Home > Special Education Standards > Standards Adapted for Hearing Impaired: Singing, Instrumental
Standards Adapted for Hearing Impairments
General Adaptations for use in every category and every age group
- Work in an environment with a wooden floor or raised platform to increase vibrations
- Incorporate sign language whenever possible
- Do not distort speech, always speak directly at student and do not speed or slow rate of delivery from normal speech.
- Use many different modes for communicating directions (write on board, use color-coded music).
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Rationale: Singing is a basic means of musical expression in all cultures. Learning proper use of the voice in singing and speaking from an early age is vital for effective communication. Students’ ability to use the voice effectively in singing opens the door to personal fulfillment and expression as well as to valuable activities in the school and community.
Performance Standards
Ability to sing is dependent on level of hearing impairment. Students may begin to imitate or even demonstrate ability to initiate a melodic series of pitches, based on ability level. Work with speech therapist using technology that visually represents sounds produced may lead to ability to sing songs.
Rationale: Throughout history, people have played instruments as accompaniment, for communication, and as an important means of personal expression. Instrumental music, thus, has a unique history and a body of quality literature written for particular instruments or groups of instruments. Like singing, the students’ ability to perform on an instrument opens the door to personal fulfillment and expressions well as to valuable activities in the school and community.
Musical responses will primarily be based on feeling vibrations. Visual representations of rhythm may be helpful. Individualized instruction is need to supplement involvement. As students learn to respond via vibrations, they may continue with these standards at their own pace. Refer to video and Internet documentation about Evelyn Glennie to support your student's progress.
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