Mr. Dimas' Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 9

• Get On The Good Foot!

  Funded Jun 16, 2024

  On behalf of the entire high school music department, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your generous contributions towards purchasing guitar foot stools for our students. Your support plays a crucial role in enriching their musical education and enhancing their playing experience.

  Our students will now be able to practice and perform with greater comfort and proper technique, which is essential for their growth as musicians. Your kindness not only provides them with the necessary tools but also inspires them to pursue their passion for music with even more dedication and enthusiasm.

  Thank you once again for your generosity and for believing in the importance of music education. Your support makes a world of difference to our young musicians.

  With heartfelt thanks,”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• A Practice Room in the Classroom!

  Funded Nov 9, 2022

  We are already seeing the benefits of the headphones being used in our classroom. Students make daily use of the headphones, whether it be for private practice, DJ'ing - a new endeavor in our class, or collaboration. The electronic music class has also learned to use the built-in microphone to capture voices and other sounds for sampling to their school-issued laptops, making it a sort of all-in-one device for them to be able to engineer sound without lots of other expensive equipment. Where students may have not normally been so engaged in the lesson before, this has helped them turn a corner, and now they're showing interest in Music. The extent of our gratitude cannot be expressed in words but we will try.

  Thank you.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• Can't Play My Guitar Without Guitar Strings!

  Funded May 5, 2022

  Our new guitar strings have been received and the students are glad to know that we will have clean strings on the guitars. Those playing with a missing string are just happy to know they will have all six strings.

  The students weren't sure what to make of the strange boxes. But they were impressed when I told them that 50 guitars could get new strings from just these two small boxes. Now, those students who will be with me next year will learn to put these strings on their assigned guitars. Our summer rock band will be the first group to play the guitars with new strings and I am sure that it will encourage them with a better sound and easier playability. We're all very grateful.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

  This classroom project was brought to life by SONIC Drive-In and 7 other donors.

• Pro Rig for the Pro Gig - DRUMS!

  Funded Jan 15, 2016

  I cannot begin to express in sufficient terms just how amazed I am by the collective power of your support for these amazing, deserving kids. Each time a student walks through my door and sees the new drum set and cymbals, their jaws drop and they immediately touch the drums. Now, even those that were reluctant to try the drum set are clamoring for a chance to sit on the drum throne and hear it. As I said in the proposal, this is our stage kit to be used for shows. We have two shows this spring, as well as an original songwriting exhibition coming up. The new kit will be used for all of that and any other opportunities that arise for these wonderfully talented students. Thank you again for your generosity and for believing in our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• Let's Melt Faces! A Pro Rig for the Pro Gig

  Funded Aug 22, 2015

  The impact of having a guitar of this quality is already evident and noticed by the students. Even those students who were on the fence between guitar and piano are showing an escalating interesting in more guitar. Out of the box, the guitar wasn't ready. I made necessary adjustments, gave it the once over, and made sure it was ready for any up and coming guitar gods. Every student that's played it so far has mentioned that the playability feels so much better and that the sound is noticeably hotter. I've already had students come to practice after school. A sure sign this guitar is the best thing for these students: It's attracting other the attention of students not in my class. The mere fact that students are using this to practice at school means the quality of the program has just increased. I only wish I had enough guitars to let them take them home. Thank you again for your generosity and for believing in our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• It's All About That Bass Amp - A Pro Rig for the Pro Gig!

  Funded Apr 14, 2015

  First, let me begin by saying once again, thank you. On behalf of our school and my students, we are so very grateful and amazed at how everyone came together to support our classroom. When I carried in the amp still in its brown cardboard box, the entire class was all smiles and questions. I gave them the honors of opening the packaging. The "oohs" and "ahhs," were warm enough to melt the hardest of hearts. Having the new bass amp has inspired other students who previously had no prior interest in the bass guitar. Giving them this tool will open more opportunities to explore and create new music. Even other faculty, working as weekend musicians like myself, were impressed with the new hardware. We've begun rehearsing with our new equipment and are excited to have already picked up a new gig opportunity before our big spring concert this May 22.

  Musical Regards,

  Damien Dimas

  Director, Modern Bands”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• Practice Makes Perfect Recordings

  Funded Jan 10, 2015

  Having access to the new equipment has definitely allowed our classes to grow in new dimensions. The JamHub gives students the opportunity to have a much more constructive practice when they can hear themselves with the mixed versions of the music. It does way more than that. It creates a link between the musicians performing and the student engineers that are monitoring and mixing the music. To see them realize their own potential, to witness them in the middle of project that they can own, that has made your gift that much more relevant to them. The "lightbulb" look on their faces is something I'll never get tired of. Whenever I introduce another capability of either the hub or the mixer, the reaction is the same: one of awe indicating they are really impressed.

  The hub has been applied for in-class practice, preparation for a show, the mixer for a live show as well as a recording session. We have plans to continue using the hub for smaller live applications. The Mackie has already replaced a much more complicated mixer so that the students can begin with the Mackie and eventually graduate to the other. But, it works so well, it may just become the permanent mixer.

  The potential continues to inspire the students' desire to do more and to continue learning. They're asking what else they can do before I've shown them.

  You've helped to create lifelong learners and lifelong musicians. Thank you for giving the world more lovers of music, more music makers.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

• This Amp Goes to 11!

  Funded Sep 9, 2014

  On behalf of the students, my administration and myself, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks for making our students' dreams a reality. Was that overshooting? I don't think so. I just want you to know how excited our students have been since the amplifier arrived. It has been used daily. It surpasses the expectations of every single student. We've already made use of the amplifier in shows for the entire school to hear. This has allowed more students to explore music and sound. It allows other musicians to collaborate at the same level as other musicians.

  Thank you for believing in these children.

  You are our heroes.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas

  This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 7 other donors.

• Give Voice to Our Band

  Funded Aug 29, 2014

  Thank you so much for your generous gift and in helping us to reach our goals. The students of Thomas Jefferson are all completely aware of your contribution to their success. Initially, the students were overwhelmed with the novelty of the pedal. Just using the factory presets that demonstrate the abilities of the pedal have been incredibly helpful during rehearsals, as well as entertaining. They loved hearing me sound like Optimus Prime. Now they have the opportunity to design their own vocal sounds. Their projects will include live performances, recording projects, and podcasts. On behalf of our students, our administration and myself, thank you so much for believing in our students.

  Many blessings and well-wishes.

  Best regards.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Dimas