We want to share how ukulele can help engage developmentally disabled kids.

Music is a proven way to help developmentally disabled children function better in a school environment. And the ukulele can really help engage developmentally disabled kids.

Our society is becoming preoccupied with tests and achievements to ‘rate’ individuals in school. We are more interested in what our kids get on a test than if they really learned anything. Consequently, school can very well end up being a competition rather than a source of knowledge. Kids may feel the pressure of having to be the best.

Developmentally disabled kids can particularly feel  this pressure. Music helps open a  child to new concepts and experiences unlike other subjects such as math and science.

Music can help with:

• attention
• social interaction
• communication
• self-discovery
• improvement of speech and motor functions
• recognition and
• stress relief and enjoyment

So how do you design a music program to cater to developmentally disabled kids so that they find something that they can relate to? Jenny shares her experience with teaching developmentally disabled students. Keep reading to find out how she built a program to cater specifically to their needs. Again, we recommend ukulele as the instrument of choice. You can read more about why here.

Ukulele, the perfect musical instrument for the developmentally disabled kid

On the other hand, the ukulele was soothing. All of the children could strum down strokes on the open strings with a steady beat. With a simple re-tuning of the A string down to the note G, the open strings of the ukulele create a C chord. Students can strum the open strings without having to put any left hand  fingers down. An F chord and a G chord can be created by barring one finger at the 5th and 7th frets respectively. The same effect can be created by sliding a plastic slide to stop the strings at that fret. That way students with limited finger strength and muscle tone can be successful strumming and singing.

How to teach ukulele to developmentally disabled kids

Each week, during the special education music class, I would pre-teach the material we were going to learn in the regular music class. The special needs children were able to sing and strum with the beat and to hold simple chord shapes with their left hands. If the child had fine motor issues in their hands, the child could strum the open strings of the ukulele. The open strings of the ukulele create a beautiful consonant chord without a left hand chord, so simply strumming the strings allows the children to participate with age-group peers.

One of the beautiful things about working with these children was that most of them loved music. With a few modifications, these children were able to perform as well or better as some of their peers, probably one of the few places where this could happen during their school day. Because the songs were simple and international, these children could relate to them and feel proud of what they could add to the class. One child even gave me the words of Frere Jacques in Assyrian.

Wrap Up: Ukulele is the perfect instrument for a developmentally disabled kid

Music is a perfect way for special needs children to grow in class. It is not based on tests and abstract ideas but on activity that actually relaxes the mind and gives enjoyment. Through it, developmentally disabled kids are able to discover new and exciting experiences. They are able to develop social and communication skills through music. Other benefits include improvement of motor and speech function as well as a sense of recognition.

The ukulele is a tested instrument to be used for any classroom, special needs or otherwise. The kids can easily get proficient at it, achieving something that they can be proud of. This boosts their confidence to learn even more. Structuring the program for the special needs kids is an important piece of the puzzle. Jenny pre-taught the developmentally disabled kids the material they were to learn with their peers. Ukulele for All is a perfect guide to developing a suitable pedagogy for teaching ukulele in the classroom setting. Moreover, pedagogy may be adapted to cater to kids with developmental disabilities.

We hope this post helps teachers and parents to expose developmentally disabled kids to the wonderful benefits of music through the ukulele.

Happy strumming.