Past projects 21
The Safe Musicians
Funded Sep 27, 2021Greetings and thank you once again for supporting us with the donations you have gotten us for our instruments. When we performed for our Christmas program, many students did not have enough masks but they made up for them when they used the bell covers. When they got the safety equipment, they felt like professionals, and looked good knowing they were safe playing their instruments without anyone telling them what they could not do.
When it comes to the next project, students are preparing for their spring concerts. Both beginner and advance students will be playing about 6 songs per group and will be sporting the safety equipment. Once again thank you for your support”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
The Come Up
Funded Aug 17, 2021Working at a Title I school as a band director is a difficult task. One of the reasons why I chose the materials I chose was because musical stores seem to never be able to come to my school and audition students for their instruments. Therefore, I can have enough reeds to aid with the testing. Secondly, I asked for swabs and brushes to help with preserving the instruments. The mouthpiece puller helped with clumsiness.
When the students first saw what they were dealing with they were ecstatic, especially for my 4th-graders. The fact they were playing on instruments was what excited them the most. To be honest, I did not know so many students wanted to be a part of the band program. That's what makes all this equipment awesome.
When it comes to my next steps, my students, I might need to complete another donor choose project because I now have more students than instruments and they need mouthpieces for their instruments. Secondly, we are in safety training because we don't want to destroy instruments nor materials that come with the instruments.
Once again I appreciate the love not just shown to me, but shown to my students through your donations. I pray my skill teaching can match your giving. Thank again.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
This classroom project was brought to life by Robert Smith, Vista Equity Partners, & PowerSchool.Lights, Camera, Action!
Funded Jul 24, 2021First off, I would like to thank you all for your loving donations as well as your warm comments behind them. It warms my heart to know that you all see the big picture not just by scholars but scholars all around who will see the rewards of this product. This camera will not only be used for in-person students but also for students who cannot make it to school due to ailments.
About their learning, this camera will be used to help students critique themselves as well as each other. Students will be able to assess their own mistakes and learn how to fix their problems through the video recording. In addition, this technology will aid in YouTube videos for students to learn and relearn concepts taught in class they missed or forgot.
Though students have not warmed up to yet there is no telling their state of mind as it pertains to this camera. Hopefully, they will have a better outlook with the number of pictures I'm also planning to take.
Once again, I am very appreciative of your donations and your love for our children.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
This classroom project was brought to life by Houston Endowment and 11 other donors.Musical Safety
Funded Dec 21, 2020I would like to express my sincerest gratitude on providing us with P.P.E. for our band students. When they obtained their bell covers it made them feel like they were on a whole new musical level. Even now, their practice time as well as their discipline seems to be taken more serious than normally.
I am very appreciative that they now have P.P.E. because they can now stop asking if they will ever play their instruments again. In the mere future, whenever the schools open up again, I would like to look at bringing the program together again.
As of right now, scholars are preparing for their end of the year recitals. Since I am teaching a hybrid model, I have had to adapt to a new way of showcasing scholars talents. Once again, I thank you all for donating to my scholars instrumental success.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
Hurricane Harvey Recovery
Funded Oct 15, 2017I must say your donations have made the world turn for my third through sixth graders. To begin with, after students checked out their instruments, I had them split into groups-according to their instruments. During that time, students learned about their instruments. By the end of the second week students were able to name their instruments, name the parts, and clean their specific instruments. We also had Christmas concerts, where my students played "Carol of the Bells," "Jingle Bells," "Jolly Ole St. Nicholas," and many more pieces. My students, after the first semester, knew they were a band. Going into the second semester, the "Mighty Panther Band" played "When the Saints Go Marching In," and a few negro spirituals for "Black History Month." They held a miniature concert for the "Walk on Freedman's Town," where teachers, staff, and students learned about the history of fourth ward. Finally, the band held a concert for their parents, during the month of May. Students played various tunes, which touched on culture, periods of time, and movie themes.
When my students first saw the instruments they were SUPER excited. As I stated before, their world was turned when they saw the instruments sitting and waiting on them to play. It is a sight to see, when you watch a child analyzing equipment they will soon use. Even after they got the instrument they were ready play music they didn't even know how to play yet. That made it even more exciting for me to want to teach the music.
This upcoming year will be a year of learning and achieving pieces of universal music. I plan on exposing my students to World Music, from the different band programs I have invited, to the concert I plan on taking students to in December of this year. Students will, for the first time get to see the "Houston Symphony Orchestra in concert, and I am so excited about that. I also plan on introducing newer concepts to the band to ultimately prepare them for the "Universal Scholastic League" competition, which will be held at the end of the year. Lastly, I want to take my students to three band festivals to compete against other schools. Your donations have lit a fire in myself and my kids. They will never forget your sacrifice and gratitude for this donation to them.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
The Mighty Panther Band The Beginning
Funded Jun 7, 2017I must first start off by say, "THANK YOU!" Your donations have created an avenue I would have thought would never happen for my students. From the first day I introduced these instruments to my students, their drive to learn more about music has increased. I have a slogan that we live by, "Believe and never doubt (B. A. N. D.)." From the time I introduced that slogan to them, the word "can't" left their vocabulary. My students are now working with purpose, not just for a grade. I had to sit down and tell them how proud I was and still am of them because they are holding each other accountable, they are helping each other learn the music, and THEY ARE GOING HOME AND ACTUALLY PRACTICING. I remember when the first practice we had after school. They were so excited to get their instruments that they began learning the parts of their horns and learning how to do things, like buzzing and putting together the clarinet. After seeing them practicing and playing on the instruments in class, I told them they could take the instruments home. Low and behold, when they got back the next day they were bragging about how many hours they practiced. That brought a little water to my eyes.
After showing the students the instruments, during "selection day," one of the students yelled, " WE HAVE A BLUE TRUMPET!!!!" I, in my craziness yelled, "YEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!!" Out of all my students, my third through sixth grade students have been taking on the challenge of learning and bettering themselves on their horns. That in itself is something to be proud of. Another proud moment is when I saw all of the smiling faces from parents when their children were walking out of the band room with their instruments.
As far as the next steps for the band, we are working on Christmas music. I made a decision to have My students perform for in our GLECPVA Christmas showcase. Even though they are beginners, to see their vigor for learning pumps me up to challenge them harder. Long term, I want to take my students to the elementary band contest, to compete with other schools as well as UIL competition, when they all get into middle school. This will be the students who recreate the GLECPVA Band that once reigned supreme in the 1980s, and I want to thank you for your donations and your support in making all of this happen.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Bolden
This classroom project was brought to life by H&M and 2 other donors.