I teach beginning band in a rural school district with many low income students. Being in the school band is very popular, and many students of low income want to join. Each year I have to turn away students who want to be in band because of a lack of school owned instruments.
My beginning band students come from 5 elementary schools in a rural district in Washington State.
Three of the schools are 60%+ low income. All the schools do well on state standardized tests. The band program begins in 6th grade with between 70-80 students in the band. Being in beginning band is popular and is become more popular each year.
My Project
Each year I turn away students that want to join band but because of family finances can't afford the cost of a rental instrument which in our area runs $25-40 per month. I have some instruments that I can loan out to low income students but never enough. Instruments will be loaned to low income students without charge. With band instruments being quite durable these 3 instruments, 2 trumpets and 1 clarinet, will provide years of service to my students. Band students learn how to play an instrument that requires discipline, concentration, physical ability, and dedication. Character traits that will carry over into their regular lives.
The donation of these instruments will allow 3 more students to join band and learn to play an instrument.
Students that would be kept from this opportunity because of family finances that are out of their control. It breaks my heart as a music educator when I have to turn kids away because I don't have access to enough instruments for all our low income students. While 3 more instruments doesn't sound like much it will be really big for 3 of my students. Thank You!
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