Music is "Le Coeur de Mamou Mardi Gras"
If you know anything about Cajun and Zydeco music, you know that Mamou is world famous for its live performances of Cajun music at Fred's Lounge on Main Street
I fell in love with this town when I began teaching band at Mamou High School. In 2012, there were a handful of students who marched, because they could afford to buy their own instruments. In one year, our marching band has tripled in size (Thanks to instrument donations, pawn shop specials, and my personal instrument lending closet.) But, I am currently teaching an additional 50 students who want to march and celebrate our Louisiana heritage. To march, we need instruments. And, we need modern well-fitting casual marching attire to help our band present "Le Coeur de Mardi Gras" whenever we march in town or at other festivals throughout Louisiana.
Our Title I school does not have the funds to rebuild our high school music and marching band program as quickly as it needs to grow to realize the dreams of my students. With more than 76.6% of our students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and total median household income of $19,900 for Mamou residents and $13,562 for our sister town of Chatagnier, it is just not feasible to ask most of my band parents to pay for privately owned instruments.
With your help, we can infuse our school with adequate music instruction materials: band instruments, band music, more stands and band chairs, and new, well-fitting casual marching band attire.
What We Need & What You Get
Here is how we will spend funds as they are received:
- 10 durable, new student trumpets, @$500 each $5,000
- 3 marching baritones, Ravel, discounted @$700 each $2,100
- 3 trombones, @$400 each $1,200
- 4 Gemeinhardt student flutes, @$400 each $1,600
- 12 student Bundy clarinets, @450 $4,950
- 2 LeBlanc Low Eb Bass Clarinets @1,700 $3,500
- 4 Conn Prelude student saxophones @$750 $3,000
- 50 band chairs @$50 each $2,500
- Accessories (lyres, mouthpieces, reeds, straps) $1,000
Contender Warmup Set, 50@ $50 $2,500
Cold Weather Marching Caps, 50@ $500 $250
In stock, Concert vest, forest green, 50 @$22.50 $1125
Total Cost: $30,000
How Your Donation Helps:
Your contribution helps us to teach our students musical AND social skills.
Our program is co-curricular: our students learn in class, but they also practice after school, and they perform on Friday evenings (football and basketball games), and for weekend holiday parades.
When we perform for our town, our students feel valued and respected for their efforts. But, they also learn the importance of "giving back" to our town by playing for important social functions (Homecoming, Christmas, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Harvest Festival Parades, Graduation).
As a fundraiser, I have written successful grants for $200,000 or more. I have raised funds for Multiple Sclerosis, Walks for Hunger, Army Emergency Relief, and countless small projects. If everyone on my list made a donation, we could meet our goal, and thereby, put instruments in the hands of 35 more children by the end of January 2014.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you support our cause, I hope you will make a donation. Just as important, I hope you will help us to get the word out! Share our Mamou High School Band Fundraising project with all your friends. Don't forget to use the share tools that Indiegogo provides!
Thank you for your consideration! Here's to a fabulous 2014 Mardi Gras Parade, and an even richer musical education experience for our students!
-Dr. Marie deYoung
