My students need cajons and foot tambourines to supplement our percussion instruments and add multiple timbres to ensembles.
$461 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.
Our school serves over 800 students in grades K-8 who come from a high poverty/low income neighborhood, and one of the most historic in the city. One hundred percent of the student population qualify for free and reduced lunch. Our staff consists of teachers who are dedicated to instilling our motto of "Si se puede" (Yes, we can) in all students.
Music is new to the school, and the community is excited about the variety of musical opportunities being provided to them.
This is the first year the school district has had a full-time certificated K-8 music teacher. My goal is to provide students with a variety of music making experiences, while building community in the school and local neighborhood. All students deserve to be provided with the opportunity of discovering what music means to them through music making activities.
I believe music can be one way to bring a group of people together. It is a way to define your identity, something that students of all age groups can use to express themselves. Offering creative outlets provides balance to people of all ages - at home, work and in the community.
My Project
This past winter, I took photos and videos of my experience at the NAMM show. When sharing my experience with my students, they really wanted to learn more about the instrument that the two men were sitting on and hitting with their hands. “That’s so cool! What is that?” many students said after we completed our daily listening activity and they viewed the video. We discussed the percussion instruments we have in our room and why the cajon belongs in the percussion family, and how it originated from Peru while our World Music Drum ensemble music originated from Africa.
Drumming not only builds community and collaboration in our classroom, but also in our entire school.
In my classroom, students have been exposed to percussion ensembles through the World Music Drumming Curriculum. In addition, a Drum Bus Program arrives in the Spring, which facilitates drumming experiences while fostering collaboration and teamwork among all participants. Because of students’ exposure to both programs, during exploration time (I have opened up my classroom before school, during lunch, and after school to those who want to play instruments) I always have to turn students away because my room can’t fit everyone. The drums, including our one drum set, are always popular instruments. The addition of these instruments will provide more students the opportunity to drum.
All we need are two hands and a wooden box. With that alone, we are able to express ourselves individually or jam with a group of people. There is no right or wrong way, just create something and have fun! An added bonus is bringing people together through music and creating a positive community at our school.
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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 Teacher Matibag and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
