Literacy & Lyrics

Funded Sep 5, 2020

First, let me begin by saying how grateful I am to you for your donations. Your gracious, selfless giving has opened up a large door of possibilities. Science continues to confirm the countless benefits of learning through doing and playing. The use of piano keyboards in my classroom has provided students with the opportunity to both do and play as well as create and compose. Their understanding of how to read music, how to determine between intervals (the distance between two pitches/sounds), and understanding the concept of exactly where sounds reside on a scale has improved greatly! The piano keyboards allow them to visualize and hear what is happening on the sheet music in front of them.

The students love the opportunity to work at the keyboard and often ask when will we be working in stations. One project they had to complete was to play the notes of three given songs and decipher which well-known tune was being played. No lyrics or title were afforded them, they had only the musical notes, their prior knowledge, and the keyboard to help discover the answer. They loved it! I, as an educator, was allowed the opportunity to witness just how much the keyboards have helped to enhance their skills as musicians!

Last, but definitely not least, I have been able to see students rise to new levels of potential. One of our units introduces the musical concept of motifs and leitmotifs (musical phrases in a written piece) which then led us to explore various ways in which you can alter your motif or musical phrase to compose a short song. A particular student (freshman) of mine took hold of these concepts and blazed through it with such ease. I was both impressed and surprised. What warmed my heart most was to hear students asking if I would listen to their composition and give feedback, or when a student after arranging and manipulating several musical phrases would comment that they were not completely satisfied with the sound and explore new ways of changing either the pitch or rhythm until their song was what they heard in their own mind.

These beautiful, crucial learning moments that lead to growth were made possible through your generous contributions to their future. I am excited to continue to explore ways to introduce music into the lives of my students and I thank you for the opportunity to do that through the use of piano keyboard skills. Thank you will never be enough! May God bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Collins