School Band Needs Band-Aids!

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

A famous musician said: "When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice - my voice." Our students are finding their own voices through new musical experiences. Small gifts open doors to new awakenings, bringing freedom of personal expression.

My school is a K-6 Title I school of 520 students who are enthusiastic about their music classes.

Music can be heard in the rooms, hallways, and stairwells of our school. Because music instruction comes to their classroom, the sound of music is heard everywhere in the building. While sometimes distracting, the joyful sound energizes students, and creates a positive atmosphere in the building. After school, students learn their band instruments from volunteer professional musicians, who give conservatory-style lessons in any room that’s available. Students practice in the stairwells and hallways. Staff members comment on how good the students are sounding as they practice.

My Project

My school is one of the higher performing schools in the city, with test scores just below that of the city’s magnet schools. Our students learn and engage in musical experiences like that of their magnet school counterparts. While methods are the same as their more privileged peers, the resources are not. Funds and supplies are limited for our school band: there is no band budget at my school, with a limited number of school-owned band instruments. Many students who apply to the band program play whatever is available, instead of an instrument of their choice or are turned away. These students would not have a band experience without the school-owned instruments. Keeping them playable is crucial to the students' experience. The supplies we are requesting are simple aids for students to keep the instruments clean and playing well. Responsibility is part of being a successful musician. We are requesting alto sax swabs, flute cleaning rods, and mouthpiece visualizers.

Our students are grateful for every experience and every resource they receive, because they understand how precious these resources are.

Inner city students need the kind of experiences that will help them express themselves, and in turn, motivate them to excel. Giving the students the power to make a difference in how they care for their own instruments, gives them a greater sense of responsibility and involvement. These small gestures have the capacity to empower and motivate students.