There is no doubt that the use of "assistive technology" falls into the diversity of learners outcome that we are all so familiar with here at Case Western Reserve University. Assistive technology devices, or mechanical aids which substitute for or enhance the function of some physical or mental ability that is impaired, help us, as educators reach out to all learners with different needs and learning styles - not necessarily "disabilities" or "handicaps". These two previous words often imply that certain students are not able to do something, when in reality, they just do them differently and have different needs, which we as effective educators need to cater to.
How is this relevant to music and the world of music education?. We, as human beings, are inherently musical creatures. Culturally, socially, emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually, music is deeply intertwined into our genetic fibers and whether or not we choose to pursue it as a career path, every child should be exposed to it in order to hold an appreciation of it. And every child means - every child, even children with mental and physical disabilities. Luckily, technology is beginning to facilitate this.
Soundbeam, a device that converts physical movement into sound. Using ultrasonic sensors, the SoundBeam system "detects the speed, gate and distance of even the smallest movements you make with anything from a fingertip to your entire body. These ultrasonic signals are converted by the SoundBeam controller into MIDI information that can then be processed by a sound module, keyboard, or sampler." Because you don't need to be musically trained to use Soundbeam, it allows students with special needs to create music in a different way. They only need to be able to move one part of their body to be able to take advantage of this technology. It can even be connected to a music notation program like Sibelius to convert these sounds into a real-life composition!
In general, I think Soundbeam is an extremely innovative and inspiring tool in the world of music education. Too often do we hear horror stories of children discouraged to participate in musical ensembles because they have certain disabilities that some think may "hinder" the quality of their top performing ensembles. With the development of technology like this, special needs students are getting greater exposure to and have a fighting chance to keep participating in upper-level music courses and ensembles.
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There is a cost to committing, one that the field of education seems committed to ignoring. Certainly not letting someone try to play an instrument due to perceived lack of talent is not appropriate. There is minimal cost to other students for letting them try, regardless of how skilled they become.
ReplyDeleteSoundbeam is awesome, but it is a more significant investment. Is it the best use of resources? If we are committed to giving every child the best education possible, and not simply education at arbitrary level X, this is a valid question and SHOULD be asked.
If we decide yes, then awesome. It's a cool piece of tech. It just seems like educators are being conditioned to ignore the questions.
I enjoyed reading your eloquent reflection. I have known many educators who have felt overwhelmed when faced with the unique needs of individual students. I don't think that there is ever an excuse to exclude a student from creative expression. It's important to be aware of the resources that are available to us as music educators so that we have a starting point for addressing the needs of all the children in our classrooms.
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