Strings for Strong Students: the Music STEM Connection
My students need four violas and four violins for their after school music program.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. p.'s classroom raised $2,842
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.
My Students
Instrument rentals are costly, and our inner city school has limited resources. By purchasing these instruments, we can have a sustainable after school music club taught by our teachers, who are also string players. The math and science of musicianship will be a focus as will playing music.
I am really proud of our students and their initiatives.
Although we are an urban school with free lunch for all, our students are resilient young people, who are curious about the world they live in. They often reach beyond their neighborhoods for experiences that support their growth. They shape the culture of the school, often creating after school programs like our music program, that could not happen during our core class time. It's not unusual to have teachers and students start the day at 7:00 with academics, and end much later than the "official school day." For many students, school is the safe place to be. It is a place where they are free of the violence from some of our neighborhoods. School is where students feel pride for their accomplishments, and form strong friendships. Because we're small, under 1700 students and 6-12, the friendships formed transcend age, race, and social privilege, and are based on interests and the delight in discovery. Music fosters this special magic.
My Project
Using the violins, our students will learn about acoustics and how the ear works using vibration. They'll learn about frequency, wavelength, and the speed of waves, as they move through air. They will learn to read music for strings, and how to play at a beginning level. There are also many math applications, such as counting in fractions, from whole notes to sixteenths, and " keeping time." Students will work together to play simple duets that they will perform. Performance skills include carrying the instrument, standing, holding, and performing, so that the sound travels out to the audience. They will end a performance with a bow, and leave the stage in a dignified manner. Field trips will include symphony hall and a local music school. Students will learn perseverance. They will also support their peers and show respect. Initial music training is a door that opens to something special, that often remains with a person throughout their lives.
Instruments create an opportunity for student growth in STEM, and foster soft skills: perseverance, self-control, and focus.
It's only with focused practice that students can make the music that will make them proud. Studies have shown a strong correlation between playing an instrument and gains in math. And musicianship is the only subject in school that utilizes both brain hemispheres. This experience brings diverse students together, so that those who work together, play together.
This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
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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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 Ms. p. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
