Music Needs A Little Technology Love, Too!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

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.

My Students

Computer in music class? We are in an extremely low income, struggling city where a little HAS to go a long way. Help our students learn about music technology to enable a possible future career, but also memorable experiences for expressing themselves through MUSIC!

This is my first year teaching in this Title 1, 90% low income, 95% Spanish-speaking school district.

I am the general music teacher for grades 5-8. The previous teacher had her own music room. What we have this year is literally the lobby area outside the auditorium. We have a room divider to separate us from everyone else but it doesn't do much! I have a broken piano, a white-board with swears carved in, and folding chairs for the students. They are WONDERFUL kids. I see one group of kids every day M-F, but then I won't see them for another month! It's great because we can really do more projects, but not great because we miss 3 weeks for every 1! Our drop out rate from K-Graduating is 50%. With that as our horrible statistic, I want to both show them something FUN, a new way to express themselves, and even expose them to possible future CAREERS in music! Studies have shown that students come to school for their specialties, so let's try and KEEP them and GRADUATE them!

My Project

While I would love to ask for enough computers for each child, I am starting with one computer and one printer. I am asking for a printer because our WHOLE SCHOOL only has one. For me to print out ANYTHING for the students, I go to Staples. With over 400 students, this is not cost efficient for a teacher! But I do it for them. I am asking for a computer for many reasons: We are going to do projects where they can use programs to make their own music without having to learn how to play an instrument, sing, or write sheet music. This is important in order to immediately engage them in a new way of expressing themselves (possibly the first way in school as they are just beginning to learn english)! I would like to allow EACH STUDENT to use the laptop because we do not have a computer class for them to get that experience this year. That position was cut. Like most teachers, I used to play songs from iTunes, however, I can't here!

If you choose to donate to this school, you will be helping children in a school district where they have to offer breakfast, lunch, and DINNER to all children, their families cannot afford pencils, and a shocking population of homeless students.

I have already bought them their own school supplies, but I cannot afford this. Exposing them to a computer is an absolute necessity in today's society. Besides that, a computer will help us to have FUN in an otherwise serious situation. THANK YOU