At our rural school 100% of students receive free breakfast, and the majority receive free or reduced lunch. We serve students in the 5th through 8th grades.
Our students are full of enthusiasm, but they lack exposure to many cultural and general life experiences.
In my 19 years at my school, I have come to understand many students never leave the small town and therefore are limited in their exposure to the world. I have seen this displayed in taking them on their first roller coaster ride, eating at Chick-fil-a for the first time, and teaching a student how to ride an escalator.
My goal is to help level the playing field for my students by taking them on field trips and providing them with quality cultural arts instruction and exposure.
My Project
When we unpacked our drum set this year I realized it no longer rocks! It's missing a bass drum leg, can't support the toms, the snare stand is too low, and the hi-hat is missing the clutch!
After more than 20 years of helping middle schoolers play funky music, our drum set is ready to retire.
We rock out on our drum set every day in jazz band. Jazz band is an extra class 7th and 8th grade students earn by doing their best on the End Of Grade tests the year before. They are rewarded with an extra class of their choice. Many students choose jazz band because it ROCKS!
This class is a turning point for so many of my students. It is often the first time they really enjoy the fruits of their labor and understand why we have worked so hard learning notes and the basics of music. They get to play jazz, rock, funk, and many other styles of music that they connect with.
The drum set is key to making this more than just another band class, it helps us rock and swing!
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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. Ingram and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.