Grant Writing
Below are two grants I have written. The first was successful while the second was not.
How will receiving these bows assist your students’ playing, studies, and/or careers in the future? How will you use the bows if your program is awarded? (i.e., will the bows be shared by students, will the bows be utilized by one particular student exclusively, etc.)
I would have all students try the bow so they experience quality firsthand. All students should know how a good bow should feel, play and respond. I envision assigning bows to particular players, perhaps on a rotating basis. But all students will have the opportunity to use them to some extent. We have some students the are excelling and working quite hard that would benefit greatly from better equipment. These students are making extraordinary progress but are hampered by the equipment at hand. A higher quality bow would them to move to higher levels.
We provide a limited number of scholarships for our middle school students to a summer music program in Valparaiso University. They would benefit much more from this type of experience if we could send them with quality bows rather than the fiberglass that we currently own.
Please provide a statement about your program. Include financial situation of program, history, number of years in existence, number of students, and playing level of students, etc.
School District 108, located 15 miles west of Chicago, serves a diverse student population with its 3 elementary schools and 1 middle school. The string program has 4 orchestras; a beginning orchestra, an intermediate, an advanced, and a middle school orchestra. The 150 orchestra students participate in 5 concerts, 1 graduation performance, 1 solo festival, 1 fundraiser concert, 1 ensemble contest, and can join the district’s month long summer program.
Many of our students come from non-English speaking homes. Our district comprises 54.7% Hispanic, 39% white, 3.5% Asian and 2.8% black students. The district is in an economically depressed area with a large portion of students receiving free lunches. We have a small percentage of families that live in day-rate motels.
The program has existed for approximately 30 years. It has been in continuous operation, never being cut. In recent years the school district’s referendum failed. Music’s importance was evident as our programs were never in jeopardy of being cut. Music plays an important and vital role in our district. However, with that being said, a failed referendum and lack of monies has prevented us from purchasing new and better supplies and equipment.
The string program has been growing since the late 70s and the top orchestra has doubled in size over the past 10 years. We currently start between 60 and 100 3rd grade students each year. We allow students to start in any grade and each year have several students that start in higher grades.
Students are encouraged to rent their instruments from a local merchant, which outfit their instruments with fiberglass bows. The district owns a limited number of instruments that are used by students who cannot afford to rent instruments. Currently my district supplies consist solely of inexpensive fiberglass bows. Most of these bows are old and in less than ideal condition.
The students play at an average to slightly below average level for their age. Our middle school orchestra performs literature of level 2 & 3. Although we have many diligent students, most, unfortunately, do not take private lessons. There are several exceptional students that play extremely well but have poor equipment and do not have the means to upgrade. These quality bows would improve their skills and maintain their musical passion.
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Peter Tambroni, Orchestra Director
West Elementary School
School District #1
Red Robin Foundation
Dear Mr. Smith:
I am inquiring about grants from the Mockingbird Foundation for School District #1. As a public school in Illinois, we are a non-profit organization. Included with this letter is the appropriate documentation.
District #1 is located approximately 28 miles west of Chicago and serves a diverse student population. Many of our students come from non-English speaking homes. Our district comprises 54.7 % Hispanic, 39% white, 2.8% Black and 3.5% Asian students. A substantial portion of our student population receives free or reduced lunches. We do have a small percentage of families that live in day-rate motels.
I am seeking a grant to purchase instruments that would be school owned and used by many students. Our school district’s policy is to provide basses (and other instruments as needed) for our students to use. Unfortunately, many of these instruments are in a less than ideal playing condition. I would like to have a professional quality 1/4 size double bass and an electric violin available for students. For most of these students this will be the only opportunity they have to play such instruments.
Many students would use these instruments. Currently we have bassists sharing instruments at every rehearsal. A new instrument would not only allow another student to play simultaneously but they could take turns playing this new instrument. Bassists in our district are not allowed to take instruments home, rather they must practice during the school day. Therefore a new instrument would be continuously used by many students.
An electric violin would introduce technology into the music program and allow integration of orchestra students into the jazz band. Most orchestra students never have the chance to participate in a non – classical ensemble. This instrument would allow for this and it would be available to several hundred students per school year!
Combining grant money with current budgeted funds can allow our students to play on the best instruments possible.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Peter Tambroni
