Past projects 55
From Buckets to Drums!
Funded Nov 18, 2013Just as the heart pumps blood to vital organs, the percussion section is the breathes life into our bands! The new instruments have already had an enormous impact on the sound of our band classes. The new triangle cuts through beautifully and the different sized beaters help us always have the right sound. The new drum sticks have replaced old ones, which were splintered and not safe for the students to use. The djembes allow us to experiment with African-inspired music and will also soon be incorporated into our bucket drumming band.
Our music program would not be possible without your kind support. We watch as music programs across the city and nation are decimated due to budget cuts. It is because of the kindness of donors, such as each of you, that our band program is thriving. These wonderful new instruments will help make the Spring 2014 concert season the most successful one yet. Thank you all so much for supporting my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 7 other donors.Shining Trombones with Slick Slides
Funded Jun 6, 2013Thank you all for your generous contributions to "Trombones With Slick Slides!" Thanks to your kind support our symphonic band students have two shiny, beautiful new trombones on which to practice and perform. For the first time ever in our program, very few students now share trombones. This results in more opportunities for the children to take their instruments home to practice.
Our Winter Arts Festival was just about two weeks ago. The new trombones were a great addition to the sound of the band. This year we have 86 students in the 8th grade band, 90 in the seventh grade as well as two sixth grade band classes. In a time where budgets for the arts across the nation are being eradicated, the band program at our school continues to flourish. This would not at all be possible without YOU. Our donors are truly the guardian angels of this band.
On behalf of my students and school community, I cannot even begin to express our sincere appreciation for the contributions each of you have made. Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
HELP....My Instrument has No Case!!!
Funded Apr 27, 2013It's amazing how new instrument cases can make such a difference in the musical development of young students. We received 2 French horn cases, 2 euphonium cases, a trumpet case and a new mallet stick bag. These instruments are taken home nearly every day to be practiced by the students. Before we received funding for this project, the instruments sat lonely on the shelves of our back room. Even with several bungee cords and rolls of duct tape, my effort to fix the badly broken cases was futile.
The new cases are durable as well as lightweight. Even my smallest sixth grade students are now able to take their instruments home to practice. This has made an enormous difference in the sound of the band. Recently our school was devastated by severe budget cuts. Because the arts are a priority in our school, there were no cuts made to arts classes. Unfortunately these cuts have left no money for classroom supplies. Your generosity has helped the music department remain strong. Our eighth grade band recently received a gold rating at NYSSMA Level III, and I can only imagine how amazing next year will be. Thank you for believing in the importance of music education. My students and I sincerely appreciate your kind support!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
Rousing RHYTHMS Reverberate with Revelry
Funded Mar 18, 2013The ending of any school year for me is bittersweet, as I must bid farewell to another class of graduating eighth graders. This year, I feel especially proud and a bit sad as I will truly miss the remarkable group of students who made up the 2012-2013 Symphonic Band!
We received our new percussion equipment upon our return from Spring Break. Needless to say my aspiring young percussionists were overjoyed! Our amazing new mallets, tambourine and other supplies arrived just in time for concert season! Our percussionists sounded fantastic using appropriate mallets for the first time. Our concerts were wonderful and a few weeks ago our students received a GOLD rating at the annual Spring NYSSMA Majors Adjudication Festival. I could not help but think that your incredible generosity was a large part of their accomplishment.
Thank you for supporting out band program. We promise to continue to keep our beautiful new equipment in pristine condition. The students take great pride in having professional mallets and accessories, and treat them with the utmost care and respect. Your kindness and generosity means the word to the students in our band. THANK YOU ALL for supporting Rousing RHYTHMS Reverberate with Revelry!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
Tool Time for BAND
Funded Oct 18, 2012It is amazing how one little box can make a world of difference. Opening the Ferree's Q30 repair kit as exciting as uncovering lost treasure. For with each tool, came the potential to repair a multitude of instruments. Since the repair kit arrived at our school, nearly every instrument is back in the hands of a student. So far, I have fixed more than two dozen broken instruments, and am also using the resources to maintain many others.
My students and I sincerely appreciate this wonderful gift. Only a few months ago, many of our instruments sat collecting dust on shelves. They needed simple repairs, none of which could be done, due to having no budget and a lack of resources.
Thank you all so much for your wonderfully kind generosity. We will use our tools and supplies for years to come, so that more students can have fully-functioning instruments on which to learn. THANK YOU SO MUCH for donating to Tool Time for BAND!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 14 other donors.Super Slick Slide TROMBONES
Funded Oct 5, 2012"Wow...My slide moves past 4th position" and "I did not know that playing the trombone was this easy" were just some of the remarks made by my students after playing on their shiny new trombones for the first time! Learning a musical instrument in and of itself is challenging. Playing on sub par trombones with slides that barely move makes learning nearly impossible. Needless to say, my students were (and still are) ecstatic to have quality instruments on which to learn.
Thanks to your generosity, more students are able to take instruments home to practice. I can already hear the improvement in the sound of my aspiring young trombonists. The looks of happiness on their faces when they play says it all! For the first time, they are using instruments with slides that move easily to and from each position and as a result, they are enjoying playing more than ever!
Severe budget cuts have hit our school and the music department was badly affected. Your gift helped us obtain valuable resources we could never have received otherwise. My students and I sincerely appreciate our kindness. Your gift has inspired these remarkable young musicians to strive harder than ever. Thank you for choosing to support our band program.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and one other donor.76 Trombones...or at Least Two More!
Funded Oct 1, 2012Thank you so much for your generous donations to "76 Trombones or at Least Two More!" With your help more of my students now have working trombones to use in class, as well as ones to take home for practice. Prior to getting these shiny, new instruments, many of my students were struggling to play trombones with sticky, lethargic slides. After playing these wonderful, new instruments, my students realized that playing the trombone is easier than they once thought!
We are deeply fortunate to have a highly successful music program, especially at a time when arts programs across the nation are being cut due to budget constraints. With support from generous benefactors such as you, our band program continues to grow, so that no child who desires to learn an instrument will ever be turned away.
Thank you for helping my students. The absolutely love their new trombones. We promise to take excellent care of them!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
YIKES! Why Does My Instrument Stink?
Funded Jul 6, 2012In these difficult financial times, budget cuts have resulted in the eradication of music programs throughout the country. We feel extremely fortunate to have a strong band program. It is the kindness of donors like you that have allowed our band to flourish.
At the end of rehearsals, my woodwind players are now able to swab out their instruments. Although this may sound like no big deal, it makes an enormous difference. Since our students share instruments, it is extremely important that they get cleaned out after each rehearsal, so that the next student does not find someone Else's saliva inside. Furthermore, removing the moisture after each rehearsal helps keep the instruments in better condition.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. It is inspiring that inspiring that people whom we have never met are willing to help us. With your help our band program will continue to reach 300 students each year. THANK YOU SO MUCH for donating to my project!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
Visaulizing Vivacious MUSIC!
Funded Jan 22, 2012Hi! Thank you all so much for your contributions to Visualizing Vivacious MUSIC! My students and I are extremely appreciative of your generosity. Due to budget constraints, we have had rather limited access to technology in the music department. The document camera is a fantastic resource with which allows me to make abstract concepts more concrete.
The document camera has already proven to be an invaluable resource in teaching. I use it to project images of instrumental parts and musical scores onto the screen. The camera has helped to make learning more interactive, in that we use it to project music theory worksheets and the students are able to come up and draw in their responses. Finally, we have used it to project photographs and artwork associated with our band repertoire, so that students can place our musical learning in a historical context.
In a society inundated with technology, it is important for all students to have equal access to it. Thank you all so much for making that possible for my students.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
Love at Frist Sight: The Amazing TUBA!
Funded Dec 22, 2011Our awesome, shiny new tuba arrived safely at its new home this past week! If I told you that the students were elated, it would be an understatement. They were not only overjoyed to see and play this amazing new instrument, but proud, for many of them had worked together and contributed to this grant.
My sixth graders were particularly excited because I can now allow two more of them to begin their tuba studies. I also have an additional eighth grader who will now be able to start learning to play tuba. Because of your kind, generous support, our music program is flourishing and my students are gaining opportunities that were once beyond our reach.
Thank you all for supporting our band program. Over the past four years, our inventory of instruments has tripled due to grants. The benevolence of both strangers and friends from near and afar, has helped us grow from a fledgling band program facing elimination into one that services 250 students each year. Because of you, the precious gift of music will be bestowed upon wonderfully deserving young people!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Schecter
This classroom project was brought to life by WGIRLS NYC and 29 other donors.