Help me give my students new bows to allow them to reach their full potential when playing their instruments in orchestra class.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Cook's classroom raised $405
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
I teach approximately 100 orchestra students in grades 4-6. My students are creative, energetic, and inspiring. They come to school each day excited to learn and give their best. They are passionate about creating and performing music. Many of them report that orchestra is their favorite part of the school day. I often have to gently nudge them out the door when class is over, as they exclaim that they want to stay and have orchestra class all day!
Magic happens in the orchestra room every day, as students cross the threshold into a realm of creativity and personal expression.
For thirty minutes, my students experience the pure joy of holding an instrument in their hands, of creating music that tells their stories. They experience the thrill and sense of pride that accompany a successful performance. They thrive in becoming agents of their own learning, learning to use music as a tool for self-expression and self-advocacy. Most of all, in the orchestra room my students find a place where they belong, a place where their voices are acknowledged and welcomed.
My Project
All of the 4th-6th grade students at my school receive instruction on a band or orchestral instrument. I have about 100 inquisitive, passionate, and musically engaged students in my orchestra program. When learning to play a string instrument, students learn two primary ways to make sound on the instrument- by plucking the string with their finger or by drawing the bow across the strings to create a sustained sound. Currently, several instruments in our school inventory are unusable because they are missing bows. With your help, I can purchase new bows to outfit these instruments completely and put them into the hands of more students.
With our new bows, our hearts will soar and our violins will sing.
Trying to play a violin without a bow is like trying to drive a car with a missing tire. In fact, learning to "drive" our bows across the string is as much a rite of passage in beginning orchestra as driving a car is in the life of a sixteen-year-old. The first day that we use bows is an exciting and magical day in our classroom. You can feel the energy coursing through the room as each student receives their "bow license" and touches their bow to the strings for the first time. With the introduction of the bow, students are able to unlock a whole new realm of sound possibilities on their instrument. They will use their bows to learn new playing techniques, as well as create beautiful, ringing tones on their instruments.
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
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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. Cook and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
