ERIC Number: EJ800906
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jun-29
Pages: 36
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 42
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-8094
The Heart of the Matter: Composing Music with an Adolescent with Special Needs
Bell, Adam Patrick
International Journal of Education & the Arts, v9 n9 p1-36 Jun 2008
As a support worker for adolescents with special needs, I have found that they have few opportunities to play music. While previous research emphasizes that students with special needs can enjoy music in multiple capacities, little has been written about their ability to play, improvise, or compose. I employed a qualitative approach for this case study in which a 17-year-old male with Down syndrome attended two 40-minute music sessions a week over the course of three months with me as the researcher and musical accompanist. Video was used to document the teacher-learner experience as the participant explored collaborative improvising and computer-based recording. General suggestions are made for supporting adolescents with special needs in music.
Descriptors: Music Education, Music Activities, Musical Composition, Teaching Methods, Down Syndrome, Adolescents, Special Needs Students, Case Studies, Males, Creativity, Singing, Computer Uses in Education
International Journal of Education & the Arts. 1310 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 402-472-9958; Fax: 402-472-2837; Web site: http://www.ijea.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

Peer reviewed
