Past projects 4
Drumming Up Some Fun!
Funded Nov 27, 2023I truly believe that one of the most effective investments are the investments that we make in CHILDREN. I thank you for choosing to invest in children! Your help in funding my project allows me to build out this program to reach a wider audience within my student population. The World Music Drumming program helps my students practice self control, patience, and listening skills as they access music from a diverse rhythmic repertoire.
Students displayed a tremendous amount of excitement when I shared the news with them about your donation as they know it allows us to build our drumming circles to include more of their friends!
Once again, thank you for choosing to invest in children!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dalton
This classroom project was brought to life by Con Edison and 5 other donors.And the Beat Goes On!
Funded Jun 23, 2022Thank you for investing in the musical education of children. Your investment will pay dividends in their well being, joy, and sense of accomplishment! Your investment will also help us in promoting a sense of community in our school, which is critical in today's public school environment. Thank you again!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dalton
Drumming Our Way Back to School
Funded Dec 30, 2020My students and I are using these drums to explore a curriculum called "World Music Drumming". World Music Drumming is a fun, meaningful, hands-on music activity in which students engage in a variety of drum circle and movement activities centered around traditional West African and Caribbean drumming. One of the best aspects of World Music Drumming is that no prior instrumental music experience is necessary, and students can get started right away experiencing the joys of making music with other human beings! This program and be therapeutic as well, as it has been shown to decrease stress and increase mindfulness! Upon seeing these materials, my students reacted with surprise and delight, and, I'm certain, will grow to love and appreciate music from other cultures over time! You have given my students the gift of music, and your generosity will pay dividends in the quality of their lives!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dalton
Building Community through World Music Drumming
Funded Sep 7, 2018I cannot begin to thank you enough for the new life that you have breathed into our school's music program. The drums that your donation purchased have allowed me to implement a curriculum called World Music Drumming. The World Music Drumming curriculum is one that I have come to believe in deeply after attending a week-long course in it during the summer of 2018. The WMD approach is really a positive change for my school music program as it allows me to get my students engaged right away, upon entering the classroom, without "boring" long-winded explanations. Too often, in the past, if my lesson was too abstract for my students, they would ask me: "What are we doing?" Now, the answer to that question is directly in front of them! The two tubano drums that were funded provide the perfect platform for teaching students music from Afro-Caribbean cultures. We are currently experiencing in our school music program, as a direct, tangible result of your generosity, more time on task, improved student engagement, and fewer interpersonal conflicts, as their hands are busy and their minds are engaged.
Further, your donation has done more than merely purchase something material: It created a "buzz" of excitement in our school. The beautiful kente-cloth covering of the drums catches the eye of students and staff alike as I navigate my music cart between classrooms. Best of all, my colleague have heard the results of our drumming ensembles, and have complemented my classes on how good it sounds! As such, colleagues that may have been lukewarm to my program in the past are now more willing to support it. When the students see their other teachers supporting me and our music program, it helps them to take the program more seriously, leading to a cycle of positive feedback. In short, your donation has absolutely, without a doubt, helped me to begin to realize my project's goal of "Building Community" through World Music Drumming.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dalton