Katie Pollock's kindergarten students in the University's Lab School met with Herman to learn about the pipe organ Monday afternoon, April 23, in Bayard Sharp Hall. The activity was part of a field trip organized by sophomore music education major Brian Bersh, a research and teaching assistant to Suzanne Burton, an assistant professor of music who teaches early childhood music at the Lab School.
Bersh organized events for the kindergartners to meet with the UD Jazz Ensemble in the Center for the Arts, the UD Steel Band in the Amy E. du Pont Music Building, as well as Herman and some of Bersh's musician friends. Bersh also organized the same activities for preschool students from the Lab School on April 16.
In Bayard Sharp Hall, the students were able to sit with Herman in the loft and press the organ keys. Herman also showed the class how the pipes worked and blew in some to show them the different sounds it made.
Herman said he enjoys giving children an opportunity to learn about the organ and to hear the sounds it can make. “A lot of people don't run into an organ on a marching band field or in everyday life, so a lot of people don't know about the organ and how cool it is,” Herman said. “I'm always glad for a chance to show kids what a pipe organ is like.”
Pollack said the experience has been wonderful for her class. While she noticed that the boys sometimes had trouble paying attention during the activities, Pollack said hearing Herman play the theme to Star Wars as they walked in helped to grab their attention. “The boys weren't feeling the activities as much sometimes, so to hear Star Wars really hooked them,” Pollack said. “It's been fabulous because they have been able to move, bop their heads and snap their fingers.”
Many of the children enjoyed the chance to play with the organ.
“I liked it because it sounded interesting,” Stella said. “I liked pressing the keys.”
“It felt really weird because the keys were different sounds,” Patrick said.
Burton said the idea for the field trip originated when the students asked Bersh how he could “study music.” “Bersh organized the field trip to broaden their conception of music and show them another aspect to the University of Delaware community,” Burton said.
Bersh said he wanted the field trips to expose students to the different types of instruments and music played outside the classroom, as well as give them a chance to directly ask musicians questions.
“A lot of the students don't have music at home. This is a great opportunity for them to see music in a professional light, and, if they like music, they could pursue it,” Bersh said. “A lot of them didn't realize they could become musicians when they grew up.”
In one activity, the students heard Bersh play the marimba and drums while his friends played the tenor and soprano saxophone, tuba and piano. Bersh said he and his friends have realized they can make a contribution in a child's life by playing music for them. “As college students, it's opened our eyes to new possibilities and environments where we can make a difference,” he said. “If they're excited about it, and we're excited about it, something's working.”
Because of the field trips, Bersh said the students have become more excited about learning during their music class at school, and many have expressed interest in choosing an instrument of their own. “All of these kids loved it,” he said. “For a lot of them, they were seeing instruments they had never seen before. It's something that they're not going to get in their normal education. Trips like this really open their eyes.”
Article by Julia Parmley, AS '07
Photos by Tyler Jacobson, AS '06