This request was created on behalf of my percussionists by the section leaders of the 8th Grade Symphonic Band. This select group of students serve as music department interns. They devote a great deal of time and energy to the band program and always do so with energy and enthusiasm.
Every morning, the section leaders of the 8th grade band come in early to prepare the room for the day. They organize music, set up chairs and stands, and prepare percussion equipment for rehearsals. They noticed the particularly deplorable condition of the orchestra bells. After over 30 years of classroom use, rubber bands and duct tape are barely holding them together. Earlier this semester, the band students worked together on three student-led grants, all of which have been fulfilled. They have decided to collaborate once again to help out our aspiring percussionists.
Band class prepares students for college and careers in a way that no other subject can match. Many people think the most important things I teach are music literacy and how to play instruments. This could not be further from the truth. Indeed, I teach students to read music and play wind and percussion instruments, but it is the lessons the children learn about character that are so much more important. During band rehearsals, students must work together as a team, listen to the opinions of others and support classmates who are struggling. It is not uncommon to find my strongest musicians teaching their less-experienced classmates during lunch periods. This high level of teamwork makes me proud to be their teacher.
In Their Own Words
Our percussionists are growing tired of playing on our school's badly broken orchestra bells. Our set of orchestra bells is older than us, older than our parents and even older than our teacher! Several of the keys are falling off, the hardware is broken and Ms. S's blue duct tape can only help so much. We hope to provide a brand new set of orchestra bells so that our percussion section will sound more like dancing angels instead of dying Tinkerbells.
We know that we can help get this project funded because we have done it in the past. So far this year our band written and received three grants. We will e-mail our friends, relatives, and community members as well as post our project on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook.
Once the new orchestra bells arrive, we will use them every day in rehearsal by students in all grades. They will also be used in concert and festival performances. We promise to take the very best care of them!
A band cannot be successful without a strong percussion section. We want our percussionists to have proper equipment because when they sound great, our whole band sounds great. Right now when our percussionists play on the broken bells, many notes sound stinky. The new bells will add clarity to the percussion section and beauty to the sound of the entire band!
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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