Main Street Elementary School has some new residents in its music classroom, a family of Tubano drums.
This family of drums is a part of music teacher Elaine Edwards’ new program, Drums for All, which was funded by the Game Changer grant from the Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation.
“Drums for All was written so that the children could have as many drums as possible that were childfriendly,” she said.
The TEE Foundation awarded Edwards $5,998.82 to buy 15 small Tubano drums and stools and one instructor’s Tubano.
Introducing first through fifth graders to drums will develop hand-eye coordination, critical thinking and listening skills as they learn how to play the instrument, read music and listen to beats, educators said.
“I feel like this is my small part for me to help the child have enrichment throughout the week,” Edwards said. “Then, hopefully, they can go back to their classroom and think a little more critically.”
With only a set amount of drums, educators said a sense of community would also be developed as the students learn to share and create music with each other as an ensemble.
“Music works your brain in ways that I really don’t think anything else does,” TEE Foundation Executive Director Anita Volek said. “It uses not only the left side of the brain but (the) right side of (the) brain. Makes you concentrate, teaches you to work together as a group.”
In addition to the skills students would learn, Edwards chose to stock her classroom with drums because the lessons are studentcentered, as their creativity with the instruments leads the way.
“I know the potential Main Street kids have,” she said. “There is so much untapped talent here. … My job is to find that talent within these little kids.”
When Edwards applied for the grant in the summer, she wasn’t sure if her program would be approved, knowing how expensive the instruments would be.
“I knew it was a big ask,” she said. “It’s a lot of money, but I was ecstatic because I know what I can do with them.”
Luckily, the TEE Foundation board was interested in hearing more, so Edwards moved on to the interview round, where she showed what she could do and gave the board a lesson on drum pads her husband made.
Captivated by Edwards’ creativity and the lasting effect the drums would have, such as the skillset students could apply to future endeavors, the board awarded her the Game Changer grant, which offers funds to teachers for things more than $3,000.
“A Game Changer grant has to really be a game changer,” Volek said. “It has to affect a lot of students over a pretty decent period of time. … And so, (Edwards) assured us that these drums would last for a long time.”
The foundation offers two other grants, the New Teacher Welcome and the Mallard Grant, which offers funds for things under $3,000. Applications for all three grants are open year-round, and Edwards encourages all Taylor teachers who need support to apply.
“This place is so generous and so positive,” she said. “Several people literally check on me to see how it’s going, and it’s so affirming.”
