Musical Maps and Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is anything (high tech or low tech) that supports students' access to the classroom, curriculum, and musical engagement. There are many resources that support teachers as they seek to create accessible musical opportunities for all students. For example, see: https://sites.google.com/site/exceptionalitiessrig/
In my elementary music classroom, Bobby--who was blind--could not see the icons on the board, which we used regularly. While his peers could see and point to them for the entire class period, he would get limited turns to point or follow along. I eventually purchased the largest Lego board I could find and would prepare the song icons in Legos for him before class. Bobby needed only brief assistance to figure out where the phrases were and then he could trace along as much as he liked (typically for the entire class). Both Bobby and his peers were excited about this new musical opportunity!
The song on the Lego board pictured here is "Lo, Peter," a Ghanian children's game song. More information about this song with lesson ideas can be found in:
Wiggins, J. (2009). Teaching for musical understanding (2nd ed.). Rochester, MI: Center for Applied Research in Musical Understanding.
In my elementary music classroom, Bobby--who was blind--could not see the icons on the board, which we used regularly. While his peers could see and point to them for the entire class period, he would get limited turns to point or follow along. I eventually purchased the largest Lego board I could find and would prepare the song icons in Legos for him before class. Bobby needed only brief assistance to figure out where the phrases were and then he could trace along as much as he liked (typically for the entire class). Both Bobby and his peers were excited about this new musical opportunity!
The song on the Lego board pictured here is "Lo, Peter," a Ghanian children's game song. More information about this song with lesson ideas can be found in:
Wiggins, J. (2009). Teaching for musical understanding (2nd ed.). Rochester, MI: Center for Applied Research in Musical Understanding.