Exceptional Learners Deserve Music, Too!

Dear Friend,

If you've been keeping up with our reports, you may know that we have been training music educators in the Anaheim Elementary schools in teaching inclusively for a little over a year. Until a year ago, the music teachers there had not received training in teaching students with support needs. But in a noble effort to create musical access, their district had Instituted bringing special day class students into general music classes. This new practice was not working because there was no blueprint for music inclusion. There was no training for the music teachers. The music teachers had little to no contact with the special education teachers. But in Anaheim, the Director of Visual and Performing Arts, Mark, was aware of our work. He had attended workshops, and knew we would be glad to help.. 

When Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom answered Mark's call to provide his Music faculty with expert training in inclusion, we were beyond excited to have this opportunity to team up with this award winning school district to put our work in Adaptive Music to the test with an entire faculty. Your gifts in the past are what helped us develop the work to the point that we could attempt this partnership.

The work started with weeks of classroom observations to understand the challenges, the teachers, the students, and the opportunities. Then our classroom "counseling" began as we worked with the teachers who were most concerned for their special education participants, and who were willing to question their own practices. 

This year, from the start, we saw a difference. That first year of training, and making initial attempts to fully include all learners had led the teachers to a place of greater curiosity, faith, creativity, and a willingness to go above and beyond to reach their students. 

I am happy to share that we are now seeing profound growth in the teachers, and their students are receiving informed, compassionate, and responsive teaching in music class. It would be easy to turn this report into a novel but suffice it to say that teachers are finding ways to reach, calm, and work effectively with students who are prone to big emotions and aggression.  They are connecting authentically with the children and listening To them with open hearts and minds. They are improving classroom environments by reducing the volume of music, dimming lights, seating students all together, and creating ways for every student to participate in making music their own way. 

SDC children are better able to enter class peacefully and participate fully. Students with physical challenges are learning to make music with an assortment of techniques and tools like grips, different seating positions, and adaptive tennis ball picks, and specialized fingerpicks.  Children who are overwhelmed get to go into sensory corners to find peace using instruments, fidgets, or simply sitting on a comfy pillow or inside a little tent unril they feel calm and can return to the activity.

We are so proud of the teachers for embracing this challenging work and finding pathways to engaging all of their students. The most exciting correspondences I receive every week are the letters from these teachers sharing their successes and asking for more help with other students. 

 Without charitable donations, none of this would have ever been possible. The money that you contribute goes to getting the adaptive tools and instruments for the children to play but also to the work of training teachers and spending time with them to understand the obstacles and past them. In the photo, you are seeing a Special Day Class student who has learned to strum his indestructible ukulele with a tennis ball pick. The ball is easy to hold lightly and securely, so no issues with rigid or week fingers gets in the way. Once the children are guided hand-over-hand a couple of times, they can use a ball pick independently.

 Thank you so much for giving us the chance to develop and finally begin to prove the value of our approach, Please continue to stand by us as we move into the giving season in order to make Adaptive Music more broadly available.

Every kit with adaptive tools that we ship out to a teacher costs our organization $30 to create. I'm inviting you to envision what receiving a box of these helpful tools means for a teacher and their students.  Whatever you decide to give, your tax-deductible contribution is going to change students' lives. Thank you so very much!

Wishing you a joyful November, a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving, and we will be back in touch with you in December with an update.

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