Bridges Academy of Fine Arts - Outreach Music Program
 Is there singing at your school?
Since 2001 the Bridges Academy has partnered with the Robert & Janice McNair foundation to bring music to over 19 HISD elementary schools whose music programs have been cut due to budget constraints. Our classes meet once a week after school or as scheduled by the school administration. 12 weeks of instruction culminates in a holiday program in the fall semester and a large music festival in the spring, where over 800 children from our combined schools gather to sing and learn from master musicians from Houston's vibrant arts community.
What will children do in a Bridges program?
Sing in many languages. Study other cultures. Dance. Express emotion. Develop useful social skills. Practice teamwork. Make many friends. Learn to sing the music which has shaped our world.
Is this program worth our time?
Children who sing regularly enjoy their school week more and tend to be better students. Countless studies show that intelligence, test scores, reading ability, mathematics ability, and social skills are all much improved by the study of music and fine arts. Other tests show that the elementary years are the most important time for arts education.
How do we get involved?
For each participating school, the cost is $3,000 for the year, billed in two equal installments per semester. Many schools have elected to use budget funds to pay for the program, while others have asked their PTOs to raise money. For schools who need financial assistance, grant monies are available on a limited basis. To inquire about this, contact Mr. R. Neil Wiley, Director of HISD Fine Arts Strategic Initiatives, at 713-892-6384, or at rwiley1@houstonisd.org.
The Music Outreach Program is administered by Beverly Laubach, Director of Bridges Academy, and Monica Griffin, Associate Director. We will be delighted to answer your questions any weekday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by calling Bridges at 713-402-5122 or 713-402-5110, or through e-mail to blaubach@stlukes-hou.org. Bridges Outreach Testimonial
It all started in 8th grade when I was at Briarmeadow Charter School, a public HISD school where the principal at the time was Lynne Barnes, and my English teacher was Julie Goodloe. Our school was very small with about 25 in my graduating 8th grade class, so we didn’t have electives, but we still had that ancillary thing, like elementary students have. Every day we did something different after lunch. On Mondays we had visual arts, Tuesdays and Thursdays we had PE, Wednesdays we had Computer, and on Friday we had Early dismissal. Later during the year we were told that we would have Choir on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At the time I was playing the violin, and there was no music program at our small school, so I was excited. The catch was, it was going to be during lunch. Choir was to start on a Thursday, and during that week, I overheard a conversation with Julie Goodloe about some guy named Sid and something to do with the Choir. I was kind of scared of the name Sid ever since I watched the movie Toy Story, but nevertheless, that Thursday, I got my lunch and walked in to the music room to see some dude with white hair and some lady next to him. They introduced themselves as Sid and Mitzi. After that, we started to sing “warm up” songs about mamas, and keys, and radar blips… I didn’t at the time understand what the warm-ups purpose was, but I already was having the best time that year.
My mom at the time was running the chess club and saw how much I loved the choir, and how my siblings loved the choir. It just so happened that the Church where Sid and Mitzi were from was from St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. So on Scout Sunday, My whole family was in our scout uniforms and we joined the church in front of the whole congregation. That Sunday, I was referred to Pure Sound and was told to be there at 4:15. So I did, when I got there they were singing that song about mamas, and keys, and I felt a part of it already. Some lady named Ann asked me what voice part I was, I said Sid would know, Sid told Ann, and then Ann placed me in a section called the tenors, where I was instantly welcomed and greeted by people I had never met before. The music we sang was so beautiful and fun, and the people there were so amazing. I couldn’t wait till next Sunday, and the next and the next.
Pure Sound has changed my life. I have learned so much, made amazing friends and done so many amazing things with Pure sound. I would give almost anything for everyone I know to experience my experiences with Pure Sound. Bridges made all these things happen for me by introducing Sid and Mitzi to me and my family through our school. The church and Pure Sound has given me so much to cherish and to appreciate and the things that Sid does, along with all the things Bridges does to reach out to everyone is amazing. St. Luke’s and Pure Sound are like a second family for me, and if I never met that dude with the white hair, well, I would have missed out!
- Val Dagher, 12th grade
|
