I truly feel my job as a music educator is not so much about "teaching a lesson" but more about helping children learn to have a lifelong LOVE of music. I enjoy searching for new and fun ways to teach children the stepping stones to a lifetime of joy that comes with a strong musical education.
The students in my school are high-need with a large percentage of special education, free and reduced lunch students and minorities.
(Our largest minority group is Native American students.) Over a third of the parents in our school district do not have a high school diploma. Our rural community is in an economically depressed area with high unemployment. Enrichment through DonorsChoose donations will vastly enrich and improve student opportunities.
After much study and research, I have found an amazing way to teach recorders to ALL my students, including the special education children and the hard-to-reach ones. The program I use is called Recorder Karate. The students have the opportunity to earn different colored "belts" that are attached to the end of their recorders after they master specific pieces within their method book. This visual aide is extremely motivation for the students and they love being able to show their friends and family their progress. Students can be found lined up outside my doorway during recess and at lunch to take their playing tests on each piece. I do not have enough recorders for each of my students to have one to play in class or to take home to practice. This forces the students to share instruments. The students have to sanitize the recorders before and after each class, which costs them valuable instruction time.
My Project
I am requesting through DonorsChoose.org. three Symphony Music Stands, One-Piece Soprano Recorders, and two bottles of Germicide Concentrate. Students will use the recorders and music stands during Recorder Karate. The germicide concentrate will keep recorders clean and sanitary.
Brain-based research indicates that music education produces higher math and literacy scores.
Research further indicates that music promotes increased classroom participation, improved social skills, less bullying and higher standardized test scores. By adding new recorders and music stands to my classroom, my students will learn the basics of music and playing an instrument. More importantly, they will learn discipline, patience, confidence and teamwork!
More than a third 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
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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. Aldridge and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
