Let Him Play: Keyboard for a Young Composer (Part 1)
Help me give my students the tools to keep composing, discovering, and dreaming—because talent shouldn’t be limited by income.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Shade's classroom raised $897
This project is fully funded
My Project
At our Title I, urban public school, where most students face significant economic barriers, one 5th grade boy has been quietly doing something extraordinary.
He’s teaching himself to play piano—with no keyboard at home, no lessons, and no sheet music—just raw talent, relentless curiosity, and a deep, unshakable drive to create.
He comes to my classroom whenever he can—during lunch, after school—to explore the piano. He listens, experiments, repeats patterns, and creates compositions with emotional depth and surprising musical logic. He doesn’t just play; he discovers.
He’s using his ear to develop skills many students wouldn’t try on their own. He instinctively creates textures, contrast, and mirrored patterns across octaves—all without formal instruction. He’s also a committed member of our school choir, volunteering to set up chairs, clean up afterward, and encourage new singers to keep going when they feel uncertain.
To support his journey, I’m requesting a full digital piano setup—keyboard, stand, bench, and sustain pedal—so he can continue composing and practicing at home. In Part 2 of this project, I’ll request a device and a one-time purchase of Playground Sessions, a highly engaging, interactive piano-learning app that will give him access to structured lessons, musical feedback, and song-based practice—since formal piano lessons are out of reach for him, this software will act as his virtual teacher.
This project is for one student—a young Black artist in a low-income school who would otherwise have no opportunity to pursue this passion. Representation isn’t just about seeing someone who looks like you in the arts—it’s about being given a chance to become that person yourself.
By giving him the tools to learn and create, you’re investing in his voice, his future, and his right to grow as an artist beyond the classroom.
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
Yamaha P-143 88-Key Digital Piano Black
• Music & Arts
$499.99
1
$499.99
RockJam Xfinity Heavy-Duty, Double-X, Pre-Assembled, Infinitely Adjustable Piano Keyboard Stand with Locking Straps, Black
• Amazon Business
$37.99
1
$37.99
RockJam KB100 Adjustable Padded Keyboard Bench, X-Style, Black
• Amazon Business
$34.60
1
$34.60
M-Audio HDH40 – Over Ear Studio Headphones with Closed Back Design, Flexible Headband and 2.7m Cable for Studio Monitoring, Podcasting and Recording - Black
• Amazon Business
$33.00
1
$33.00
AKOZLIN 88 Keys Portable Padded Keyboard Case,Dimension 54.1"X6.69"X13.18", Electric Piano Keyboard Gig Bag (Black+Yellow)
• Amazon Business
$32.99
1
$32.99
88 Keys Piano Keyboard Dust Cover, Music Dirt Proof Stretchy Electronic Keyboard Cover With Durable Elastic & Cord Lock Must Have Piano Accessories
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Donner DSP-001 Sustain Pedal for Keyboard, Universal Piano Pedal with Polarity Switch for Digital Piano/Piano Keyboard/MIDI KeyboardSynthesizer, 1/4'' (6.35mm) Input Plug, 63'' (1.6m) Cable
• Amazon Business
$15.76
1
$15.76
CableCreation USB B to USB C Printer Cable 6.6FT, Type B to Type C Printer Cord for MacBook Pro, Air, MIDI Cable for Yamaha Casio Digital Piano, MIDI Keyboard, DJ Controller, DAC to iPad - 2M, Black
• Amazon Business
$9.88
1
$9.88
Materials cost
$681.20
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$40.87
3rd party payment processing fee
$10.22
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$762.29
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$134.52
Total project goal
$896.81
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$896.81
5 Donors
-$600.34
Donations toward project cost
-$520.04
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$80.30
match offer
-$285.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$242.25
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Shade and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
