My students come to my room armed with large noisemakers. Their first sounds resemble flocks of geese, but eventually, they start making music. As an elementary band teacher, I teach them the basics of sound production and music reading so that they can experience the joy of creating music.
A large percentage of my students are below the poverty line, and as such, they often can't afford their own instruments.
My school has a few instruments on hand to lend out, but demand for instruments is greater than the supply. Despite the challenges my students face in their lives outside of school, they enthusiastically sign up for band every year. I would love to be able to reach more of them but to do that, I need more instruments!
My Project
My students need a variety of instruments to borrow, to make their first experience in band enjoyable. Students are much more likely to keep playing an instrument that they feel a connection with. While flute and clarinet are both quality (and cheaper) instruments, not every student enjoys those sounds.
For some students, a low-sounding instrument like the euphonium is a perfect fit!
Low-sounding instruments are very important to producing a strong band ensemble sound, so a student who chooses the euphonium in fourth grade will be set for a strong future in a band where their contributions are always needed and important. Additionally, the euphonium is a very approachable instrument, making it a good fit for many students with special needs or physical disabilities.
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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 Mrs. Link and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
