MUMBAI: Recognizing the work of music teachers, the Recording Academy has announced a music educator award. The award will be presented to teachers for the first time in 2014.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow has stated that music teachers are now eligible for a Grammy of their own. The award was announced at the Grammy Foundation's 15th annual Music Preservation Project event at the Saban Theatre on 7 February.

He said, “We are dedicated to preserving the great music of the past, present and future. Music education is perhaps the most vital part of the Grammy Foundation's mission."

Teachers from kindergarten to college are eligible for the new annual award which will be presented at a special ceremony the day before the Grammy Awards. Students and colleagues of the respective teachers can nominate the candidates online.

The music preservation project event titled ‘Play it Forward’ featured performances by Dionne Warwick, LeAnn Rimes, Emmylou Harris, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Yolanda Adams and Lupe Fiasco amongst others.

Adams, who performed two songs backed by a gospel choir, thanked the Grammy Foundation ‘for preserving the authenticity of all music’ and stated Warwick and Aretha Franklin as her music heroes.

The 55th annual Grammy awards will be held on 10 February at Staples Center, and will broadcast live on CBS.