Keeping Music Alive in Denver Classrooms
For many students, music class is more than learning notes and rhythms. The classroom is a place to discover confidence, creativity, collaboration, and joy.
Unfortunately, for many schools, music and other specials classes are often the first to feel the impact of shrinking budgets. When funding becomes limited, teachers are left searching for creative ways to provide experiences their students deserve.
That’s why Can’d Aid’s Teacher Grant program exists.
To date, Can’d Aid has donated more than 4,400 instruments to low-income schools across the country, helping expand access to music education and ensuring more students have the opportunity to learn, create, and thrive through Instruments for Change.
This year, we’re proud to support two Denver Public Schools educators who are finding innovative ways to keep music alive in their classrooms, even when school budgets fall short.
Bringing Music to Students Who Otherwise Wouldn't Have It
At Escalante Biggs Academy, Pre-K teacher shared a reality many schools face: because of funding limitations, her students do not have access to music as a specials class.
Through a Can’d Aid Teacher Grant, her classroom will receive a full classroom set of 30 TinkerTars, giving young learners an opportunity to explore music as part of their weekly curriculum.
For many of these students, this will be their very first hands-on musical experience.
Beyond simply learning an instrument, they’ll be developing creativity, confidence, self-expression, and foundational skills that research continues to connect with academic growth in literacy and mathematics.
Investing in a Stronger Music Program
At Denver Green School Southeast, the dedicated music teacher is working to expand opportunities for more than 100 K–8 students.
Operating with a limited music budget shared across specials classes, the school has worked hard to maintain a thriving music program despite financial constraints.
Through a Can’d Aid Teacher Grant, the school will receive funding to purchase a classroom set of beginner brass instruments, allowing elementary students to begin developing instrumental skills long before they enter middle school band.
Rather than providing the instruments directly, the grant empowers the educator to purchase the resources that best meet the unique needs of their students and program—an investment that will benefit young musicians for years to come.
Why We Love TinkerTar
As an official nonprofit partner of TinkerTar, Can’d Aid is excited to help bring this innovative instrument into more classrooms.
Designed specifically for small hands and beginning musicians, TinkerTar makes learning music approachable, engaging, and fun. Its intuitive design allows young students to experience success quickly while building rhythm, coordination, listening skills, and confidence.
Paired with a year-long curriculum, TinkerTar gives educators everything they need to integrate meaningful music experiences into their classrooms—even in schools without a traditional music program.
For many young learners, it’s more than an instrument. It’s their first opportunity to discover that making music is something they can do.
Investing in Students, Supporting Teachers
Teachers know exactly what their students need—they simply don’t always have the resources to make it happen.
Can’d Aid’s Teacher Grant program exists to bridge that gap, providing funding for music education resources and hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to grow, connect, and thrive.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to discover their creativity, and every teacher deserves the tools to help make that happen.