My students come from all over the world - especially from countries that speak Spanish.
Although my students attend a "highest poverty" school, this is not their defining characteristic.
Instead, my students are curious, artistic, competent and courageous. They defy their 'at-risk" circumstances by taking advantage of every possible opportunity for advancement presented to them. Our extracurricular activities are full of enthusiastic students eager to spend time in a caring environment away from the harsh realities of a rough neighborhood.
My Project
Our school is unique. Instead of learning ABOUT music in general music class, our students MAKE music. They play trumpets, drums, and pianos - not just the kids in the band, but every student.
In a financially challenged school like ours, it's not easy to equip every student to MAKE music.
But we try our best! We fundraised and got help from administration to piece together a keyboard lab as well as a class set of drum pads, and trumpets. Our keyboard lab, which is used to teach students to read music and play chords (which is not possible on trumpet) needs a few extra pianos - and this project will go a long way to equipping one extra kid every 45 minutes, 5-days-a-week.
One specific lesson students will learn on this piano is based on All Of Me, by John Legend. This song is familiar to my students and after they learn to play the entire accompaniment either solo or with a partner, faces light up with a sense of connection and accomplishment!
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