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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Nelken from New Haven, CT is requesting musical instruments through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Nelken is requesting

Nourishing a Business Academy with Rhythm

Help me give my students a drum set and electric keyboard with backing track capabilities to form the backbone of an after-school music program at a school with no art classes.

  • $1,043 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate 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 Project

Our high school has no art classes, and considering the amount of drawings I clean up off the desks, it really ought to!

That's why I started Music at MBA, an after-school music club, hoping to create a new artistic community in the small business academy.

When I saw that over 40 students had signed up (about 10% of our student body), but only about 5 had access to their own instruments, I knew I had entered an area of great potential.

Music at MBA has met every other week since the month of October. Unfortunately, my participation has dropped. I don't blame them for not wanting to show up when there is nothing for them to play. My drummer tells me, "let me know when you get drums to play," and my keyboardist palms his face when I accidentally forget to bring the power cable to my 20 year-old electric keyboard from my childhood.

We are approaching music from a very organic standpoint; every good teacher knows to meet the students where they are. My students are vocalists, hip hop artists, church players, and marching band players. We are listening to the music that the students agree to play and learning by ear, or by reading my transcriptions. We've touched on Michael Jackson, Sza, Britney Spears, and the Cure!

The buy-in from the students is very strong, which gives me all the faith I need to continue developing this program. The only buy-in left is to acquire these instruments.

My students are itching to rehearse, perform, and jam in an audience of their peers and create opportunities for community building, lasting memories, and skills for their future.

Help me bring rhythm to my school!

Mr. Nelken Metropolitan Business Academy Grades 9-12

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mr. Nelken

New Haven, CT View local requests

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

15 students impacted 9donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Nelken is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Yamaha Rydeen 5-Piece Shell Pack With 20" Bass Drum Mellow Yellow • Woodwind and Brasswind $419.99 1 $419.99
Yamaha PSREW310 76-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard with PA130 Power Adapter • Amazon Business $249.99 1 $249.99
SABIAN SBR Hi-Hat Pair 14 in. • Woodwind and Brasswind $106.99 1 $106.99
PDP By DW 700 Series Three Legs Hi-Hat Stand (PDHH713), Chrome • Amazon Business $66.60 1 $66.60

Materials cost

$843.57

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$12.65

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$886.22

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$156.39

Total project goal

$1,042.61

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $1,042.61

7 Donors

-$864.67

Donations toward project cost

-$764.67

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$100.00

match offer

-$143.00

Match offer toward project cost

-$121.55

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$21.45

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$34.94

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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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. Nelken and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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