Crosby Middle School is seeking funding to expand its drumline program through the purchase of additional percussion instruments and equipment. Our goal is to grow this high-energy music ensemble into a fully functional and inclusive drumline that can accommodate more students and provide greater opportunities for musical and personal development. Currently, limited equipment restricts the number of students who can participate. With the requested support, we aim to remove those barriers and provide access to a broader group of students, including many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Crosby Middle School serves a diverse student population in a rapidly growing community. Our band program plays a vital role in supporting student engagement, school pride, and musical excellence. As interest in our music program has increased in recent years, so has student participation. While we are fortunate to have a small amount of existing drumline equipment, we currently lack the resources to fully outfit a complete drumline ensemble. This limits both our instructional capacity and the number of students who can participate in this unique and highly visible musical opportunity. We have a large number of students who are eager to engage in extracurricular and performance-based programs that reflect their cultural and musical interests. Participation in the band program, especially drumline, has been shown to improve student attendance, behavior, and overall school engagement. All of these are all areas of focus for our campus. The need to expand our drumline inventory is immediate. Currently, we are only able to equip a handful of students, which creates an equity issue and forces us to turn away interested students due to lack of instruments. With additional equipment, we can provide access to up to 20 students. This has the potential of nearly doubling our participation numbers. This would allow us to create a functioning drumline ensemble that can perform at school pep rallies, athletic events, parades, and local community festivals. These performances would not only showcase the talents of our students, but also serve as a source of pride and representation for Crosby Middle School within the broader community. Expanding our drumline will increase student engagement, promote school spirit, and allow us to use music as a platform for youth empowerment and connection beyond the classroom.

To meet the needs identified, we propose the strategic expansion of the Crosby Middle School drumline program through the acquisition of essential percussion instruments and equipment. The goal of this project is to create a fully functional, inclusive, and high-quality drumline that engages students, enhances their musical development, and provides meaningful opportunities for performance and personal growth.