This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Students enter the classroom excited to learn how to read and play music. They quickly gather their instruments and sheet music ready to play. The band began with 25 kids and is now at 75 with only 45 instruments. "The heart of a music is its rhythm" ~ Wynton Marsalis
Academically our school is one of the highest open admissions performing schools in New Orleans.
However, we too are sustaining budget cuts and the creative arts funding is the first to go. We are trying to build a culture where our kids develop a love of learning including the creative arts, music and the musical heritage of our city. The students at our school work tirelessly both academically and with the band program. They spend countless hours after school and on the weekends learning to both read and play music. Our kids deserve more than our current program can offer.
My Project
If we received these additional trumpets, clarinets and saxophones, it would allow us to have more students actually playing an instrument as opposed to just learning to read the music and listen to others play. The students would also have the opportunity to choose which instrument they would want to learn or to play multiple instruments.
Our band recently marched in Mardi Gras parades which is a huge part of our culture within the city. Unfortunately, we were not able to have all our band members march at one time because we did not have enough instruments, so we rotated who marched in each parade. Since Mardi Gras is over the band has begun to learn classical music for an upcoming concert. Many of our students have not been exposed to classical music but have expressed an interest in learning to read and play this genre of music.
Music can help us to keep our kids off the streets, safe and develop a skill that can further enhance and engage them in their educational journey.
We can work hard to instill a strong academic foundation that leads our students to have productive and successful careers. With this donation it will help to revitalize the music program within our school and support its continual growth.
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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. Johnson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.