Beetdigger Pipes and Drums
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Mark Shaver and I am a special education teacher for autistic and moderate to severely disabled teenagers in Brush, Colorado. I also play the bagpipes, and our story is this: One day I decided to bring my pipes in and show my students what they were as most of them had never seen a bagpipe (let alone heard them). After playing a song or two, (I had never seen kids eyes light up like that before), and 4 of them immediately said "WE WANT TO PLAY THOSE!"
SO--At first I was pretty reluctant with teaching them because I didn't know what kind of stick-with-it-ness they would have, and the pipes are a very difficult instrument to learn and theres a LOT of practice that has to go on. But I have been absolutely amazed at what these kids can accomplish. Even though they struggle with a lot of things we might call "basic" as far as learning goes, these kids have a gift with artistry and especially music. EVERY single day for the past 10 weeks now, they ask me at lunch time and even during study breaks "can we get the chanters out and practice?"
So far, I have three students who are intellectually disabled and one who is autistic who are playing practice chanters, are learning the scale, grace-notes, and can do a rough edition of Amazing Grace. They are learning correctly with the help of the Sandy Jones tutor book and CD, and also I have the Archie Cairns "How To" manual. (They have learned well enough that when Mr. Shaver messes up with a crossing noise I hear about it--immediately!)
We also have 3 other students who have now decided they want to play the DRUMS, and they all also want their own school tartan. So, we are taking this day by day. We have petitioned the school board for adopting a school tartan, and right now are selling items on Ebay we make in the wood shop as well to raise funds for our bagpipes and drums. If you can find the Saol Gramhara Woodshop with items to sell, thats us--usually its bowls turned on our wood lathe or cutting boards in different shapes and sizes!
Anyhow, we will need 4 sets of student bagpipes starting out, a tenor drum and a snare as well. I thought it would be good too to see if there was anyone out there who thinks this is as special as I do and who wants to donate--so here we are. I have a bagpipe company who is making student sized pipes (very basic) and will get those to us for about $400 a piece (and no, good pipes are not cheap). We also have businesses making us kilts and a tartan flag locally, and we have a Facebook group page: Beetdigger Bagpipes and Drums (and yes, we are a rural small town that raises a lot of sugar beets!).
So, if this speaks to you, this is what we are doing. The main focus here with this fund raising effort is to get the bagpipes that we will be using in about 6-7 months when we have gotten comfortable with our practice chanters. The kids are working hard to raise their own funds as well, but we do need extra help.
The main thing I see in these kids is that THEY BELIEVE they CAN do something special, that no one else can do that they know of, and that they CAN do it well and be recognized. Most of them are consistently told by others (including family, sadly) of what their limits are--what they "can't" do. So when you see them stand up in front of a crowd of 300 people playing their practice chanters and Amazing Grace, smiles on their faces, and people's mouths dropping saying "wow-they CAN do it!"--that's a moment I want to repeat over and over.
They are preparing next week to go to a local small Renaissance festival and show middle school students how to play the practice chanter--just the basics on how to hold it--maybe give a note or two. They are also going before the entire school board to explain why THEY want a school tartan, and what they are seeing is that the "life skills" bunch that normally isn't recognized near as much as the football teams and baseball or volleyball--can make a lasting impression and give something to the rich history of this little school. I hope someone out there feels the same way and will help these kids get their pipes, drums, and their dream accomplished.
All your help is so appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mark Shaver
Teacher, Life Skills Special Education
Brush High School, Brush, CO
Beetdigger Bagpipes and Drums Band
SO--At first I was pretty reluctant with teaching them because I didn't know what kind of stick-with-it-ness they would have, and the pipes are a very difficult instrument to learn and theres a LOT of practice that has to go on. But I have been absolutely amazed at what these kids can accomplish. Even though they struggle with a lot of things we might call "basic" as far as learning goes, these kids have a gift with artistry and especially music. EVERY single day for the past 10 weeks now, they ask me at lunch time and even during study breaks "can we get the chanters out and practice?"
So far, I have three students who are intellectually disabled and one who is autistic who are playing practice chanters, are learning the scale, grace-notes, and can do a rough edition of Amazing Grace. They are learning correctly with the help of the Sandy Jones tutor book and CD, and also I have the Archie Cairns "How To" manual. (They have learned well enough that when Mr. Shaver messes up with a crossing noise I hear about it--immediately!)
We also have 3 other students who have now decided they want to play the DRUMS, and they all also want their own school tartan. So, we are taking this day by day. We have petitioned the school board for adopting a school tartan, and right now are selling items on Ebay we make in the wood shop as well to raise funds for our bagpipes and drums. If you can find the Saol Gramhara Woodshop with items to sell, thats us--usually its bowls turned on our wood lathe or cutting boards in different shapes and sizes!
Anyhow, we will need 4 sets of student bagpipes starting out, a tenor drum and a snare as well. I thought it would be good too to see if there was anyone out there who thinks this is as special as I do and who wants to donate--so here we are. I have a bagpipe company who is making student sized pipes (very basic) and will get those to us for about $400 a piece (and no, good pipes are not cheap). We also have businesses making us kilts and a tartan flag locally, and we have a Facebook group page: Beetdigger Bagpipes and Drums (and yes, we are a rural small town that raises a lot of sugar beets!).
So, if this speaks to you, this is what we are doing. The main focus here with this fund raising effort is to get the bagpipes that we will be using in about 6-7 months when we have gotten comfortable with our practice chanters. The kids are working hard to raise their own funds as well, but we do need extra help.
The main thing I see in these kids is that THEY BELIEVE they CAN do something special, that no one else can do that they know of, and that they CAN do it well and be recognized. Most of them are consistently told by others (including family, sadly) of what their limits are--what they "can't" do. So when you see them stand up in front of a crowd of 300 people playing their practice chanters and Amazing Grace, smiles on their faces, and people's mouths dropping saying "wow-they CAN do it!"--that's a moment I want to repeat over and over.
They are preparing next week to go to a local small Renaissance festival and show middle school students how to play the practice chanter--just the basics on how to hold it--maybe give a note or two. They are also going before the entire school board to explain why THEY want a school tartan, and what they are seeing is that the "life skills" bunch that normally isn't recognized near as much as the football teams and baseball or volleyball--can make a lasting impression and give something to the rich history of this little school. I hope someone out there feels the same way and will help these kids get their pipes, drums, and their dream accomplished.
All your help is so appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mark Shaver
Teacher, Life Skills Special Education
Brush High School, Brush, CO
Beetdigger Bagpipes and Drums Band
Organizer
Mark Shaversclass
Organizer
Brush, CO