GFS
G E R MA N TOW N FRIENDS SCHOOL
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHILADELPHIA, PA PERMIT NO. 2572
31 West Coulter Street Philadelphia, PA 19144 215.951.2300 www.germantownfriends.org
VOLUME I | 2025
GFS BULLETIN MAKING MUSIC
A NEW BEAT This past January, a group of Upper School students and faculty went to Costa Rica on a science and community-focused trip in partnership with Seeds of Change. In addition to working on some amazing science research projects, students also supported the donation of drums and percussion instruments from GFS to a small high school, Liceo Rural Valle Verde, in Aguas Claras. Upper School science teacher Bob Wein led the efforts to get the drums to the school, as having the drums will allow the students to participate in local and regional parades. Over five workshop sessions, Brian Bersh, head of GFS’ Music department (pictured below, center), taught the students basic techniques, like how to hold sticks and how to mimic spoken chants with drum beats. “Teaching these students to make music was a joyous thing to be a part of, but it was so much more than that,” Bersh reflected. “From the moment we unboxed the drums, you could see their sense of pride. The drum sticks went into their pockets and it was like: ‘Now I’m a drummer.’”
INSIDE Choir Trip to Estonia The GFS Fac/Staff Mixtape Alumni in Music and more!