Project Crescendo
Donation protected
Posted for Braden Wong by Michael Wong
Project Crescendo is a dream of mine and its purpose is to give elementary school children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and learn music fundamentals. It will also improve student’s learning comprehension through lessons in music education. Through music, we want to build an appreciation of music, improve learning skills and create lasting relationships between students and education, as well as a friendly, successful classroom.
Project Crescendo will focus on sending educational music packages to underprivileged elementary schools within the Bay Area that lack a formal music program. It will be intended for single classes at a time, not for the entire school. The project will focus its efforts on 3rd grade classes in elementary schools without music programs due to budget cuts. Each package will contain simple musical instruments (recorders) for each student to keep, beginning music books and a lesson plan for the teachers. Teachers will also be given a music theory book to increase their knowledge on music education. That will allow them to teach the students how to properly read and play music.
I currently attend Homestead High School in Cupertino and am the activities Chairman for our Interact Club and a RYLA participant. I am also in the school’s marching band, wind ensemble, wind symphony and jazz band. In 2013, I participated in the Santa Clara County Honor Band and this summer traveled to Austria with the Homestead Wind Symphony. My musical interest started when my mother enrolled me into a beginning music education school at the age of 4. I finished the music school learning simple notes and keys on the piano, which led to my enrollment in private piano lessons. I began with the intention of learning how to play an instrument, so that I could have a skill that I could call my own and be proud of. However, after going through countless music lessons, different tutors and instructors, various instruments, and multiple bands and ensemble groups, I found that music is not only for personal enjoyment. Music is not just a way to express one's talents and accomplishments, but a way to express one's culture and personality. Music helps improve educational comprehension, sharpens thoughts, and improves reading abilities. Most of all, it brings people together. It acts as a common interest between people from all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and ethnicities. No matter the color of your skin, where you are born or the culture you live in, music can be enjoyed by anyone. Music moves you, speaks to you and compels your emotions to pour out of your body in a way that makes you want to get on your feet. Music soothes, relaxes, agitates, encourages, rewards and entices its listeners. Music truly is the “language of the soul.” In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” My goal for this project is to spread the positive influence that music has on people and children and to make music the language of the world.
The project will begin this year by starting a beginning music program at Grant Elementary School in the San Jose Unified School District. Due to funding cuts in many of the lower performing schools, Grant Elementary does not currently have a program in place. The total cost for ninety three 3rd grade students to be supplied with the necessary amount of recorders, music books, and music theory book equals approximately $1200. In order for every 3rd grade student to participate in this program, I am asking your club for funding of all or part of that amount. Please help me make my vision a reality and make a difference for these kids.
Feel free to contact me for more details on the project or visit www.projectcrescendo.org. I hope to expand the project in the future to more schools and kids in the future. Once the project is under way, I will be happy to report the progress of the program.
Yours truly,
Braden Wong
Project Crescendo is a dream of mine and its purpose is to give elementary school children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and learn music fundamentals. It will also improve student’s learning comprehension through lessons in music education. Through music, we want to build an appreciation of music, improve learning skills and create lasting relationships between students and education, as well as a friendly, successful classroom.
Project Crescendo will focus on sending educational music packages to underprivileged elementary schools within the Bay Area that lack a formal music program. It will be intended for single classes at a time, not for the entire school. The project will focus its efforts on 3rd grade classes in elementary schools without music programs due to budget cuts. Each package will contain simple musical instruments (recorders) for each student to keep, beginning music books and a lesson plan for the teachers. Teachers will also be given a music theory book to increase their knowledge on music education. That will allow them to teach the students how to properly read and play music.
I currently attend Homestead High School in Cupertino and am the activities Chairman for our Interact Club and a RYLA participant. I am also in the school’s marching band, wind ensemble, wind symphony and jazz band. In 2013, I participated in the Santa Clara County Honor Band and this summer traveled to Austria with the Homestead Wind Symphony. My musical interest started when my mother enrolled me into a beginning music education school at the age of 4. I finished the music school learning simple notes and keys on the piano, which led to my enrollment in private piano lessons. I began with the intention of learning how to play an instrument, so that I could have a skill that I could call my own and be proud of. However, after going through countless music lessons, different tutors and instructors, various instruments, and multiple bands and ensemble groups, I found that music is not only for personal enjoyment. Music is not just a way to express one's talents and accomplishments, but a way to express one's culture and personality. Music helps improve educational comprehension, sharpens thoughts, and improves reading abilities. Most of all, it brings people together. It acts as a common interest between people from all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and ethnicities. No matter the color of your skin, where you are born or the culture you live in, music can be enjoyed by anyone. Music moves you, speaks to you and compels your emotions to pour out of your body in a way that makes you want to get on your feet. Music soothes, relaxes, agitates, encourages, rewards and entices its listeners. Music truly is the “language of the soul.” In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” My goal for this project is to spread the positive influence that music has on people and children and to make music the language of the world.
The project will begin this year by starting a beginning music program at Grant Elementary School in the San Jose Unified School District. Due to funding cuts in many of the lower performing schools, Grant Elementary does not currently have a program in place. The total cost for ninety three 3rd grade students to be supplied with the necessary amount of recorders, music books, and music theory book equals approximately $1200. In order for every 3rd grade student to participate in this program, I am asking your club for funding of all or part of that amount. Please help me make my vision a reality and make a difference for these kids.
Feel free to contact me for more details on the project or visit www.projectcrescendo.org. I hope to expand the project in the future to more schools and kids in the future. Once the project is under way, I will be happy to report the progress of the program.
Yours truly,
Braden Wong
Organizer
Michael Wong
Organizer
San Mateo, CA
