FUNDED!!
What a wonderful belated Christmas miracle I have to speak about!
A little back story first: My middle school has gone many years without a band program due to lack of resources and the difficulty in starting up a band program. And as someone, trying not to be melodramatic here, whose life was changed for the better because of my middle school band program I could not see myself allowing these students to go another year without one. Also, think of those students who get to high school and want to join the band. So many high school band directors refuse because of lack of time and resources to accept beginners unless they are taking private lessons. If my children can barely afford to rent an instrument, it is doubtful they would be able to afford private lessons.
So I started the school year on a mission. And a difficult mission it has been. We started the school year with 11 instruments in our inventory. Which sounds great, except for the fact that three of the six trumpets were in irreparable state and the flute needed extensive repairs. I have a very minimal budget for the band program, which in the past has been shared with the general music budget of $50 (which is shared between music, art, and PE). And this sharing of monies between band and general music totally makes sense, as every single child at the school participates in the general music program and performances.
However, with no money to repair instruments that's 4 instruments I have just lost--which is 4 less students that can participate. After polling the students in August about those interested in participating in a band, almost 100% of 5th through 8th grade wanted to join. That meant roughly 45 to 50 students! Of those 45 to 50 students, 7 would be able to rent instruments from the school and all the other students would have to rent from an outside company or go without.
We had a fantastic turn out to our rental night, however, even after choosing the company that had the best financial deals--only 1 family was able to rent an instrument. 25 dollars a month for an instrument is a huge expense for families in my school's zoning area.
Hence my creation of a DonorsChoose project. Like most middle schoolers, a large majority of my students want to play the "drums" which I correct them to saying "percussion." Anyone in the band world knows percussion sets are not cheap and when all I have at the school is a mini bass drum, you have to get creative. We have been playing on chairs and buckets, but as of December 29 and the gracious donations from 23 different people my middle school will be receiving three percussion sets and a trombone!!
Today is my first day back at this school and I cannot wait to tell the kids the great news! And even more so, I cannot wait to put those instruments into the hands of some very deserving middle schoolers.
A little back story first: My middle school has gone many years without a band program due to lack of resources and the difficulty in starting up a band program. And as someone, trying not to be melodramatic here, whose life was changed for the better because of my middle school band program I could not see myself allowing these students to go another year without one. Also, think of those students who get to high school and want to join the band. So many high school band directors refuse because of lack of time and resources to accept beginners unless they are taking private lessons. If my children can barely afford to rent an instrument, it is doubtful they would be able to afford private lessons.
So I started the school year on a mission. And a difficult mission it has been. We started the school year with 11 instruments in our inventory. Which sounds great, except for the fact that three of the six trumpets were in irreparable state and the flute needed extensive repairs. I have a very minimal budget for the band program, which in the past has been shared with the general music budget of $50 (which is shared between music, art, and PE). And this sharing of monies between band and general music totally makes sense, as every single child at the school participates in the general music program and performances.
However, with no money to repair instruments that's 4 instruments I have just lost--which is 4 less students that can participate. After polling the students in August about those interested in participating in a band, almost 100% of 5th through 8th grade wanted to join. That meant roughly 45 to 50 students! Of those 45 to 50 students, 7 would be able to rent instruments from the school and all the other students would have to rent from an outside company or go without.
We had a fantastic turn out to our rental night, however, even after choosing the company that had the best financial deals--only 1 family was able to rent an instrument. 25 dollars a month for an instrument is a huge expense for families in my school's zoning area.
Hence my creation of a DonorsChoose project. Like most middle schoolers, a large majority of my students want to play the "drums" which I correct them to saying "percussion." Anyone in the band world knows percussion sets are not cheap and when all I have at the school is a mini bass drum, you have to get creative. We have been playing on chairs and buckets, but as of December 29 and the gracious donations from 23 different people my middle school will be receiving three percussion sets and a trombone!!
Today is my first day back at this school and I cannot wait to tell the kids the great news! And even more so, I cannot wait to put those instruments into the hands of some very deserving middle schoolers.
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