My students need one final bass bar (E) to complete our five note "pentatonic" scale. With bass bars C, D, E, G and A, students will be able to improvise without ever playing a wrong note.
I must have the best job in the world because every week I get to show 450 amazing kindergarten through fourth graders the joy found in making music. These kids aren't afraid of trying new things or taking risks; they come to my classroom every week ready to sing, say, play, move to, and create all kinds of beautiful music. They are smart, thoughtful, creative, energetic, and talented, and they are developing a love for music that I hope will follow them the rest of their lives.
In short, my students ROCK!
My Project
I am requesting one final bass bar (E) to expand the usefulness of these instruments to allowing student improvisation in a C pentatonic scale. A "C pentatonic scale" includes notes C, D, E, G, and A, and through prior DonorsChoose.org grants I have requested the other four notes. By simply adding the note E we can complete our set, giving my students the five bass bars needed to improvise in such a kid-friendly and musically pleasing scale.
The music curriculum at our school is heavily influenced by Orff Schulwerk, a philosophy of music education that encourages instrument playing as well as singing in the classroom.
This provides a well-rounded experience for all students, adding options that increase the retention of musical understanding, appreciation, and skill. Most Orff lessons and pieces use five note scales called "pentatonic scales" because they allow children to improvise (create their own music) without fear of hitting a wrong note. This means that any pentatonic note will sound pleasing to the ear in any pentatonic piece, and any child from kindergarten through fourth grade can have fun making their own music without fear of making mistakes.
If this project is fully funded, I'm sure that my students will have a blast improvising on their new instruments. They usually only get to play two bass bars at a time, but now they will have opportunities to play all five. Of course I wish instruments weren't so expensive, but just like our other instruments these bass bars are of the highest quality and are made to last. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this project and for your support of music education at our elementary school!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Doublestein and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
