Steel Drum Ensemble: The Music of the Islands

School:: Laurel Oak Elementary
Subject:: Music
Teacher:: Austin Gomez
Students Impacted:: 500
Grade:: K-5
Date:: August 26, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County - $1,914.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 612

Well sadly, as it turns out, the quarantine shut down the best part of my grant request as we were just on the brink of putting all our hard work together in the final quarter. However, the kids really and truly enjoyed learning and the learning process and I'm determined to pick up where we left off when school resumes.

My before school steel drum club took huge strides this year in comparison to last years group. We fielded an entire rhythm section of five students, (bass,drums,guitar, keyboards and singer) who learned all of the backing tracks and supplied all of the music LIVE for the steel drummers to play with! We took on 15 4th and 5th graders which were split into melody, harmony and rhythm players. We met once a week on Wednesday mornings for an hour starting at 7:15. It was this group that played for the talent show at the end of last year. Our plan was to play the talent show again this year as well as a private concert for our donors. I look to make this happen at the end of next school year. I see it as a huge headstart for next school year and how much literature we'll be abe to play! I'd like to thank the CCEF for all you do to help our students go above and beyond with their interests and endeavors. God Bless.

Austin Gomez

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Our upper grade students have a vast amount of talent for instrumental music. We would like to bring steel drum music and music of the islands to the people of Southwest Florida! This genre of music is incredibly fun to play and brings cultural awareness and diversity to our community in a real and powerful way that makes long lasting connections to learning and inclusivity. There is nothing like the sound of children making live music like calypso, reggae and tropical sounds.

What will be done with my students

All 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will have a 9 week unit lesson on playing steel drums along with a history of the instrument and Caribbean music. In addition, we will create a steel drum club/ensemble that will meet after school hours to further develop a deeper and more advanced knowledge of steel drum bands and music with the ultimate goal being to create a steel drum band with performing capabilities for school programs or any other events or assemblies.

Benefits to my students

Our Laurel Oak Dolphins will take with them a strong comprehension of the connection all societies have through music and music making, especially of our neighboring islands Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas. This experience help enable them to appreciate all forms of music and connect them to their environment, living and learning in a warm, tropical, touristy community such a s Naples and Southwest Florida. As a percussionist and steel drummer myself, I can share with my students the love and passion I have for the music of the islands.

Budget Narrative

Jumbie Jam (319 ea.) includes stand and mallets.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	(6) Jumbie Jam steel drums w/mallets and stand (chrome finish)	$1,914.00
	Total:	$1,914.00

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