I teach sixth grade music appreciation; four sections of 15-25 students per class. We have an excellent space for music making and activities, but hardly any classroom instruments to do so with. We spend lots of time creating and discussing music and musical examples, but many students do not have an opportunity to practice and perform what they learn about.
My students are very creative, energetic, and excited about making music, and I have observed their eagerness to try out new ideas firsthand.
Working creatively and collaboratively on an engaging project, my students will continue to develop a camaraderie of musicianship in each class, reinforced by the ideas of their peers shared in the rehearsal process. Students will be responsible for taking care of their sticks and "instruments," and will learn various ensemble, rehearsal, and performance practices - something not possible without instruments to perform on!
My Project
Ear protection is extremely important, especially for younger students whose bodies are still developing! I was overwhelmed by your generosity and support for the trash can drum ensemble, and my students are really excited to get started, but I don't want to cause any preventable damage to their ears while they are having fun playing the drums!
Ear damage is irreversible, and if exposed to loud noises for even just a short time, the negative impact can be long term.
According to Etymotic's research lab: "Exposure to excessive noise from industrial machinery, sporting events, fireworks, rock concerts, marching bands, and music from a player's own instrument or nearby instruments can cause hearing loss depending on the intensity and duration of the noise." I chose reusable ear plugs that have a cord so that students can keep them around their necks when not in use. This style of ear plug lowers the frequencies equally by 27dB, so they will still be able to hear voices and other noises, just at a quieter volume. They also come with a carrying case so that they won't get lost when not in use. With these ear plugs, students will be able to practice and play their drums safely!
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