The cost of 10 M-Audio Keystations from Apple.com is $1371, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
The goal of "Rap, Rhythm, 'N Rhyme" is for 30 fifth-graders to improve their literacy skills (writing,reading,speaking, listening), music skills (composing, reading, keyboarding), and technology skills (working with a music application, keyboarding) by creating original raps (minus the expletives!)and other genre songs and eventually recording their own CDs. This is an appropriate activity for our school since P.S. 261's FULL name is "P.S. 261 Magnet School for Integrating the Arts." That is truly the objective of this project i.e., to utilize the arts as a means of improving literacy. The students will use a Macintosh music application called "Garageband 2" on Macintosh laptop computers (due to arrive in our school on March 15th)connected to M-Audio music mini keyboards (which we DON'T have)to create their raps (and other songs). The school already owns a CD Recorder on which students can create their own CDs. I will MODEL for the students how to go about selecting an appropriate topic for a rap (or, in some cases, other musical genre), writing the lyrics, composing the music, putting all the aforementioned together, performing, and, finally recording a CD. The students will play their original songs for other children, parents, and teachers, and CDs will be sold as a fundraiser in order to perpetuate and support the project. Many students who are lacking in literacy skills are often HIGHLY motivated by both music and computers. "Rap, Rhythm, and Rhyme" is an opportunity for these students to hone their literacy skills, learn how to compose music using computer technology, and, in the process, have a lot of fun! What is needed for this project to succeed are a minimum of 10 laptop computers equipped with "Garageband 2", 10 M-Audio music mini keyboards (Keystation 49e), and a CD Recorder. Our school will be receiving 30 laptops on March 15th and already owns a CD Recorder. All we need are the 10 M-Audio music mini keyboards(Keystation 49e). I teach both computers and music/technology at P.S. 261 (and have done so for the past 10 years), absolutely LOVE "Garageband 2" for this age group, and know, in my heart that they will LOVE this project!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. B. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.