not issued any negative travel advice regarding visits to Chicago. Therefore, the MTNA National Conference on March 21–25 at the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile Hotel will proceed as scheduled.

We are actively following updates from numerous sources, including WHO and the CDC. For rolling updates on the coronavirus from WHO please click here. Information from the CDC may be found here. The health and safety of conference attendees, competitors, exhibitors, MTNA staff and others involved in the conference is our paramount concern. To that end, we have instituted numerous safety measures and guidelines in accordance with recommendations from the CDC to ensure everyone’s health and well-being at the conference.

We ask that anyone planning to attend who believes they may have been exposed to the coronavirus in other travels, or those who are not feeling well, to refrain from attending the conference for the safety of the other attendees.

The following safety measures will be implemented onsite at the Chicago Marriott Hotel:

On-Site Preparations: While the coronavirus risk remains low at this time, MTNA cannot ensure a virus-free environment. MTNA has declared that the 2020 MTNA National Conference will be a hug-free and handshake-free meeting. MTNA will also distribute to attendees printed copies of safety measures. Additionally, there will be an increased number of hand sanitation stations available in the meeting areas of the Marriott Hotel. Disposable, disinfectant wipes will be provided, as quantities allow, in session and competition rooms.

Personal Protective Measures: All attendees to the MTNA National Conference are strongly recommended to adopt all of the following virus prevention measures:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.
  • Seek medical care right away and alert our staff at registration should you begin to experience cold or flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, trouble breathing) onsite. We will alert the appropriate hotel personnel to assist with your medical needs.
  • If you experience symptoms in your room, remain there and contact the front desk for further instructions. If you have a roommate, he or she should also remain in the hotel room.

MTNA is committed to providing a safe and healthy conference experience for all involved. We will continue to monitor the latest official information leading up to our conference and encourage you to do the same. Please do not hesitate to contact us at (888) 512-5278 or mtnanet@mtna.org if you have any questions.


MTNA National Conference Update

(March 6, 2020)

With the MTNA National Conference on track to run from March 21–25, 2020, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, MTNA continues to closely monitor the coronavirus situation. MTNA is receiving and reviewing daily updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health (CDPH). We are also in constant contact with Marriott Hotel officials. The health and safety of conference attendees, competitors, exhibitors, MTNA staff and others involved in the MTNA National Conference is our paramount concern.

Travel to and in Chicago:

  • O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is one of the 11 U.S. airports screening flyers who arrive from China. The CDC has set up a screening area in Terminal 5 at O'Hare to check passengers for symptoms of coronavirus such as fever and coughing. CDPH are also monitoring returning passengers at O'Hare and complementing CDC federal screening. O'Hare is complying with the travel restrictions mandated by U.S. agencies.
  • Metra, Pace and CTA officials in charge of Chicago's train, elevated train/subway and bus systems are all monitoring the situation and taking extra precautions by cleaning and sanitizing trains and buses on a nightly basis. Employees have also been instructed on the need for frequent hand washing and sanitizing.

On-Site Preparations:

While the coronavirus risk remains low at this time, MTNA cannot ensure a virus-free environment. MTNA has declared that the 2020 MTNA National Conference will be a hug-free and handshake-free meeting. MTNA will also distribute to attendees printed copies of safety measures. Additionally, there will be an increased number of hand sanitation stations available in the meeting areas of the Marriott Hotel. Disposable, disinfectant wipes will be provided, as quantities allow, so keyboards in session and competition rooms can be routinely sanitized.

Personal Protective Measures:

All attendees to the MTNA National Conference are strongly recommended to adopt all of the following virus prevention measures:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.
  • Consult your health provider about receiving the influenza vaccination.

MTNA is committed to providing a wonderful conference experience for all involved, so please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions. We can be reached at (888) 512-5278 or mtnanet@mtna.org.

Sincerely,
Gary L. Ingle
Executive Director & CEO
Music Teachers National Association