Past projects 8
A Semi-Hollow Bodied Electric Guitar Beauty for Our Guitar Class!
Funded Oct 31, 2024On behalf of my students and myself, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation to our classroom. The beautiful red Hagstrom Viking electric guitar has already made a profound impact on our music program. The quality of the instrument is outstanding, and it has quickly become a favorite among our students. The crisp sound, smooth playability, and striking design have not only inspired our musicians but have also brought a sense of pride to our classroom.
The students absolutely love the guitar, and it has elevated their playing to new levels. Whether they are practicing chords, learning solos, or exploring different genres, the guitar's rich tone and versatility have made every practice session more exciting and engaging. I've noticed an increase in confidence and enthusiasm among the students, as they feel truly connected to this high-quality instrument. It has been amazing to witness their growth and see their musical abilities flourish thanks to your generous contribution.
We are so incredibly grateful for your donation. It's people like you who make a lasting difference in the lives of students and help create opportunities that otherwise wouldn't exist. Your support is not just an investment in an instrument, but an investment in the dreams and future of these young musicians. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our students and our program.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
Bring on the Bass (Without the Wires)
Funded Sep 15, 2023On behalf of the students and staff at Salina South Middle School, I wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation, which has enabled us to provide wireless packs for our bass guitars. This incredible gift will significantly enhance our guitar class by allowing students to move freely and engage more dynamically during their practice and performances. Your support is truly transformative, and we are thrilled to see the positive impact it will have on our students' musical development and enthusiasm.
Thank you once again for your kindness and commitment to fostering a rich and engaging learning environment. Your contribution not only provides valuable resources but also inspires our students to reach new heights in their musical journey. We deeply appreciate your support and look forward to sharing the exciting progress and achievements of our guitar class with you in the future.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
Guitar Teacher Seeking Funding to Attend Highly Specialized Training!
Funded Jan 23, 2020Thank you so much for your donation to help me attend Guitar Teacher Training this summer. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the training was cancelled. Donorschoose.org asked me to purchase items that would support the training that I was hoping to receive, but couldn't attend.
Fortunately, I was able to purchase many items for my classroom that have become essential during this strange time.
1. I purchased a wireless microphone system for my classroom. The first few days back, this has been my best friend! With this mask on - it is so hard to speak loud enough in my large classroom. This system has helped so much.
2. I purchased a barcode scanner and stickers to label all my classroom guitars. Because of the pandemic, I had to prepare 90 guitars for students to checkout to take home because each student was required to have an instrument that only they touch! Labeling them with a barcode for checkout made the process go so much faster, and I have a super accurate record of where each guitar is at.
3. More guitars meant more cleaning, and more picks and capos
While not what I initially asked for - these items have been SO NECESSARY this year and I thank you for your donations from the bottom of my heart!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and 8 other donors.Electric Guitar Pedal to Help Us "Get the LED Out!"
Funded Dec 3, 2019Thanks so much for your generous support of our guitar program! The new guitar effects pedal is pretty rad! We're still having fun learning all it has to offer. I am really looking forward to using this new piece of equipment when we go out on tour to the elementary schools and retirement homes in the spring as it is compact and will make our setup go much faster! Pictures to come. We're working hard on an event called 305 live that will see us collaborate with a local rockband. We'll feature the pedal on a song by Blind Melon at that concert. Should be pretty sweet! Thanks again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 4 other donors.Guitar Teacher Seeking Professional Development in a Highly Specialized Area
Funded May 14, 2019Thank you so much for your kind donations towards sending me to the Teaching Guitar Workshop in Wichita, KS this June. I have taken this training (level 1 and 2) and am returning for the advanced training. In my past two experiences this has been the most valuable professional development of my career! Such practical knowledge that I implemented immediately into my teaching. Along with the knowledge, even participant is given stacks or teaching materials and an acoustic guitar (see picture). I thank you for providing me this invaluable opportunity!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
This classroom project was brought to life by Craig Newmark Philanthropies and 3 other donors.Future Rock Star Guitarists Need a Looper!
Funded Jun 2, 2018Thank you so much for the donation towards a looper pedal for our guitar class at SMS. This new piece of equipment will allow me to teach multi-track recording and will help students create and write music.
It's awesome to watch students' faces the first time they see the looper pedal work. I also like to show them a video of how Ed Sheeran uses one and then they are hooked! It really is incredible how easy it is to use and how much of an impact it makes.
We are preparing for our winter concert now, and the looper has made that job so much easier. Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
This classroom project was brought to life by An Anonymous Arts Funder and 8 other donors.Middle School Guitar Group Needs a Bass to Slap!
Funded Dec 31, 2017Thank you so much for the kind donation to donorschoose.org to help us get a new bass guitar! We were just given a very prestigious honor when the South Middle Advanced Guitar classes were asked to play at the Kansas Music Educators' Conference in Wichita this last month. As you'll see in the pictures, the new bass guitar was put to good use (it's the red SG Bass - like the one Jack Black plays in "School of Rock"). Our old basses were very unreliable. I'd have to tell the kids, "just jiggle the cable a little bit - it'll work eventually." The new bass not only plays like a dream, but looks pretty "rockstar," don't you think!?
We are so grateful to you for thinking of us with your donation. This bass will touch hundreds of students for years to come.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
Middle School Guitar Group Needs a Bass to Slap!
Funded Nov 20, 2017Thank you so much for your generous donations towards the purchase of a new bass for our guitar ensemble here at Salina South Middle School. We just received the bass yesterday (just in time for our winter concert), and I wish you could have seen the looks on the kids' faces when we opened the box! I deliberately chose a really "funky" looking bass, and I think the students all really dig it! I played it for a while after school, and I guess I didn't realize how inferior our old basses were! The new one plays like dream!
We are preparing for our concert on December 19th right now. We have 3 guitar classes (of over 20 each). Two of those are beginning classes and one is an advanced class. We will of course play a few Christmas tunes on that concert, but will also use the new bass in some popular tunes we're working up. A few of our favorites are "All-Star" by Smashmouth, "Riptide" by Vance Joy, the classic rock gem "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oster Cult (yes, we've got more cowbell!), and the bass will really shine on Joe Walsh's "Funk 49"!
These students always impress me with how much they learn in such a short amount of time. I have seen the guitar reach several students who are really searching for their place during their middle school years. THANK YOU for helping to give students the gift of music through your donation.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Gerry
This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Donor and 3 other donors.