The Experience Marimba project is funded through grants provided by the U.S. Department of Education and INSPIRE Kids via a grant from the Yakima Community Foundation. The goal is to promote instruction in marimba as a means to engage students in a meaningful music experience and provide a means for students in the ESD 105 region achieve the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) in the arts. Marimbas will introduce students to percussion instruments and core music concepts while addressing the states EALRs as measured by the Classroom Based Performance Assessments (CBPAs).

ESD 105 believes that students will have higher achievement on the Washington State CBPAs for the arts as a result of participating in a marimba ensemble.

1. Sponsoring a marimba assembly at your school by a local marimba band.
2. Providing one release days per year for marimba training for the music teacher.
3. Providing opportunity for students to perform locally and regionally by releasing them for performances and assist with transportation.
4. Providing space for marimba storage.

1. Attend our 2-day marimba building workshop.
2. Attend our 1-day marimba training during the following school year.
3. Contact a community organization or parent group to assist in constructing the marimbas. The selected group should also attend the training on building marimbas.
4. Seek out possible donations of wood for marimba frames, pvc pipes and additional hardware. ArtFusion will work with you on this.
5. Assess your participating students using the state Classroom Based Performance Assessments for the arts.

Marimbas are a great instrument for music instruction and provide performance opportunities for students within the ESD 105 region. The ArtFusion program at ESD 105 has been responsible for initiating nine new marimba bands within our region.

Participating Schools
Music teachers from 18 area schools have/will participated in the two-day marimba building  workshop taught by instructors John Straehle and Aurelio Garcia.
2006
Thompson Elementary, Grandview
Roosevelty Elementary, Granger
Adams Elementary, Wapato
2007
Tieton Intermediate, Highland
Union Gap Elementary, Union Gap
Zillah Intermediate, Zillah
2008 Spring
Moxee Elementary, East Valley,
Smith Elementary, Grandview
Chief Kamiakin, Sunnyside
2008 Fall
Pioneer Elementary, Sunnyside
Thorp Elementary, Thorp
Gilbert Elementary, Yakima
2009 Spring
Terrace Heights Elementary, East Valley (Yakima)
Robertson Elementary, Yakima
Whitney Elementary, Yakima
2010 Spring
Artz-Fox Elementary, Mabton School District
Garfield Elementary, Yakima School District
Toppenish Middle School, Toppenish School District

Through the ArtFusion grant, ESD 105 is funding the bars that the teachers will use to construct an eight-piece marimba band at their schools.  Participating school districts have organized their efforts for community donations to provide the wood framework and the PVC pipe sections for each of their instruments.

This marimba ensembles offering from the ESD 105 ArtFusion program is designed to assist student populations from schools that need support in their music education. Students at these schools are exposed to a progression of music instruction throughout the elementary grade levels which culminates with their participation in a local public performance.

Day One
On the first day of the workshop, music teachers learn how to construct the eight marimba instruments through the construction of a tenor marimba. The music teachers are accompanied to the workshop by other teachers (such as shop teachers) or community partners who are recruited to help construct their school’s instruments.

Day Two
The second day of the workshop focuses on marimba performance and on teaching how to develop bands for 3rd to 6th grade students.