My students need 15 guitars to play in the music classroom during our spring guitar unit.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Strawbridge's classroom raised $936
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
How can we have an "all inclusive," "hands on," music program when all of the students are not able to participate due to the lack of instruments. Many of our intermediate classes have between 35 and 60 students and during our guitar unit the student will share 16 guitars. That's just not practical!
Our students love music!
This is a Title I school with 986 students, almost 90% of which are on free and reduced lunch and 72% being Hispanic. Although we are located in a high poverty, low socio-economic community, our students are extremely hardworking, self-motivated, and talented. We have great kids here. Our students have a thirst for knowledge and like I said, they LOVE music! Unfortunately, many of our students come from broken homes where they face numerous challenges and often find themselves in discouraging situations that a child their age just simply should not be placed in. For many, music is going to be their ticket to a successful future. Our goal as their music teacher is to provide a variety of quality musical experiences, while at the same time, creating an atmosphere that develops, nurtures, and reinforces the love of music in EVERY child!
My Project
The purchase of 15 guitars will allow us to teach guitar to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students in the music classroom. Our goal is to build our guitar inventory so that eventually every student can play their own guitar during class. As a result, this will positively enhance the learning experience for our students. The students will be learning the basics of the guitar; including the correct holding and playing positions, basic strumming, simple chords, simple songs, music reading, listening, and playing together in an ensemble setting. Our goal is for the students to be able to pick up a guitar and simply play a variety of songs for themselves and the people that they love. Most importantly, the students will gain another positive avenue for self-expression. Whether or not our kids decide to continue their musical growth in Middle or High School, the guitar is an instrument that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives; potentially impacting their lives forever.
In all reality, the neighborhood surrounding our school can present our students with many obstacles.
They face the challenges of drugs, gangs, poverty and doubt. They need something to capture their hearts and show them that through hard work and effort, they can achieve! Music is an extremely viable avenue for that success. Our job is to not only give EVERY student a hands on musical experience, but to also make EVERY student feel important. What better way to start than guitars in every hand!
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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 Mr. Strawbridge and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
