Past projects 3
We Need Keyboards!
Funded Aug 8, 2022Thank you for helping fully fund our Donors Choose project! With your help, the Garfield Middle School has added 15 new keyboards to our program, dramatically expanding students' access to a quality music education throughout their middle school careers. These keyboards will not only service the students currently enrolled in music but will also be used by students in the many years to come. Without your generous donations, this would not be possible!
Students have been using the keyboards on a daily basis this year to learn piano skills and how to perform a variety of songs such as "Stand By Me," "Fur Elise," and "Washing Machine Heart." Students have also begun learning the basics of melodic ear training and improvisation and will soon be able to perform on keyboards with both hands and to compose original music.
Schoolwide, students at GMS now get twice as much time in music compared to last year and over 95% of our student population are now enrolled in music class. This includes our general education population, as well as English language learners and students on IEPs and 504s. With the massive increase in enrollment and expanded time in music class, these keyboards are already making a huge impact.
We're looking forward to using these instruments for many years and our students are extremely lucky to have such generous donors. Thank you again for your contributions and support of music education!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolton
Help Us Learn the Ukulele!
Funded Nov 11, 2017I can't thank you enough for your generous donations to my classroom. While we have only had the ukuleles for a few weeks, they have already had a tremendous impact. When they were delivered, my students were so excited to help me unpack them, and a few days later when I first used them in a lesson, they brought so much enthusiasm to the work and have exceeded my expectations!
So far, the instruments have been used by 180 different students. Many students who struggled in the past, specifically with string instruments like guitar, have been hugely successful. We started by learning "Jingle Bells" and having students learn three chords and the melody so we can do a two-part arrangement. Since then, we have moved on to learn the chords of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with a more complex strumming pattern.
As I mentioned in the project description, the reason I wanted these instruments is because of their portability, the light nylon strings, their size, and the fact that many of the physical obstacles of playing guitar at a young age wouldn't exist. In the lessons I've taught, the students haven't been complaining about their fingers hurting or not being able to hold it or it not sounding right. The questions have been focused around the music! Rhythms, which fingers to use, strumming patterns, and different approaches to different parts of songs. It's been everything I wanted it to be and I wouldn't have them without your generosity! I can't wait to see what we do with them next.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolton
Instruments For Our Guitar Class
Funded Nov 28, 2012I want to express my immense gratitude for your generous donations. My students and I have greatly benefited from your donations and the guitars we have are being used every day to inspire and educate.
We've learned various songs and performed at two concerts with the guitars so far, as well as composed and improvised using them. This program could not exist without these instruments. At the middle school age, where students are constantly in search of new interests that will carry throughout their lives, you have given them an invaluable opportunity to play an instruments.
Thank you again for supporting arts education.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolton