Past projects 31
Mindfulness in the Music Classroom
Funded Dec 4, 2019In this time of unease, your gift of mindfulness props to my students is most valuable. When connecting with others is filled with so many obstacles, it is even more important to be able to connect to one's self.
I look forward to using these supplies in the coming months and years to assist students in feeling supported and safe within their mindfulness practice in my classroom. Not only can students sit on a cushion, but they have yoga blocks to prop their legs or arms and help them be more comfortable. The noise cancelling headphones are vital for those who are sound sensitive, particularly in the music classroom.
Please accept my infinite thanks for your contribution to the health and wellness of my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 5 other donors.iPads for Music Makers!
Funded Dec 24, 2018I can't thank you enough for your generous donation to my classroom. The addition of iPads to our music ensembles is increasing student engagement exponentially. In the photos you can see us using them to add an additional layer to our modern band ensembles when they play acoustically. Can you see how hard they are concentrating? We experimented with adding a string section, as well as providing opportunities for students to explore the "app" version of the instrument they play in class. Many were excited about utilizing the skills they learned on the iPad to practice at home.
Next week I will be attending a workshop on how to utilize these iPads for students with disabilities, who may not be able to manage the physical demands of playing an instrument without accommodation. After that workshop, I plan to incorporate this new "instrument" into my regular classes, as we assemble ensembles of all sorts. We will be able to have students take turns creating rhythm sections with hand percussion like tambourines and small drums, while a couple students improvise melodies on the iPad over the beat. Instant composers and performers!
All of this joy and music making is due to your kind heart and generosity. My students and I send our infinite thanks for all you have done for us!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
I Can't See the Board!
Funded Oct 5, 2016I can't thank you enough for the addition of a new screen and a few ukuleles to my classroom! Prior to this donation I was projecting my lessons onto a sheet of white paper on the wall. Needless to say, the vibrancy of color and clarity of picture was lost on that old paper. With this screen my students are able to view video and song charts without any difficulty. Reading lyrics used to be a challenge, simply because the picture was washed out or fuzzy. No more! This is also the first time I've used ukuleles in the classroom and the students are loving them. Much simpler to play quickly than the guitar and much easier for smaller/younger students to manage. I plan to add more ukes to our collection as soon as possible so that we can have even more students involved. Both donations are so vital to my classroom and are used on a daily basis. Thank you SO MUCH for your generosity. My students will benefit for many years to come!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
Boom-whacka! Boom-whacka! Boom! Let's Rock!
Funded Jul 30, 2015I don't even know where to begin to express my gratitude for your contribution of two complete sets of Boomwhackers for my classroom. I have turned to them innumerable times in the midst of a teachable moment, to illustrate all manner of musical concepts from pitch to rhythm and tempo.
Everyone who walks into my classroom comments on the Boomwhackers and bombards me with questions. What are they? How do you use them? They are so colorful! Merely having them on display brightens the room. But when we take them off of the wall and start to play it is instantaneously a joyous and successful music lesson.
Although I have used them with nearly every class, from special needs first graders to choral groups, it is in my concert and modern bands where they have been the biggest success. The goal this year was to teach all instrumental groups how to play a 12 bar blues, so we started with the Boomwhackers in order for them to get the chord progression and feel for the music. Now we are beginning to transition those lessons to their actual instruments and it is very exciting to see the transformation!
Thank you so very much for helping to take my music lessons to a another level and for bringing joy to the faces of the hundreds of students I serve each week.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
Every Drummer Deserves a Throne
Funded Aug 23, 2014As you can see by the photos I have uploaded, this drum throne has had a significant impact on my modern band students. They are now able to comfortably sit at our drum kit and jam with their classmates. Do you see how serious they are about their playing? It has been so uplifting to witness their growth as an ensemble and no rock band is complete without a drum kit! There is something magical that happens in an ensemble when you add a drum set that I find difficult to describe in words. Suffice to say, the difference in our sessions is amazing and we can't thank you enough.
These photos are of a small performance ensemble consisting of about 10-12 students, but I am also teaching the Little Kids Rock methodology to our entire 3rd grade (over 200 students) in a regular classroom setting. Recently, I polled them to find out which instrument they were most interested in pursuing further: guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals. The number of students who wanted to pursue drums was by far the largest! No doubt playing a kit on this majestic throne was a key factor in making them feel empowered behind the drum set and therefore eager to continue that journey.
I thank you with all my heart for enriching our music experience so much.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 3 other donors.Keep us in Tune and on the Beat!
Funded Apr 29, 2013Thank you so much for your kind donation to my music classroom. Although it is the end of the school year, we have already used all of the supplies purchased via this donation. For example, the hand percussion instruments are being used by 5th grade students during their graduation ceremony. Some of my band students are very excited to keep the beat going while their classmates sing along. We are making some great collaborative music! And we have you to thank.
I hope you enjoy the photos as much as my students are enjoying the tuners and instruments. We will use them for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
Celebrating Dr. Seuss!
Funded Jan 26, 2012Thank you all so much for your kind donation to my Dr. Seuss proposal. I don't think I can adequately express how grateful I am. These books and CDs are absolute magic in the classroom! While I used the materials with different grade levels (K-5), the most exciting lessons occurred with my first grade music students. They were extremely enthusiastic when given a non-fiction book about Dr. Seuss and loved writing a paragraph about him using facts from their book. Having a class set of non-fiction books is a rare treat and particularly useful when the topic is one they are studying with other teachers as well. The end result was some of the best writing I have ever seen from my students and they enjoyed every minute!
The best part of this gift is that it will continue to touch the lives of students for many years to come, so on behalf of my current and future students I thank you with all my heart.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
Collaborating at the Keyboard
Funded Dec 6, 2011Thank you all so much for your kind donation to my music classroom. As you can see by the photos, my first grade students are completely engaged in keyboard class, and your generosity plays a huge role in keeping them inspired.
Because we now have splitters and two headphone sets on each keyboard, students can work together very easily. Instead of waiting for their partners to finish practicing a piece, they can listen to one another and give feedback, which improves BOTH players ability to write and play music. I'm sure you can imagine how valuable such an experience is to a student's development!
The best part is, all of these resources will be available to my students in the future as well. So you can rest assured that the gift you have given will continue to touch the lives of children in need for many years to come.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
No Room on the Rug
Funded Dec 28, 2010Thank you so very much for your generous donation to my project. The large colorful rug we received completely changes the dynamic of our music classroom. Students no longer are sitting on the floor or fighting over space on the rug. As a result, they are more focused and able to attend to the task at hand: learning to play the keyboard.
I wish I could sufficiently capture the gasps of delight when they first saw the new rug. The beautiful bright colors simply light up the room and you can't help but smile. It is such a pleasure to teach when the environment is safe and warm and the kids are motivated to learn.
Thank you for giving this gift which enrich the learning experience of hundreds of children in the coming years.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
This classroom project was brought to life by American Express Members Project and one other donor.Learning to Breathe
Funded Dec 16, 2010Thank you so very much for your generous donation to our school. Having these "hands on" tools that allow me to demonstrate how the respiratory system works has made a huge difference for my choral and instrumental students. I wish there was a way to capture the "aha" moments for you to see! The lung demonstrator is particularly valuable in showing how the diaphragm works. This is usually a difficult idea to get across, and this visual aid really hits the idea home.
The skeleton and poster are also very helpful. After demonstrating with these tools I have seen instant results. The students stand taller, breathe fuller and simply sound better when they play or sing. As a result, they feel more successful when they perform. The boost you have given to their sense of self worth is priceless!
Please know that your generosity is much appreciated by us all. ”
With gratitude,
Ms. Nelson
This classroom project was brought to life by Wells Fargo and one other donor.