OSO MUSICAL

Oso Musical is a loving music education community that provides children with special needs the chance to excel musically. We play musical games, sing songs, explore instruments as a group, and, of course, there is lots of dancing! Central to our classes is the Orff-Schulwerk teaching methodology, a way to teach and learn music. It is based on things children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance, and keep a beat on anything near at hand. There is a place for every child, and each child contributes according to their ability and talents. Every child is successful and feels safe to explore their innate musical ability. Traditional or original poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances are the basic musical building blocks. Spoken or sung, these activities are then accompanied by clapping, patting, and stamping or instruments such as drums, sticks, and bells. We believe that utilizing this highly effective methodology allows for music classes filled with variety, inclusiveness, and success; every child can participate at their own ability level and pace.

 

Our classes also provide Music Majors with invaluable experience in the teaching field, under the mentorhip and encouragement of a trained, certified, veteran music teacher.  We believe this real experience is an exceptionally valuable learning tool.  

 

Finally, we use our experiences and observations together in class to inform scholarly research.  Our co-founders conduct research, compile data, and present findings in professional music research journals and at music education conventions to help provide information and resources to others in our profession, teaching about trends and practices that help special learners flourish in music classrooms.

 

We are a devoted group of volunteers who are excited to teach and learn; we are passionately committed to providing high quality experiences to all of our participants, and are also eager to grow as educators.

 

And to top it all off: Oso Musical is completely free.  We serve your students at no cost because we are called to serve.