Let Our Voices Be Heard! We Need to Add to Our Sound System!
My students need an audio mixer so that we can plug in, and amplify, the wireless microphones that were donated to us last year for our after school drama program.
Imagine if students who rehearsed for hours to produce an original musical theater production couldn't be heard opening night! We are in need of an audio mixer so that we can use the wireless mics that were donated to our school last year. They will not work unless we have this piece of equipment.
As part of a comprehensive after school arts enrichment program in a large intermediate school in Connecticut, students in grades 4,5,6 have written scripts, composed music and lyrics, and are learning how to act in an original musical theater production.
The play, Tell Me Why Tell Me How, is based on pourquoi tales, folktales which attempt to explain why animals look and act the way they do. The play consists of two Just So Stories by Kipling, two African folktales, and two Native American folktales. Our cast is made of a broad range of students - those learning English, struggling readers, special education students, and even students who are identified as gifted and talented. The love of the arts, theater, music and dance is the glue that bonds them together. In addition to writing, composing and acting, students are also participating in a technology program to produce a "digital backdrop" that will project students' original artwork illustrating scenes of the play.
My Project
Many of the students who are involved with this program do not have an outlet for their creative talents, whether singing, dancing or acting. Our program offers a platform for students to shine, who do not have this opportunity in their regular classrooms. Students who are shy learn how to face their fears and perform for peers and family members. Many of these students are struggling readers, and reading a script over and over increases their reading rate and fluency. In addition, we have seen students take on leadership roles, where they offer suggestions to other cast members and improve their interpersonal skills. Through a generous donation, we were given a gift of 8 wireless microphones, but they will not work without the high quality audio mixer that I am requesting. Our play takes place in the cafeteria which has poor acoustics. Without microphones, the audience wouldn't hear the play.
Owning this audio mixer will help us build our sound system so that we can continue to offer professional-level musical theater performances for years to come.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Hackel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.