United Sound

Mission:

Students with intellectual or developmental disabilities will work with peer mentors and teachers to learn to perform on an instrument. We will meet on a regular basis to work together and learn and at the end of the school year, all United Sound members will perform at a concert with the Symphonic Band.

Our Mission:  

United Sound’s mission is to remove barriers and foster social change through music. 

Our Goal:

Our goal is to support musicians and educators to use music as a vehicle for transformative change.Through our own experiences, we know that the joy of learning and performing music is life-changing. We believe that all children should have access to meaningful and authentic music education and musical experiences.

Description of Activities: 

Students who are enrolled at OMSl, with intellectual or developmental disabilities, will have the opportunity to experience and perform music on an instrument of choice with musical adaptations and accommodations. New musicians will work with peer mentors to learn how to perform on a musical instrument. After weeks of instruction, the new musicians will perform for parents and at an end of the year concert with the Symphonic Band. 

To read MORE about United Sound, you can check out their website here.

Student Requirements: 

Who can join?

• New Musicians: Students enrolled at OMS with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Students will have the opportunity to experience and perform music on an instrument of choice with musical adaptations and accommodations. 

• Peer Mentors: Students who are enrolled at OMS and are members of the participating Band program who are willing and best equipped to support our disabled musicians.

Does a New Musician need to be able to play an instrument or read music?

No, not at all! The Peer Mentors and the school music teacher will work with every New Musician to meet them at a personally modified performance level.

What instruments are available?  Do the students get a choice? 

Band instruments will be available: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. New musicians will have an opportunity to see, feel, hear, and try out all of the instruments at the Instrument Selection Event at the beginning of the school year. Following that event, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to rent or otherwise provide the chosen instrument for the student- just like all the rest of the music kids!

Cost:

Participation fee for both Peer Mentors and New Musicians is $35 per year. Students will receive a United Sound t-shirt, curriculum materials, and ongoing program support throughout the year. Parents will complete the registration form provided at the start of the school year.