Tragic Symphony: Coding, CAD, Digital Music, and Shakespeare
My students need computer mice to better interface with design software and tools and materials such as heat guns, wire strippers, and 3D printing plastic to create their music controllers.
$798 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! 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.
John Dewey said that "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." I want to give my students the opportunity to do real work and experience life through the projects in my class. It is only with your help that my students will have that opportunity.
At our school, subjects are taught in a project based environment and it is through doing authentic, professional work that they make real connections to the world around them and grow into lifelong learners.
Our school is a public charter located in San Diego's South Bay. The majority of our students are Hispanic or Latino and 40% are socioeconomically disadvantaged. A large number of our students are first generation college bound and it is the school's philosophy to ensure that 100% of our students have the opportunity to continue into higher education. We do not track our students and all seniors are required to take Engineering which results in a classroom filled with a diverse range of learners, perspectives, and expertise. Our students are awesome! They are a tight knit community, compassionate individuals, and so grateful of all the opportunities presented to them that they would not have without the school.
My Project
In this project students will be exploring Shakespeare's "Hamlet" through an original performance. In addition to reading, analyzing, and performing the play, students will create an additional musical component to the performance through custom digital instruments. Each instrument will comprise of a software side and a hardware side. Students will learn graphical coding through a program called Pure Data in order to design digital synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, and noise machines. They will then use CAD and digital fabrication (3D printing and laser cutting) to create controllers to play their digital instruments live on stage. This "orchestra" of digital musical instruments will allow students to better understand and communicate the themes explored in Hamlet.
Music is a powerful tool that can motivate students and help them access complex concepts.
The materials you are helping provide will allow my students to see their original creations become a reality. Computer mice will make interaction with the design software more streamlined. 3D printer filament will be used to print out the controllers that students make in the CAD program while heat guns and wire cutters will be used to hard wire those controllers. Our final performance depends upon us receiving these materials.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mr. Poole and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.