This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I am a high school Geometry teacher of grades 9-12 in a school that is a low income based, high need community.
As I started teaching this school year I noticed that I had a lot of students who were very passionate for music but had no where to express it due to increasing budget cuts in schools and especially the arts. Yes they have some band classes, but most students do not want to play clarinet or trumpet, etc... because they see no point in it. The people they see making a living out of music sing, rap, or play more popular musical instruments such as the guitar, bass, keyboard, or drums. The major problem is that they have no money or resources to get these instruments or the accessories or a place to practice and learn. I give them a place to practice and learn but even allowing them to use all of my own personal equipment cannot come close to supplying all of my students with what they need. This school does not even have a chorus program, so I am the only place where singers can express themselves musically.
The solution to this problem has many parts: The first part has already been supplied because I am giving them a healthy encouraging environment in which to learn, practice, and network. The second part is that these students need equipment that some of them just cannot afford, especially higher priced items like a PA system. These students who were nothing but excited about the idea of having an opportunity to express themselves musically, start to get discouraged from coming when there are no supplies to be had. When they are singers but they cannot hear themselves over the other musicians then they lose motivation. The PA system will help solve this problem and will also help prepare them for what it is like to play live music in the real world.
Your help will ensure that my students get the full potential to make the best of this opportunity to learn how to really use music once they graduate high school. Your contribution could lead to the forming of the next great recording artist who might have never been had it not been for the donated music equipment that kept them motivated to keep going. Things like this give students a sense of purpose, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging that many have never experienced before. If we can teach the students something real that they can use in life is that not as worthwhile if not possibly more worthwhile than their regular academics. There are trade schools for many different vocations, but very few to make better professional musicians for tomorrow. You could help change that. The music industry is a huge workplace and hopefully with your contribution you can help these students become a part of it.
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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. Chambless and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.