My students need 3 Bb Trumpets, 3 Student Flute Outfits, 3 Student Trombones, 3 Bb Clarinets, 3 Student Alto Saxophones, 10 packs of Bb Clarinet Reeds, 5 packs of Alto Saxophone Reeds, and 50 packs of Spiral Bound Manuscript Paper.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Leopold's classroom raised $6,521
This project is fully funded
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.
I believe that music literacy may be the key to higher test scores in reading and math, especially in a school where English Second Language learners are the rule rather than the exception. That belief, led to the development of my instrumental music curriculum that integrates Kodaly and Orff methodologies with an emphasis on folk songs and percussion instruments in the lower grades and recorder in the upper grades. The natural progression after the recorder is the use of band instruments. We have a little over 800 students in the school from grades Pre-k to 5th grade. My program is music literacy based to show a correlation over a a 5 year period between being able to read and write music and rising test scores. The band is a club that offered to those students who have excelled on recorder playing during 3rd and 4th grade.
This is my 2nd year at my school. When I came to the school I was shown a variety of band instruments in various stages of usability because they were left on the auditorium stage unsupervised from the previous music teacher. I started the band program last year but I had to turn students away because only 7 instruments (4 woodwind, and 3 brass) were in working condition. This means that only 7 students could participate in the band program. I am writing this grant so that I can buy more instruments and involve every motivated student into the band program.
We need new instruments so that ALL students who are interested in furthering their musicianship can use instruments without getting frustrated that the instruments are malfunctioning because of misuse and neglect from years past. The students who will use the instruments will be selected by me personally by their behavior in music class and their ability to read music from being taught music in my classroom over a number of years.
I cannot do this alone. I need your help to provide new instruments and accompanying instruction books for my students. This year I work with 6 band students who try their hardest to learn their instrument despite problems with the instruments themselves. You will make it possible for my students to reach the next level of music literacy - and increased skill in math and reading. The work they will do in band can be the difference they need to strengthen their discipline and resolve to focus on a successful academic career all the way through high school and beyond.
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
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