In 2007, the project ‘muzieklabo inclusief‘ started in academie Wijnegem. The need for qualitative music education for persons with mental and/or physical disabilities is high. After all, being able to take music lessons should be a right for everyone!
The teachers of Muzieklabo Inclusief always engage the parents in discovering the children’s potential. Togheter they outline a pathway in which every student is comfortable. Group lessons are organised in groups of no more than 8 students. There are always two teachers present in the classroom during the group lessons.
Each group lesson starts with djembé exercises. But in addition to playing the djembé, the teachers at Muzieklabo Inclusief see many more opportunities for musical exploration, discovery and learning! Check out this impressive list!
Playing the Djembé:
- improvisations
- learning the basic beats and rhythms
- concentration games
- learning to play with dynamics
- working with rhythm cards + creating own compositions
- musical wave
Singing songs
- Songs with simple lyrics, usually thematic and with a lot of supporting material, e.g. pictures
- Playing large musical instruments: drums/piano/guitar
- Learning the basic technique
- Playing in an improvisational pattern
- Learning start-stop
Playing xylophones:
- simple melodies using coloured stickers
- Learning the right playing technique
- Simple accompaniments (e.g. bourdon, …)
- Improvisations
Making music with Boomwackers:
- producing sound in different ways
- playing using a coloured score
- play rhythms
- play along with videos
Playing small instruments:
- soundscapes
- musical stories
- concentration games
Making music with the ukulele:
- learning some basic chords, technique, strumming technique
Reading scores with the musical boards:
- Lay notes, read them and then play them
- Being able to make your own melody
Cool-down activities:
- playing on meditative instruments
Activity breaks:
- activity games
- dances
- body percussion
All kinds of games:
- sound memory
- listening to music
- musical bingo
- identify musical instruments
- …
Read here the interview with Philip Segers, teacher and coordinator at Muzieklabo Inclusief.