Drumming Builds Character: Little Drums for Little Dolphins
My students need high-range tubano hand drums for our World Music Drumming Ensemble, so that every child has the opportunity to fully participate in music-making.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Thaxton's classroom raised $293
This project is fully funded
My Students
"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I'll remember. Involve me, and I'll learn."
In my classroom, I believe we are not learning music unless we are making music. Therefore, my teaching strives to be engaging and student-centered. My students learn by moving, chanting, dancing, singing, and playing.
My students are embarking on a musical journey to Africa and other drum cultures of the world.
Our Drum Ensemble has the power to take students there, but our school lacks enough instruments for every student to fully participate and realize the potential of World Music Drumming.
My school is a regular public elementary school, in Nevada, in a close-knit working-class neighborhood. My students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and face the regular challenges of making friends, family issues, fitting in, and expressing themselves. Additionally, my school houses a "Student Intervention Program." This is a self-contained program, for children district-wide, who have severe emotional and behavioral issues, and as such, have not been successful in the traditional classroom setting. Students in the SIP program receive extra individualized attention, support, and scaffolding, to help them be successful when integrating into classroom settings, dealing with peers, and into the world at large.
My Project
As a music teacher, I know the power music has. I've experienced performances that create breathless goosebumps and tears. I've experienced the power of the drum to connect music to something deep and ancient within, and its power to connect individuals into a community. Last year, our school started a drumming/counseling program with students in the SIP program that helps build social skills, personal responsibility, and a sense of community. An outgrowth of this program was the development of a World Music Drum Ensemble, that is accessible to students throughout the school, to learn African and Cariban style drumming.
While this program is remarkably successful, it is sharply limited by the number of instruments students can access. My students need a 10" tubano hand drum to expand our Ensemble. By augmenting and balancing the ensemble with more high quality drums, the program can include more students, who will grow and be inspired by the power of music.
I have worked to make my music room a place where all children belong, and where they can find their creative voice as a means to this goal.
Unfortunately, I do not have enough tubanos for my students to play. The gift of drums will connect some wonderful kids to the incredible realm of World Drum Music, and to a community that nurtures and supports them, on their journey to become life-long music makers.
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 Mr. Thaxton and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
