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
My piano students come from a wide range of backgrounds; we have piano majors, those who have never had a music class before and everyone in-between. We learn piano together in high-energy classes of twenty and experience collaborative learning and music-making at the piano. In our beginning classes, we learn essential piano technique, music notation and exciting repertoire. Our intermediate students hone their skills and get out of their comfort zone as they become fluent music readers and collaborative performers. I prepare our advanced students for further piano study in high school through a number of solo and ensemble performances and contest opportunities designed to bring out the musicality in each student.
This year, we welcomed one of our largest classes of incoming piano majors!
Their enthusiasm and potential are infusing our department with excitement for the school year. Some of our piano majors are so excited to be here that they give me a "thumbs up" several times during classes! All of my students have expressed a deep love for piano and a desire to learn how to play. I'm so lucky to be able to work with them all this year!
My Project
Due to the continuing pandemic, this year's Piano Ensemble Concerts have been moved to virtual-only events. Last year, they were cancelled entirely, so my students are less disappointed that they were last year! However, we now face many challenges now to put together an ensemble concert, without being in the same room together. Learning to play in an ensemble is an essential skill for our pianists to learn, but playing together virtually is nearly impossible due to lag times, differences in equipment, etc.
This project would provide our department with an industry-standard Apple computer that would allow me to create tracks and record my students, whether they are in person, or virtual.
By creating tracks for my students to use at home, I can ensure quality recordings while also giving them a simulated ensemble experience. Once I receive the recordings, I plan to use this computer to edit together their different audio recordings, and hopefully video, so that we can enjoy our concert after nearly 2 years of preparation due the cancellation last year.
Please help our students have their Piano Ensemble Concert this year by providing a computer to edit their videos and audio together.
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. Stackhouse and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
