Past projects 14
Spring Concert 2019
Funded Apr 5, 2019Thank you all so much for supporting the Apollo-Ridge Band program! We have seen an amazing amount of growth in numbers recently. As we grow in numbers but school budgets decrease or are used for more mandated requirements we need people like you to support creative outlets for these students. As we continue to grow this program we hope that you will come visit us to see your generosity at work. Our upcoming spring concert is on Friday May 10th. We really hope to see you there! Once again we thank you so much for supporting the music education of our students here at Apollo-Ridge!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
Winter Concert 2018
Funded Nov 12, 2018Thank you all so much for celebrating this special day with us!
Thank you all so much for supporting the Apollo-Ridge Band program! We have seen an amazing amount of growth in numbers recently. As we grow in numbers but school budgets decrease or are used for more mandated requirements we need people like you to support creative outlets for these students. Without your generosity I may have had to many students and not enough instruments. This is particularly true in the percussion section. Again, Thank you so much for your generosity and supporting what we do here at Apollo-Ridge. If you are free Friday May 10th consider coming to our spring concert and see what your generosity has helped create. Thank you again!
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With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
Crash Cymbals
Funded Dec 4, 2018This crash cymbal project has helped to allow every student perform every song. That is a huge deal. Many band programs substitute students out on certain pieces. I want OUR students here at AR to perform as much as possible. This project and your generosity allowed that to happen. We are all extremely grateful and we are excited to continue to use this equipment in future concerts! In particular this project allowed many of our percussionists to try new techniques on cymbals. These cymbals sound so much better than our previous crash cymbals that were used so much that they cracked! Again this allowed for our students to perform every piece. Thank you for supporting our students here at Apollo-Ridge. We are all extremely thankful for your support.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
Apollo-Ridge Band Spring Concert
Funded Mar 19, 2018We have been able to use the Tuners and mutes multiple times and with multiples ensembles. The mutes have greatly impacted the musical sounds that we are able to create. The students learned that different materials make different sounds. They seemed to really enjoy using these mutes during their performance. The tuners allowed for us to play much more in tune which greatly affected the quality of sound we could create. These items added more variety and quality to
Our performance. In addition it has allowed these benefits to carry over into marching band as well.
The students were extremely excited to use these items. There were many great reactions to the different sounds and the quality that we were able to achieve. It was really exciting as a teacher to see the students get excited for these items and the improvement that they made.
The next steps are to begin using the timers in a variety of ways, including tuning chords and understanding that certain notes on different instruments also are tuned slightly different. For instance a D on a trumpet is often sharp so students will need to compensate for that. These tuners will help them understand that. The mutes will continue to be used in pieces of music that call for them. I know the students have asked how many pieces will need the mutes.
Thank you so for you generosity, it made a huge difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
New Students!
Funded May 9, 2018We have been able to use the Tuners and mutes multiple times and with multiples ensembles. The mutes have greatly impacted the musical sounds that we are able to create. The students learned that different materials make different sounds. They seemed to really enjoy using these mutes during their performance. The tuners allowed for us to play much more in tune which greatly affected the quality of sound we could create. These items added more variety and quality to
Our performance. In addition it has allowed these benefits to carry over into marching band as well.
The students were extremely excited to use these items. There were many great reactions to the different sounds and the quality that we were able to achieve. It was really exciting as a teacher to see the students get excited for these items and the improvement that they made.
The next steps are to begin using the timers in a variety of ways, including tuning chords and understanding that certain notes on different instruments also are tuned slightly different. For instance a D on a trumpet is often sharp so students will need to compensate for that. These tuners will help them understand that. The mutes will continue to be used in pieces of music that call for them. I know the students have asked how many pieces will need the mutes.
Thank you so for you generosity, it made a huge difference.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
Our Band Needs Your Help!
Funded Aug 25, 2016Dear Donors,
Through your generous donation, you have given several students an opportunity that without your help, they would not have been granted. Every day since the instruments arrived, the students have been learning music in band class. After only one month, a sixth grade, trombone player has already learned their B flat scale.
Our marching band has grown tremendously over the past couple of years. So much to the point that we didn't have the inventory to fit each student with an instrument. With this donation, I was able to provide every student with an instrument. Personally, I am extremely grateful that each students who wanted to participate is now able to.
When I told the students about your generous donation, they were excited and grateful. Ever since that day, they have been working hard in class. I see great potential in each of them that I may have never had the chance to see otherwise.
My hope is that these instruments will not only grant my current students an opportunity to perform and grow musically, but to continue to provide my future students, in need of an instrument, the same opportunity.
Thank you so much for your generosity. It means the world to me and my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Virag
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 7 other donors.