Composing Music in Special Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49
Author(s):  
Julia Clipper ◽  
Keishel X. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Music Composition ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ability Levels

Composition is an important and creative part of any child’s music education, yet many music educators feel unprepared to teach composition to students with special needs. This article explores the value of incorporating music composition in a special education classroom and outlines two compositional lessons based on creating a musical scenery. The first lesson took place in a classroom with seven students, ages six to twenty-three, and the follow-up lesson involved fourteen students, ages four to twenty-three, all possessing a wide range of ability levels. By encouraging students to collaborate and freely compose, teachers can guide students with special needs beyond playing precomposed music and into creative thinking and building an overall sense of confidence, community, and musicianship.

Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Special Needs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Hammel ◽  
Ryan M. Hourigan
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Learning Differences ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Philosophy Of Music ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Music Classroom ◽  
The Individual

Every successful music educator has a curriculum that contains a scope (overarching goals) and sequence (how we will achieve our goals and in what order) that are critical to reaching meaningful educational goals within the music classroom. Walker and Soltis (2004) state: “Working with the curriculum is an integral part of all teachers’ daily lives”. When specific curricula are not mandated (by the state, or federal government), most music educators use a set of standards or guidelines to devise a scope and sequence for classroom teaching (i.e., the National Standards). It is important as music educators to consider their curriculum when preparing to teach all students, not just students with learning challenges. This is what separates an educator from a therapist or a service provider. The questions that we will address in this chapter include: How do music educators maintain a focus on their own curricular goals while adapting that same curriculum to the individual needs of students? And how do we assess and reflect on these goals to make adjustments in our curriculum? These are difficult questions to answer. In fact, this has been a challenge for teachers since the inclusion of students with special needs began following the passage of P.L. 94–142 more than 35 years ago. Walker and Soltis explain, “While many teachers supported the goal, many were offended that rigid regulations were imposed on them without their consent”. All these issues require a thoughtful and sequential approach when preparing, presenting, and assessing instruction in the music classroom. However, the stronger the underlying curricular focus is, the easier it will be to adapt and modify your existing curriculum to individualize instruction for students who have learning differences. Your specific curriculum, if not mandated by your state or school system, will be a result of your philosophy of music education. Even when utilizing prescribed curricula, your choices in scope and sequence will reflect your values in the classroom. These same values will be reflected in the choices you make in modifying your curricula for students with special needs.

A Resourceful and Pedagogical Approach to Teaching Students with Special Needs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Hammel ◽  
Ryan M. Hourigan
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
School Life ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Music Classroom ◽  
Child Centered ◽  
Approach To Teaching ◽  
Teaching Music

The vignette regarding Gregory introduces an approach to teaching students with special needs that may be new for many music educators (and music education students). Collegiate students are not always given the opportunity to think critically and constructively about adaptations and accommodations for students with special needs prior to graduation from undergraduate school (Hammel, 1999; Nocera, 1979). Skills developed while brainstorming ideas for students via vignettes may assist music educators as they derive strategies for students with special needs in music classrooms. This skill preparation also introduces the idea of a “team approach” when interacting with faculty, administration, students, and families (Ansuini, 1979; Atterbury, 1993). For these reasons, vignettes are included within the text to encourage this process when preparing to teach students with special needs. The most effective approach when working within a school and school system is to become a part of the existing team of professionals (Dalrymple, 1993). Teachers often become compartmentalized when teaching music in another part of the building or when traveling from building to building. Successful child-centered schools function as teams, and active participation is important for each individual teacher as well as for the overall success of the school (Gfeller, Darrow, & Hedden, 1990; Gilbert & Asmus, 1981; Heller, 1994; Williams, 1988). Being proactive and positive can assist teachers as they become involved as integral “team members” within a school. Maintaining a positive and inclusive attitude will increase the view that the music program is an important and necessary component of school life for all students (Ozonoff, Rogers, & Hendren, 2003; Pierce & Schreibman, 1997; Wagner, 1999). Being aware of the students in the music classroom, as well as their academic and behavioral needs, is a critical initial strategy in developing an inclusive scope and sequence for classrooms and ensembles (Hart & Risley, 1975; Prizant & Wetherby, 1998). Knowing that we teach students, with music as a catalyst, and that students come to the music classroom with a variety of independent and individualized needs is important to inclusive-oriented music educators.

Preparing to Teach

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Hammel ◽  
Ryan M. Hourigan
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Graduate Preparation ◽  
Teaching Music ◽  
Service Music ◽  
Resource Rooms

There are varying degrees of undergraduate and graduate preparation for students with special needs. Music educators may have had a general special education class or the opportunity to study topics regarding students with special needs embedded within a music methods course. The topic of students with special needs may have been included in an educational psychology course, or a teaching music to students with special needs course that was part of the curriculum (Heller, 1994, York & Reynolds, 1996). More often than not, music educators have little or no background or instruction in this area (Wilson & McCrary, 1996). Therefore, music educators must be resourceful in gaining insight into the skills, strategies, and understandings that accompany the experience of teaching a student with special needs. Music teacher educators often have little or no preparation as to how to educate future music educators regarding the inclusion of music students with disabilities or how to plan, implement, and assess lessons in self-contained and inclusive music classrooms. Oftentimes, this lack of understanding results in either glossing over the topic or ignoring it altogether. Licensure requirements can leave little room for “special” topics in the methods classroom. Fieldwork and engagement with special education faculty and staff in a variety of environments can assist music educators in finding ways to reach students with special needs. This chapter may appear to be designed for the music teacher educator. However, practicing music educators are encouraged to utilize the observation protocols and other strategies to obtain on-the-job and authentic experience through self-imposed fieldwork, observation, and discussion within the special education framework. This may be beneficial to music educators in understanding the subculture of students, parents, educators, and administrators that surround a student with special needs. This fieldwork may need to be conducted during preparation/planning time or through permission from an administrator. For music teacher educators, this chapter is designed as a guide to develop fieldwork opportunities for pre-service music educators. Included in this chapter will be strategies for engagement in self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, inclusive settings, and summer enrichment programs.

Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Hammel ◽  
Ryan M. Hourigan
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Special Education Law ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Teaching Music ◽  
Assessment Strategies ◽  
Reference Manual

A practical guide & reference manual, Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs addresses special needs in the broadest possible sense to equip teachers with proven, research-based curricular strategies that are grounded in both best practice and current special education law. Chapters address the full range of topics and issues music educators face including parental involvement, student anxiety, field trips and performances, and assessment strategies. The book concludes with an up-to-date section of resources and technology information.

scholarly journals Technology in Music Education in England and across Europe

2017 ◽  
pp. 30-48
Author(s):  
Marina Gall
Keyword(s):  
Music Education ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
English Education ◽  
Traditional Music ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Music Technology ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Information Communications Technology ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Technological Developments

In this chapter, adopting an autobiographical perspective, I reflect upon the use of music technology within English school classrooms during the last 50 years. The chapter illustrates that this has become so important—particularly for creative work—that formal music technology examination syllabi for older students now exist alongside courses that focus on “traditional” music skills. The chapter also discusses the less positive position of information communications technology within the music curricula for primary school children and secondary students aged 11–14, and offers thoughts on the future of music technology within the English education system. As a backdrop to the discussion the chapter presents a short reflection on music technological developments in society during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The chapter also includes the perspectives of music educators from a wide range of European countries, during the period 2008–2011, on the position of music technology within their own educational contexts.

scholarly journals The Impact of Evidence-Based Dialogic Training of Special Education Teachers on the Creation of More Inclusive and Interactive Learning Environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Rodríguez-Oramas ◽  
Pilar Alvarez ◽  
Mimar Ramis-Salas ◽  
Laura Ruiz-Eugenio
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Special Education Teachers ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Interactive Learning Environments ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
The Impact

In the international context of a progress toward more inclusive educational systems and practices, the role of Special Education teachers is being transformed. From an inclusive perspective, these professionals increasingly support students and their teachers in the mainstream classroom, avoiding segregation. However, Special Education teachers often struggle to reach and support all students with special needs and their teachers to provide quality inclusive education. For this reason, more research is still needed on in-service training strategies for the inclusion of students with special needs that effectively translate into evidence-based school practices that improve the education of all students. This article analyses the impact of two evidence-based dialogic training programs of Special Education teachers working in mainstream schools carried out in Mexico during the 2018–2019 school year. Through in-depth interviews with participants, it was identified how, after the training, teachers increasingly grounded their actions on scientific evidence and promoted interactive learning environments that improved the educational inclusion of their students with special needs. This training also became the venue to make evidence-based educational actions available to other students without special needs, improving the quality of education provided to all students.

The Use of a Daily Calendar to Increase Responsibilities Fulfilled by Secondary Students with Special Needs

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBORAH MAE FLORES ◽  
PATRICK J. SCHLOSS ◽  
SANDRA ALPER
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Multiple Baseline ◽  
Initial Training ◽  
Students With Special Needs

This paper describes the use of a personal calendar to increase responsibilities fulfilled by secondary students with special needs. A multiple baseline, across-skills design demonstrated that students with disabilities can be taught to carry and use a personal calendar. Using a calendar was associated with an increase in the extent to which personal responsibilities were accomplished. Finally, follow-up data indicated that calendar usage and responsibility completion was maintained beyond initial training.

Effective Practices for Teaching Writing to Students with Disabilities in the United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
April Camping ◽  
Steve Graham
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
Students With Special Needs ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
General Education Classroom ◽  
Critical Skills

Writing is especially challenging for students with disabilities, as 19 out of every 20 of these students experience difficulty learning to write. In order to maximize writing growth, effective instructional practices need to be applied in the general education classroom where many students with special needs are educated. This should minimize special education referrals and maximize the progress of these students as writers. Evidence-based writing practices for the general education classroom include ensuring that students write frequently for varying purposes; creating a pleasant and motivating writing environment; supporting students as they compose; teaching critical skills, processes, and knowledge; and using 21st-century writing tools. It is also important to be sure that practices specifically effective for enhancing the writing growth of students with special needs are applied in both general and special education settings (where some students with disabilities may receive part or all of their writing instruction). This includes methods for preventing writing disabilities, tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs, addressing roadblocks that can impede writing growth, and using specialized writing technology that allows these students to circumvent one or more of their writing challenges.

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