PART 5 - Adaptive Music Class 101: Collaboration and Conclusion

In our final installment of Adaptive Music Class 101, we talk about collaboration and how working with the special education team can improve outcomes for you and your students.

Collaboration

My last bit of advice for those teaching adaptive music classes is to know that you are not alone. You are a part of a very large team that is in place to help support the needs of your students with disabilities. The special education teachers, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, administrators, and families of your students are there to help and support you and your work as well. If you find you are struggling with a student or aren’t sure the best way to support them, reach out to these people. Many of them have worked with these students for years and can offer insights into how they learn best and what their potential in your class could be. Likewise, don’t forget to share your successes with them and celebrate when these students accomplish something in your class. You may find after working with these students that you have new insights into their abilities and potential that could help them in other areas of their education and development.

Conclusion

I hope that series has provided some useful information and can serve as a launching pad for you in teaching adaptive music classes. This articles are by NO means comprehensive but should go a long way to helping you find success in your classrooms. By implementing a clear structure, understanding the communication needs of your students, tailoring your content to match the level of your students, and collaborating with your team, I believe that you should start to see success and growth in your classroom. Music is for everyone, let’s make sure our music instruction is for everyone too.