We live in a very beautiful, rural, low-income part of Wisconsin. Most families earn less than $30,000 a year and qualify for free/reduced-price meals. I have a 5-12 instrumental music program and an adaptive music class for special needs kids. My 8th-12th grade band has 12 students. I'm trying to build the program with my 5th grade beginning band, and foster that love through high school. For many of them, making music is a dream.
Let me tell you a few stories of my amazing kids.
One 5th grader, when given a school saxophone to use said, "I've been waiting my whole life to play the saxophone!". A sixth grade baritone player one day came to me during band: Ms Angelo, I put my mouth piece in my instrument and now it's stuck". One of my 8th graders decided to play the slide of his trombone like a pop bottle and said, "I'm going to keep trying to play this until I pass out". A 9th grader welcomed a new 10th grader to band by saying, "Welcome to the dark side". My 11th grade saxophone player just shakes his head. These are my band kids. I love them all.
My Project
I would love to help my band students make playing an instrument a life-long adventure. But it's hard to succeed when you can't afford reeds to play the clarinet that you're bowrrowing from school. It's hard to feel like you're getting better when you play on instruments that need constant fixing. It's hard to succeed when you can't afford the little things like cleaning swabs and cork grease that instruments need in order to stay in good condition. It's just plain hard.
For some students, music is a way to stay sane in a world that has gone crazy.
They need music. Your donation will make a difference in whether or not a student even comes out for band. Some won't join or stick around in band simply because food needs to come before a new reed or a cleaning swab. Thanks for making music possible!
Half 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 Ms. Angelo-Peterson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
