Mr. Sutton's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 21

• Practice Pads for Pleasant Percussionists

  Funded Oct 6, 2024

  We've been using the new pads for a few weeks now, and we're still, to quote the old song, "as happy as a baby boy with a brand new choo-choo toy!" Replacing our aging practice pads with these spiffy space-aged numbers has been a revolutionary development in our percussion practice. I've seen my students' technique improve within a few days of using the new pads, and their stick control is more more fluid. Gone are the days of savage tweens whacking the daylights out of old, unresponsive pads; now each stroke is rewarded with a delightful bounce, so my kids are UN-learning poor habits caused by inadequate tools.

  Most importantly, the volume of the class has been reduced to a quiet, thoughtful tapping sound! I'm able to give instruction WHILE they're playing, something I could not do before. I can easily move around the room, correcting grip and posture, giving encouragement or recommending restraint, depending on the needs of the student. Our classes are more efficient, fun, and joyful. In the old days I would have a bit of a headache after teaching three percussion classes in a row.

  We're enjoying our new pads very much - thanks to all of you who donated to this project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

• In Search of the Perfect Reed

  Funded Nov 10, 2023

  When I told my band students that ONE person had funded the entire project, and then held up BOXES of reeds, the energy in the room was palpable. All of my reed players know how expensive reeds are, and struggle with the cost on a monthly basis. I've got several kids who buy one reed at a time because they can't afford a box. So when I started dancing around the room like the Good Reed Fairy, showering them with shiny blue packs of reeds, it was like Mardi Gras in the band room!

  I read your note to the kids, and they were thrilled that you played in your school bands growing up. There was much discussion of what instrument you might have played, and most of the kids decided you must have been a fellow reed player. We talked a bit about the connection that music brings to people, and that they would carry THEIR memories of band with them into their adulthood, just like you!

  One of my beginning clarinetists caught me after class and said, "I can't believe she bought reeds for the whole band! I keep breaking my reeds, and my mom got mad at me for asking for money every week. Believe it or not, I was down to my LAST reed today, and it's chipped! Now I've got new reeds, and I don't have to ask my mom for any money."

  All this to say - we are VERY grateful for your generosity. Our Winter Concert is in January, and you've helped us prepare for it in a real and meaningful way. Many thanks!”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

• Computer Composition

  Funded Nov 29, 2022

  Thanks again for choosing our little project to fund... sorry this letter is a little late, but the day after the new computer arrived it died DURING class in a noisy and spectacular fashion! The company was very helpful, and after a relatively short stay in "computer hospital" it was returned to me with a new hard drive.

  So we got to celebrate your generosity twice! We can all tell the difference this machine makes, in every facet of its use: projecting the daily rehearsal agenda, showing videos of music performances, playing recordings used in class, but ESPECIALLY when using our music publishing software, Sibelius. Our 8th grade composition club has already produced some fascinating and distinctive music, and I'm looking forward to more.

  Thanks again for sharing your generosity with us! We're touched by your kindness and faith in our students.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

  This classroom project was brought to life by an Anonymous Classroom Supporter and one other donor.

• New Keyboards for Piano Class

  Funded Nov 30, 2021

  My beloved band room is now my beloved piano lab... I never dreamed I'd be teaching a piano class, but it's been a joy! It's keeping me on my toes, as well - I'm practicing every day to try to catch up to my students!

  The room looks great now, thanks to these beautiful new keyboards. The kids are excited, and I've experienced a startling sense of euphoria that comes with teaching an entire class period without pausing for a makeshift repair job. My students aren't asking for new seat assignments every week, either - nobody thinks they've got the short end of the stick anymore!

  Once again, my sincere thanks for your continued generosity and support of our little music program here in our little corner of Manhattan. Best wishes for health and joy this year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

  This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community and one other donor.

• Everybody Gets a Guitar!

  Funded Jan 23, 2020

  Thanks so much for helping us get these beautiful guitars. Just before our classes went remote in the spring my 5th and 6th grade guitarists were able to start using these instruments. I had to create a list to keep track of who had a turn because they all wanted to use one of these new instruments. They sound great, they're small enough for even my tiniest students, and they stay in tune for an entire class session.

  Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to photograph any of my students using them, so I hope you appreciate my attempt to artfully display them on my empty classroom floor.

  So for now, they are patiently waiting to be used by eager (if occasionally grubby) hands on that future date when I can safely have groups of students in my room to teach instrumental music classes.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

  This classroom project was brought to life by Anonymous Arts Supporter and one other donor.

• A Quality Keyboard for Quality Students

  Funded Dec 3, 2019

  Thanks so much for bringing this project to a close. We're so excited to have this beautiful instrument, and can't wait until we can start using it. It's a much higher quality instrument than the dinky keyboard that we'd previously used, so it's going to improve the experience of everyone involved, students and teachers.

  Unfortunately, it's currently still in its box, safely tucked away in our Percussion room, awaiting the day when we can have students in a room together learning and rehearsing together. The photos I uploaded include the aforementioned box (pregnant with possibilities), two stock photographs of the beautiful instrument it contains, and some older photos of former 6th-grade students learning in our group piano class.

  Thanks for your generosity and understanding during these challenging times. I'm grateful that our school has made a commitment to music education and that in the hopefully near future, our students will have the opportunity to play, sing, express, inquire, and grow as musical people.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

  This classroom project was brought to life by An anonymous classroom supporter and 2 other donors.

• Mama Sang Tenor, Daddy... Played Bass Clarinet?!?

  Funded Aug 13, 2019

  Thanks again for pitching in on this project. It's been so fun to have the bass clarinet added to our ensemble sound. Several kids have come upstairs during recess to give it a try, and more are signing up every day.

  The first day that a student played it in class, I got a kick out of watching the faces of some of the other musicians, searching around the room trying to locate the source of that low, woody sound.

  Because of your donation, I have more students interested in trying out secondary instruments, which is the whole point of having these horns, honestly. Any time I have an instrument sitting in a case, I'm a little bummed that I can't put it into a kid's hands. That's certainly not the case with this beautiful axe; the students are VERY excited, and spending more time in my room during recess and after-school hours. So thanks for helping me create some magic moments in my classroom, and giving a unique experience to more of my students”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

  This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 9 other donors.

• New Supplies for New Students

  Funded Feb 11, 2019

  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I was actually anxious that my students might be a little "jaded" about being the recipients of another Donors Choose project. We've been fortunate to receive several over the past few years, so I was concerned that they might not appreciate how remarkable it is that we are able to supply our program so readily thanks to generous donors.

  I had nothing to worry about, it turns out. All of my students, wind & percussion musicians, were OVERJOYED when they came into my classroom and saw the giant boxes full of supplies. My 8th grade percussion students immediately assigned themselves to the new practice pads, assembled and tuned them, and then helped me go through our aging collection to select old broken pads to throw out. They were just as thorough with the new sticks - nobody looked bored or complained about having to unbox equipment.

  Likewise, the wind students were VERY excited about the reeds. I have several students whose families are on fixed incomes who can't easily afford a box of reeds for their school clarinet or saxophone. Being able to give those students a full box knowing that they would take care of them and use them throughout the year felt really, really good. And my brass players are thrilled to be able to practice in their apartments without the neighbors banging on the door (I'm sure their parents don't mind, either)!

  This completed project insures that my students have the tools they need for daily classroom participation, which enables us to perform with pride and excitement at our Spring Concerts this May 29 and 30. Thanks again for your generosity - you've reminded my students that many people in our community (and beyond) VALUE arts education in schools.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

• The Composers Club Needs a New Computer!

  Funded May 25, 2018

  It took a while, but we finally got this beautiful new machine up and running! The day-to-day activities in class go SO much more smoothly now that we have a working computer, but we're most excited about having a powerful new tool for music composition and arranging. My 8th grade students are already trying their hand at arranging simple folk melodies for the class, and I can see their imaginations being aroused. Being able to display their work quickly on the screen makes a HUGE difference, and the students are able to be celebrated for their work. I'm already looking forward to the last week in May when our 8th grade composition will be premiered. Thanks again for your generosity to our school and music program.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton

• The Bass Drum Is the Anchor

  Funded Nov 14, 2017

  My students were VERY excited when I told them about your generous gift, but they were like kids on Christmas day when they actually SAW the drum. It may be their highly developed imaginations, but several students SWORE they could tell the difference when the entire drum circle was playing. I think it's akin to feeling that brand new sneakers can actually help you run faster. Anyway, thanks so much for adding to our inventory with a quality instrument. I'm very proud of the work we do here, and replacing "toy" instruments with good student instruments is a big part of validating that work.

  Thanks again, and I hope you know that your generosity is making a lot of kids happy.”

  With gratitude,

  Mr. Sutton