An old, out-of-tune piano that could have been sent to storage is taking center stage at Bransford Elementary School, GCISD’s arts integration campus. Students volunteer to play music as classmates arrive in the morning.
Principal Erin Gerdes said the idea came from fourth grade teacher Al Kauffman, who asked why the piano was sitting in the hallway and if it could be used. Gerdes thought that was an excellent idea.
Kauffman suggested students play the piano for classmates during morning arrival.
“I was so excited,” fourth grader Genesis Matos said when she heard the news, adding that she loves the idea of playing the piano. “It’s one of my favorite instruments and music is inspirational.”
The piano is more than inspirational at Bransford. Learning to play the piano is part of the music block and one of the many ways that the school integrates the arts into the curriculum. In addition to students rotating through three specials (art, music and physical education), the school also offers theater. Additionally, the arts are also interwoven into class lessons, when possible.
“What we do is take our curriculum from the TEKS, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and the district and campus expectations, and then we weave the arts into class lessons,” Principal Gerdes explained. “For example, students might be studying history and write a short play for their peers as part of the lesson.”
Other times, the arts are a big production. For example, the school’s annual play involves all kindergarten through fifth students—some in front of the stage and others behind the curtain, but still practicing their academic skills.
“They are practicing communication skills by speaking in front of an audience,” Gerdes said. “They are practicing collaboration skills via the choreography they prepare. They are practicing reading through the script. Arts integration goes both ways.”
The school also has a piano lab where students learn self-paced lessons under the guidance of the school’s music teacher, Ashley Benson. Benson was the GCISD 2022-2023 Elementary Teacher of the Year and was recognized at the regional level this past August. Since lessons are self-paced, every lesson is differentiated to meet the needs of students, some who might be new to piano and others who might take private lessons outside of school.
The students’ musical talent and ability was exemplified last year when Bransford’s Orff Ensemble was one the top six ensembles in Texas selected to perform at the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Clinic and Convention.
Bransford also offers third, fourth and fifth grade students the opportunity to take studio days on Mondays and Fridays, meaning students choose their art form of choice and use their specials time for more intense instruction, whether it be in music, theater or art.
“It’s like a fine arts academy,” Gerdes stated. “The arts promote self confidence for our students. We have students who maybe would never try theater in their life or maybe never play an instrument. Here at Bransford, every child participates and they find their own role.”