It's in the Bag!

My Students: Do you remember having to carry many things home from school that just wouldn't fit into your backpack? My students not only carry their backpacks and instruments home, but al...

My Project: The music stand carrying bags will provide a way for the children to carry their folding music stands efficiently. They won't drop the stand or loose a piece of it on the way ... more»

My Students: Do you remember having to carry many things home from school that just wouldn't fit into your backpack? My students not only carry their backpacks and instruments home, but also a music stand that seems awkward to carry because they need a special case for it.

My students attend a public elementary school in a low income area. We are fortunate to have a beginning band program for 4th and 5th grades. Many children and their parents are enthusiastic about being part of the band program. Our band not only plays for the programs in school, but also gets invited to play in the community. This year, we got to play in our school's Christmas program and Spring Hispanic Program. We also got invited to play our music in 2 branch libraries and a senior citizen's center. Through band in the 2 years that I have to work with them, the kids build an incredible bond with one another and with me, too. They come often to visit after they go on to middle and high school.

My Project: The music stand carrying bags will provide a way for the children to carry their folding music stands efficiently. They won't drop the stand or loose a piece of it on the way to a practice or a performance. The music stand bag will look more professional and less clumsy than putting the stand in a plastic grocery bag, for example. As a result, the children will take more pride in what they are doing, and as a result boost their self-image especially when they have to perform in the community. Going to performances will become so much easier carrying their folding stand in a bag that is especially designed for it. Not only do they have to take their music stand to the performance, but also their instrument and their music. Carrying all of these items will help to make easier it for them if their stand is in a suitable case.

My students sometimes feel that by living in a poor area that they receive the worst of everything, and what they do receive is incomplete in some way. My goal is to have a complete inventory of necessary music supplies and to slowly but surely upgrade the quality of our equipment. hide»