Playworks sells toys that invite play and enhance development in children from birth through age five

By Grace Kim

Many people assume that the blind, in general, have an innate and extraordinary talent in music - perhaps because of the exceptional talents of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli. Studies have shown both blind and sighted have a similar capacity to learn music; however, those with visual impairments tend to use their auditory channels more fully. Through music, we can help blind children establish and develop skills needed to function and excel in their daily lives.

For over 15 years, the Southern California Conservatory of Music's (SCCM) Braille Music Division has been developing curriculum and providing music education to visually impaired children. The program at BCLC is based on listening to music as an active discipline, rather than a passive activity. Basic distinctions, such as high and low variance of pitch, direction of pitch, dynamic ranges, and tempo variations, have been shown to provide insights beyond the obvious musical references which help the students relate more thoroughly to the world around them, both spatially and emotionally.

As a member of SCCM's outreach program, I came to BCLC in the fall of 2007. My first goal was to establish a protocol for the students to "ready" themselves to listen. Quiet and stillness must precede the first note of music heard. During the listening class, the children are instructed to sit still in their chairs while the music is on. It was hard for many children to sit still for more than 15 seconds in the beginning, but I've seen dramatic improvements in their attention span after only three months. Students are now able to listen to a two minute music piece with very few disruptions.

With the help of music, we are able to reduce "blindisms" such as rocking, rubbing eyes, or other self-stimulatory behavior we see in some of the children. We have teachers sitting behind the children to guide them and keep them focused during each listening class and diverting their attention to the music. Since the beginning, all the children reacted in their own way to different styles of music. Some will smile at the sound of a guitar and some will frown and tense up at the sound of orchestrated symphonies. Music gives the children a means of emotional expression by stimulating them. The older children (4+) are able to express opinions about the music they have heard, helping them improve social and interpersonal communication skills.

Many of the children have opened up since the beginning of this class. Javier is one of the students at Blind Children's Learning center, who has made remarkable improvements. One day I was asking him if he wanted to listen to fast music or slow music. He said he wanted to listen to fast music. When I looked up at his teacher she looked very surprised and told me that he never made a decision before where he picked the first option. At the end of our class, he even requested that we listen to Spanish music next time! Every class we are able to see incredible improvements and reactions like this.

Plato once said that "music is a more potent instrument than any other education." Music addresses both the left and right side of the brain simultaneously, and it affects the growth of a child's brain in many ways. Through the active discipline of listening, we can promote greater attention span, social skills, emotional expressions, language development, and of course, a greater love for music.

Destanie and Javier benefit from the music program taught by Grace Kim.