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Special
needs is a broad term that includes people with various intellectual,
psychological, and physical disabilities. I work with both
younger people, still in school, and older people in assisted
care situations. In classes with teenagers with special needs
we try to address the added challenges of adolescence.
Songwriting activity can cross this spectrum of disabilities,
to give a simple experience of fun or perhaps even a profound
experience of self-knowledge and growth. Whether we're writing
new verses to an old favorite or making up completely new
songs on the experiences and personalities of the class, we're
practicing important social skills like paying attention and
communicating one's own thoughts and feelings. We emphasize
positive self-awareness and personal enjoyment.
| Warrah
Program Overview
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In
October, 2002, I began working with teenage students of Warrah,
a school and facility for the intellectually disabled, which
is located north-west of Sydney Australia (Warrah
on the Web). The class continued for a year, when I returned
to the U.S. to begin teaching there. Our idea was to have
musical sessions once a week, where students contribute by
discussing their lives and feelings in a process of collaborating
to write songs. Many songs were written. These are imaginative
pieces, which we refer to as "fictions" because they are inspired
by real-life but not inhibited by actual facts and occurrences.
Students are aware that some song lyrics come from true-life
experience while others are made up to reflect their desire
for understanding, growth and positive change. Students identify
with these songs and experience a sense of "ownership" with
their own songs as well as the songs of others. At the
end of the program a CD was made and given to each student.
Click
on the following link to see one complete workshop session
with these students...Working
with Warrah Teens
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Therapeutic
Benefits of Group Songwriting
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Issues
of self-image and identity, independence and personal
responsibility are dealt with in the songwriting process.
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Communication
and social interaction are encouraged and rewarded.
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Self-esteem
rises from the sense of accomplishing a finished song
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A
sense of awareness of others comes from sustaining a shared
practice of attention to a particular subject matter
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Music
and songwriting are fun activities that create a positive
environment. With the task of writing a song together
students become more open and trusting to explore as a
group the problems associated with having a disability.
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A
completed work of art provides a "free space" from where
the artist/student can view aspects of his personality
without self-criticism.
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Future Goals |
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To
work effectively with people of all ages, disabled as
well as "normal."
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To
increase our effectiveness through periodic reviews and
appraisals
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To
employ like-minded musicians and songwriters and provide
them income
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To
increase the reach of our program by building on our successes.
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To
record songs on CDs that students can keep
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To
document our experiences so they can inspire and integrate
with other techniques and therapies
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