Past projects 5
Community Drumming Brings Us Delights!
Funded May 29, 2020What a delight it is to anticipate the addition of the three drums to our drum circles! We are patiently waiting for the disinfectable drum heads to arrive, but since we cannot use them yet anyway, it's something to look forward to! In the pictures, I show the students with similar drums in the past, pre-pandemic. The three black drums are the ones you purchased for us!
My students have so far reacted with excitement, on my Google Classroom meetings, seeing the beautiful instruments behind me! When I have been able to demonstrate the wonderful tone and varied pitches of the sizes of the drums, they've oohed and aahed! I really cannot wait to have the students in the same room together to have "community drum conversations" after the pandemic is over.
While we wait for the return of students in the classroom, we continue to build skills with listening and creating music through our technological connections. The instruments you provided are going to be a welcome treat in the future!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shrader
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 2 other donors.Drum Circle Seating Makes Our Musical Community Great!
Funded Mar 27, 2018It was such a thrill to receive the stools for my project! My students move from one part of the room to another several times during a half-hour class, so it's great to have an easy-to-move seating alternative. We act in dramatic play, play Orff xylophones, and play drums, then dance to music for every class.
When I opened the boxes the day after spring break, the students were in awe that we had such attractive stools to use. They were excited about choosing the color of the stool padding for each time they use them. The news spread throughout the school that we had something new in the music room. Everyone wanted to try them out right away!
We are preparing for end-of-year performances now, so the stools are being used in the classroom and we plan to use them in the auditorium when we perform. Parents will get to see the great tools. In addition, I'm using the iPad stand every day to hold my teaching tool and take pictures and video. I'm looking forward to having a video record of our performances this year!
We are very happy we had a project online at the right time and in the right place! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shrader
This classroom project was brought to life by Ripple.Drums and Stands Make the Performance Grand!
Funded Oct 16, 2017With great delight, my students saw the four tubanos and could not WAIT to play them! Quickly, we had to institute a new rule "Wait to be invited to play!" Everyone has now had several chances with the drums and learned how to play on the different surfaces to create different timbres. They are definitely a highlight of the music room!
In addition, we use Orff instruments with mallets. The new mallets are a great addition to the assortment we have. The students are learning the value of caring for these precious resources so they'll be available for future classes. Thank you!
The Orff instrument stand is also a great addition to the classroom because it allows us to move the large bass xylophone to different areas of the room and the school.
Let me say, on behalf of my students, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shrader
Compositions Need PLAYERS Now: A Projector for the Music Room!
Funded Dec 4, 2016Getting a new projector for our music room has brought a refreshing excitement to the environment. In the music room, we use vocal warmups that are projected onto a screen for the class to see. The new projector enhances the brightness of these essential exercises.
As the students are learning to compose, their individual compositions can be shown to the whole class on the screen, too. When we use Orff instruments (xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels), everyone can participate in playing the new compositions by reading what is on the score.
As we create slideshow projects in the class, every student has a chance to be a star with their own performances and research, as displayed on the screen. In this technological era, it thrills my students to see their own creations on display. While seeing their presentations together, it gives an honest chance for feedback from the audience. Similarly, students will be able to critically analyze their recorded rehearsals.
We are excited about using the projector to its full potential. Thank you for your help in getting our classes to this point.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shrader
Singers Need Supplies!
Funded Oct 27, 2016When the folders arrived for our music concerts, the students were in awe! They had no idea what it takes to have professional-looking music folders. We are looking forward to using them in the holiday concert coming up. Tomorrow morning, I will be assigning the folders to each student and we will start setting them up for the concert with all of the music in order.
In addition, we have already used the iPad stand that you so generously purchased for us. I have been able to video the kids during rehearsals so that we can do some self-analysis after a performance. The stand is very handy for me so that the iPad is secure and safe during times when I need to show them something. It's very flexible, too, so I could use it for a cellphone as well.
Your generosity is appreciated. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Our thank you cards will be on their way soon!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Shrader
This classroom project was brought to life by Yamaha Corporation of America – Band & Orchestral and 10 other donors.