Past projects 13
Lions Rock Band Needs a Keyboard! RARR!
Funded Sep 8, 2009It is amazing to see so many donors contributing to this worthy project. Last year, I was on a mission to obtain a keyboard. You see, a colleague of mine was lending me his and I had to return it. But before I returned it, one of my students naturally took to the keyboard and even though I didn't have enough time to teach him everything, he took it upon himself to learn the part. In our last show of the year, he played the keyboard part for "Separate Ways" from Journey and it rocked! Our whole band rocked. It was so great that one of the band members from Journey saw it and commented positively on it. Nonetheless, I wanted to continue teaching keyboard as part of the repertoire of my after school music program. I feel that it adds a third dimension to the song and it allows students to become inspired as my former student was to play something other than guitar.
Without your donation, this year, my music program would not have that dimension. 5 students already volunteered to learn how to play the keyboard. It is amazing, they are learning so fast, that they are writing their own songs and learning parts to songs and adding them into our performances. I feel very strongly that music enhances test scores and adds to an individuals core knowledge. With your help, these Inner-City students will be able to say they play a dynamic instrument and hopefully they will continue their love of music. I have tried to inspire them to embrace music and let it be a possible option for a career path.
It is with abundant joy that I thank you for this gift, this inspiration that you have given to us. We appreciate it whole-heartedly. Thank you again!!! We will use it everyday!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ichikawa-Masi
Ukes In The Urban Jungle Is Expanding!!!! We Need More Ukes!
Funded Jun 16, 2009It is with tremendous gratitude that I thank you for providing these ukuleles for my students. My students lived in an underserved community without music education. However with the addition of my after school program, music has come to enrich their lives. I usually teach guitar, however the addition of my ukulele group just brought more and more students in. At the beginning of this year instead of seeing my usual suspects turn up from last year, I had an additional 40 students apply for the program. Uncanny!
These students are really interested in learning an instrument. Now there will be enough to go around. With the addition of these four ukuleles, our ukulele club is growing by the second and students are really playing. I have crossover students who play the guitar and who are now playing ukulele more proficiently. I am adding parts for the ukuleles to play in guitar songs, along with giving students solos and intros to play.
Without donors like yourselves, some of these students would have never touched a musical instrument in their lives. These students live in the toughest neighborhood - filled with gangs, drugs, and little hope. Your help ensures these students will have something to look forward to after school and will keep them off the streets getting in trouble. Instead of begging students to play, now we have students breaking down the door. Thank you again for enriching the lives of these hopeful students. We need to give them a fighting chance and a musical outlet. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ichikawa-Masi
Ukes Coming At You Live From L.A.!
Funded Dec 13, 2008Dear Donors,
Thank you. I am astounded by your generosity. I am thankful that you think our music program is so important. It really is. I am thrilled that I will be reaching these students through the wonderful instrument of the ukulele. Your generous gift will give joy to many students for years to come. I am serious about providing the most well rounded education to students and inspiring them through music. I am happy and will be grateful always”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ichikawa-Masi
Let's Hear the ROAR of the Lions Rock Band!
Funded May 16, 2008Lizarraga Lions cannot thank you enough for fully funding our project. Our students will be so grateful that you have funded the project and gave these future musicians the equipment they need to practice and perform. We are looking forward to sending you individual letters from our students. We are so excited that you were so thoughtful of us. We hope that we can give back to our community in a way that you have given to us. We will definitely use the materials in our guitar class and will be more successful. Thank you again”
With gratitude,
Ms. Ichikawa-Masi