Inner-City Scholars Need Instruments to Build Band Program.
My students need a Euphonium, two alto saxophones, three trumpets, three trombones, and 5 drum pads to practice and perform with. These instruments will allow beginners to not have to share with the 7th & 8th
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Neal's classroom raised $2,312
This project is fully funded
My Students
My scholars persevere every day despite coming from low-income households in South West Baltimore. Scholars begin their journey in music through the playing of BoomWhackers, and Recorders in 3rd and 4th grade. Grades 5th & 6th are our beginner band scholars, while 7th & 8th are our intermediate class.
The band program serves as a wonderful outlet for scholars to express themselves in a positive manner as opposed to the negativity they encounter on the same streets of the Freddie Gray tragedy.
Attendance is a huge thing at our school, so our scholars essentially come every day eager to progress on their respective instruments. Outside of the band room, my scholars have the highest academic achievement in their respective classes, and at every closing ceremony one serves as the Valedictorian.
My Project
The band program at our school is only two years old. Unfortunately, we do not have enough instruments to satisfy all of the interested scholars who wish to perform. These instruments will make a difference because they will allow our program to grow. Last year during our Winter concert students had to take turns playing the same instrument. The new Euphonium will allow us to have a 5th grader learn next to two experienced Euphonium players and build their confidence up faster. The three trumpets and trombones will allow the players to play music with three part harmony, thus giving us a more balanced sound. Besides drums, Saxophones are the most requested instrument, and the two new saxes will help meet that demand. Almost every student wants to play drums. The only problem with that is, our classroom is too small for all of those percussion instruments being playing simultaneously. With the use of practice pads, this will allow the scholars to learn proper technique and rudiments without drowning out the entire band. We wish to grow the program and be able to perform at such events as our Winter Program, Black History Program, and our District Band Assessment Festival.
Our scholars come from families that do not have the income to purchase or rent an instrument for their them.
They will be able to play on new instruments without the stress of having to worry about if another scholar checked out the instrument to practice at home before they could. For some of my scholars, it is the foundation on their journey to being rounded musicians heading to high school, then on to college. I've stressed to them how it can be their ticket to a free college education which most of them desperately could use.
Nearly all 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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