Indio Middle School

The Indio Middle School Band Program has had successes in its history, and the numbers of students within the program has been growing over the past handful of years. Besides the band program, IMS is adding a color guard class as an elective in our schedule next year. As these programs continue to grow and develop, the IMS band and color guard will soon integrate to form a middle school marching band.Indio Middle School is a Title 1 school, and most students rely on the school to provide them with instruments and supplies to participate within our program. As time passes, our school owned instruments that are loaned out inevitably become damaged through normal wear and tear, and replacements/repairs are needed. IMS students have drive, passion, and the will to sustain a successful music program, and we have been needing help with acquiring more supplies to sustain our growth in the performing arts. As the band and color guard program continue to develop, we have plans to perform in local arts showcases such as the Tamale Festival, the Date Festival, Rock the House, the Golf Cart Parade, and many more events that promote art and culture within the Coachella Valley. When students are provided with quality music, and performing arts education, they acquire the work ethic, leadership skills, teamwork skills, and camaraderie needed to succeed in any career path that they decide to pursue after high school.

Contact Information:
Band and Color Guard Director: Matthew Richards
Email: matthew.richards2@desertsands.us

This project will provide instruments to students in need for the Indio Middle School music program. The Indio Middle School music program strives to ensure as many students who are interested in being in band have access to the musical instruments and equipment they need in order to be successful. It is our mission to never turn away a student for not having an instrument. While some families are able to afford purchasing their own instrument or a rental instrument, the reality of our school’s community is one of low-income, with over 94% considered as socioeconomically disadvantaged and as receiving free or reduced lunch (qualifying Indio Middle as a Title I School). For a majority of our families, they rely on the school to provide an instrument in order for their child to be involved in music.

For the past four years, the IMS music program has grown from 120 to 240 students. There are now four music classes of beginning band (each with 30 students minimum), one intermediate band (with 60 students), and one advanced band (with 60 students). Through district and school provided funds, many instruments have been repaired annually to support and maintain the growth of this program. However, with the surge in student and parent interest, we are falling short of instruments in order to help all students who are interested in joining band.

For the 2017-2018 school year, the IMS Band Club funded the rental of 25 instruments in order to provide students the equipment they needed, including accessories for each instrument. The generosity of the music student body has been incredibly helpful, but the strain to raise money for instrument rentals can be eliminated with the purchase of new instruments. The purchase of 34 new quality instruments would fill the gap that we currently have in our inventory so more students can be provided performance opportunities through school concerts, special events, and graded performance.

Of the many subjects students come across in school, there may be none more important than physical education (P.E.). However, it's a subject that needs constant monitoring and modifications for students of every level. A high quality physical education program offers children opportunities to develop the skills, dispositions, and concepts needed to be physically active for life. Furthermore, regular physical activity not only helps prevent major diseases but it also promotes learning, reduces stress, anxiety and depression, and improves overall wellness. A student can excel in academics and grow up to become a successful doctor, lawyer or engineer, but with poor health any professional achievement becomes secondary. Over the past years, IMS has developed a great running program that helps students engage in physical activity. However, that is only a portion of the school's population. Our Physical Education Department are always looking into new ways to get more student engagement and develop a love for living a healthy lifestyle. One of our main goals is not only to concentrate on the physical portions of P.E. but also to educate our students to become empowered for their own healthy life choices. Our school is over twenty years old and very outdated on equipment.