Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Teaching students is what makes me come alive, and experiencing music in exciting ways brings joy and laughter to my student's lives.
Every day, anywhere from 150-200 elementary school students come to my room for music class.
Throughout the course of a week, I teach about 550 students grades pre-K through 5th, and we also have an extracurricular vocal ensemble.
My students are extremely active, and they love to be totally immersed in music and learning. In class, we experience music through movement, singing games, and instrument performance. Students come into third grade asking when recorders are going to start, and they love knowing that they can perform melodic, multi-part pieces without having to join band. My school has a growing student population, and as the population grows, the number of instruments we own is staying the same.
While the population continues to grow, we also have both high transiency and FARM rates. It is my goal to use the instruments in my classroom to broaden and deepen every child's understanding and appreciation for music.
My Project
In previous years, recorder units have not been as successful as I had envisioned. We had requested that students purchase their own recorder to bring to class, but many families could not provide the necessary funds for this to become a reality. Our students were left with used, donated recorders that were found in cabinets and closets throughout the school. While I am extremely grateful that they were able to borrow recorders, it would be wonderful if they had some newer instruments to use.
Fifty new recorders would allow one quarter of our third, fourth, and fifth graders to be playing on brand new instruments. We would be able to donate or get rid of the older recorders that are falling apart, and the new instruments will re-energize interest in recorder units, recorder performances, and group ensembles. We would be able to perform melodic pieces, accompany songs, and perform at grade level concerts and assemblies, all while enhancing note and rhythm reading skills.
Kids will be kids.
They laugh, they cry, and occasionally, they complain. When it comes to playing recorders, some of my students do not want to use an instrument that is taped together and has bite marks on the mouthpiece. Honestly, I can't blame them. They deserve to have their own, clean, instrument that hasn't been used by other students. It would mean the world to them to have something in the music room that is truly theirs and theirs alone.
More than 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 Mrs. Lichtenberger and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
