Jim Chapin Memorial Teacher Scholarship

Jim Chapin began drumming in the spring of 1937 at the age of 18 years old. At the recommendation of several people, including Gene Krupa, Chapin went on to study with Sanford Moeller. By 1939, Chapin was playing opposite of Krupa at the World’s Fair in New York. Chapin toured with a variety of bands from the 1940’s through the 1960’s including Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra.

Chapin began working on his widely known method book Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. I in the early 1940’s, and the book was published in 1948. It was common to see Chapin carrying around a pair of sticks and a practice pad, as he was frequently challenged to prove that the content of his book could actually be played. In 1971 Chapin was able to publish Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer, Vol. II, which gives the reader the ability to create seemingly endless patterns through the use of removable pages that can be placed on top of other pages.

Chapin was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1995.

Eligibility: The scholarship is open to any full-time instructor during the 2024–2025 academic year. No PAS Membership is required.

Application Materials: 

• Two-minute YouTube video showing their classroom and discussing their commitment to teaching. Video must be uploaded to YouTube as public and unlisted. Videos longer than two minutes will not be accepted.
• Statement on how they plan to use the funds