Self-directed Study Sheet 10
Context: Ollie is totally blind, non-verbal and has limited movement. Here he is working with a music therapist and a visiting music teacher, exploring an app on his iPad that plays harp-like sounds in response to touch and movement across the screen.
- Observation: Think about what you see and hear in the video.
- Interpretation: What can you reasonably infer about the person's musical engagement?
- Assessment: Suggest a Sounds of Intent Level and Domain.
The music teacher plays and sings a song from Tuning In, which provides a framework for Ollie’s participation. He leaves gaps for Ollie to fill with his sounds. Ollie plays the iPad in short bursts by moving his right arm. Ollie contributions involve movements that vary slightly, suggesting intentionality in his sound-making. While there is no evidence that he understands the words or musical structure of the song, it helps the adults to interact purposefully and in an aesthetically pleasing way. This musical engagement can be classified as Level 2, Interactive (I.2): ‘interacts with others using sound’.