The Woodlands Art Council awarded Suchma Elementary a grant that covered the cost of 10 new instruments to be added to the program's instrument inventory. I have noticed an increasing amount of students at my campus who wanted to play an instrument, but the cost of renting an instrument prevented the child from participating. Suchma opened with only a handful of instruments in the appropriate sizes for the students needing an instrument, and if no instruments were available to borrow from another campus, students were turned away from the program. With 10 new instruments available, Suchma's Orchestra program will be able to have in stock resources for students who want to play, but cannot obtain an instrument themselves.
I am extremely grateful to the Woodlands Art Council for fulfilling my requested grant for Suchma Elementary School’s Orchestra program. I opened Suchma in 2019 as a first year teacher. The first year open, I had 16 total students in my program. For next school year, I am expecting to have around 100 students participating in the Orchestra program at Suchma. Since we opened, I noticed a growing need for more instruments at our school. We started with 2 violins of each size, with 3 sizes in demand regularly, and no Violas in the sizes my students needed. For the 2019 and 2020 school year, this number of instruments covered the needs of my families that needed assistance in obtaining an instrument for their child. Starting in August 2021, Suchma's Orchestra student population had grown to 40 students and the instruments I had available did not fit the need of my inquiring families. To help close the gap, I reached out to other schools in the district and borrowed any extra inventory other schools had after their students had obtained their instruments. This meant that Suchma students who needed an instrument waited weeks in class without an instrument until one was secured by me. In 2021 this happened to 1 or 2 students, and in 2022 3 or 4 students had to wait. This past school year, 2023, I had an explosion of new Orchestra members, which dramatically increased the number of students who families showed a need for assistance. My program doubled in size, which equated to 25 6th graders and 50 5th graders. Out of the 75 students, 12 of the families reached out to ask for instrument assistance. By October, 11 of those students had received an instrument and I lost one of the students to a different elective. I not only borrowed instruments from other campuses, but I also purchased 2 instruments of lesser quality from the Orchestra budget from my school, which took almost half of it. I knew for the 2024 school year, I would need assistance to continue to provide options for my families. In September 2023, I received the email about the Woodland's Art Council Microgrant program, and I knew this could be the solution I was searching for. With the funds from the microgrant, I could purchase many new instruments in the sizes my students need. I reached out to our instrument supplier and asked them for a quote for five 1/2 sized violins, three 3/4 sized violins, and two 12 inch violas, which is our greatest need. When I received the award email in November, I was beyond ecstatic and so very thankful for your consideration and selection. Music has paved the way for my life in so many wonderful ways, and I want every student to get that same opportunity if they want it. We are so fortunate to be in an area of great access and support for the arts. Thank you for helping me give everyone a chance!