Music for All: Using Technology for Inclusive Music Participation
Help me give my students Specdrums! These rings work with assistive technology to allow students to tap and play electronic drums with a color coded pad. Every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate meaningfully.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Joyner's classroom raised $597
This project is fully funded
My Students
I teach at a Title I urban school where 100% of my students receive free breakfast and lunch and 60% are considered economically disadvantaged. Our students are ethnically diverse (73.1% of the students are non-white), and 81.6% of them are English Language Learners or are learning English as their second language. Over 70% are also considered part of a high needs population. Our school also receives a large percentage of the new residents in Worcester and recently began to see many Middle Eastern refugees and Puerto Rican immigrants. Our students come from many countries and speak many different languages.
Despite what others would see as huge challenges, the students at our school are motivated, bright, and eager to expand their world.
With our high needs, economically disadvantaged, and language learning population, music class is a place where each student can connect. They do not have to speak a common language to communicate creatively here. It is a safe place to create, respond, make mistakes, and encourage each other. We hope it will always be a place where they can discover themselves, learn how to deal with tough emotions, and easily be a part of the community.
My Project
In our middle school's music department, we always strive for a fully inclusive classroom where every student is able to participate and achieve at the same level with their peers regardless of whether they're in a special or regular ed classroom. Newer STEM technology is providing the tools that make this a more attainable goal! I am requesting Specdrums rings which work with assistive technology to allow students to tap and play electronic drums with a color coded pad.
These Specdrums will allow students, regardless of physical ability, to participate in a drumming curriculum.
They are worn like rings and "read" colors that are programmed to drum sounds. This assistive technology will allow any child to play the drums even if they can't grip a drum stick or use larger arm or wrist movements.
I'm so excited to keep incorporating musical assistive technology into my classroom in a variety of ways so that ALL students can have a meaningful experience in music class!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Joyner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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