"Sing me a story! Read me a song! Let's make literature come alive by creating beautiful music with it! My students are ready! I teach in a small, rural school district. Community members often feel isolated as they must drive 20 minutes to the nearest town to buy groceries and other necessities. ...
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"Sing me a story! Read me a song! Let's make literature come alive by creating beautiful music with it! My students are ready! I teach in a small, rural school district. Community members often feel isolated as they must drive 20 minutes to the nearest town to buy groceries and other necessities. The community offers no local fine arts performance opportunities or musical venues. Students must travel over an hour for cultural events like concerts and art museums.
I teach music to students in Preschool through Eighth Grade. These students are excited to make music and express their creativity. Although the resources are limited, the students' enthusiasm is anything but!
The No Child Left Behind Act has caused educators to put increased pressure on students to read, read, read. I have noticed an increasing level of frustration with students who are bombarded with this message. My solution? Let's jazz it up!
With the help of a book called "Mallet Madness" by Artie Almeida, I've been inspired to incorporate more literature into my music classes. Students are taking phrases, patterns and rhymes from these stories and using them to compose their own music. Simple phrases can be turned into rhythm songs and rhythm songs can be turned into songs with melody and accompaniments.
Unfortunately, our school library does not always contain the needed resources for these types of enrichment activities. This grant will provide a variety of story books that we will use to make music with. These books will be housed in the music room so that they are always ready for music making.
Another obstacle that students are challenged with is limited supplies for music making. We have a small number of Orff instruments such as xylophones. In order for every student to get a turn, it make take several music classes as we must play and share.
Your generous donation will provide a selection of story books with music themes, repetitive text and rhymes. This grant will also provide additional mallets so that students get to make music every time they come to class!
Students will benefit musically by making more music during each class period. By integrating literature into the classroom student interest in reading and seeing these books in a new and creative way will increase. How exciting to read an book and see the musical possibilities within its pages!
You can make a difference in the lives of these students with your generous donation. Let's do something new and creative. Let's spark not only an interest in music, but a love of reading as well!
My students need mallets for our classroom instruments and story books to bring literature alive in the music room.
See Mrs. K.'s class participating in this project!
(Enlarge photos)
Mrs. K. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Nov 12, 2009
Dear Ranae, Sharonica, Beth J, Morgan, Karen, CHARITY and Ade,
Thank you so much for your generous donation! I was thrilled to see that you value the arts and their impact on education as much as I do. Music is such an exciting medium on its own, but adding some great literature will only make it better!
The resources that you have provided will allow students to be able to play classroom instruments each time they come to class. Before students had to share and didn't get to maximize their music time with actual music making on the instruments. You have also provided a great selection of books that we will use to animate with music, compose songs for and more!
I will share our accomplishments on our music blog, school website and with parents and colleagues. I can't wait to get started! Thanks again!
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Lisa C. (volunteer)
on Sep 26, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested supplies and posted this project.
Emily D. (associate)
on Sep 28, 2009
"I gave to this project because Mrs. K is a great music teacher who makes music come alive for her students. She is also inspiring to many other music educators and is very generous about sharing her teaching ideas. Thanks, Mrs. K!"
Beth J
from Montevideo, MN
gave
on Oct 8, 2009
"I gave to this project because Tracy is great person and this will help the children she gets to work will everyday."
CHARITY
from MARQUAND, MO
gave
on Oct 9, 2009
"I gave to this project because I am so proud of the students at Richwoods. Mrs. King does a great job with them and this will help!"
Ranae
from Richwoods, MO
gave
on Nov 12, 2009
Sharonica
from St. Louis, MO
gave
on Nov 12, 2009
Karen
gave
on Nov 12, 2009
Ade
gave
on Nov 12, 2009
"I donated because the project will bring important learning opportunities to the classroom."
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Lisa C. (volunteer)
on Sep 26, 2009
Beth J
from Montevideo, MN
gave
on Oct 8, 2009
