Piano Lab Hits the Right Notes for Kids

The benefits of music lessons for kids range from enhanced language acquisition and hand-eye coordination, to higher IQ. Music learning supports all learning, but keyboard/piano instruction can specifically help students build spatial-temporal ability, fine-motor and cognitive skills such as attention and memory, to succeed in school and in life.

Recognizing the great benefits of keyboard learning and the lack of access to piano lessons for most students, ASAP piloted a mobile Piano Lab program in 2019, funded by New York-based Meier Bernstein Foundation.

The pilot program took place at Stowe Elementary and featured weekly small-group lessons and a year-end recital in which nine students performed for family and friends.

In 2020–22, when schools were closed to community partners because of COVID, ASAP Piano Lab moved to Willkie House, the oldest African American community center in Des Moines. ASAP Piano Lab Teaching Artist Dr. Michael Elsbernd met weekly with two cohorts of students during the school-year months, and offered summer exploratory sessions to recruit new intro-level students. In 2022–23 Piano Lab returned to Des Moines Public Schools, filling a need for arts programming at ASAP’s first partner school, King Elementary.

During weekly lessons Dr. Elsbernd offers individualized attention and differentiated support as students work independently at the keyboard. Student-driven learning is a strong component of the program; keyboards and equipment are left on site so students can practice between lesson days. Culminating performances, whether formal or informal, are important milestone achievements in students’ journey at the keyboard and a time to celebrate learning, revealing pride of accomplishment in students and their families.