Adaptive Music Program
About AMP
CMSS’ Adaptive Music Program (AMP) connects music education and special education to improve students’ lives, impacting their social/emotional, academic, and artistic development.
In Springfield, over 25% of public school students have identified disabilities that impact their learning. Music is a proven and effective tool for unlocking learning potential in students with disabilities, however, in both Springfield and the entire country, music education has yet to become a universal component of a child’s education. AMP partners with public schools and education centers throughout the Pioneer Valley, providing adaptive music classes for youth in preschool through high school in their typical classroom setting during the school day. In 2022-23, AMP served over 800 students in 17 schools.
AMP provides:
- Music instruction designed to include all learners, specifically tailored to the needs of each classroom in partner schools
- opens in a new windowCreate & Connect classes for children with autism and their caregivers at CMSS
- Professional development workshops for music educators and Special Education teachers
- opens in a new windowResources for teachers, parents, and students
For more information, contact Jessica Corwin, Adaptive Music Program Director: jcorwin@communitymusicschool.comcreate new email
AMP Faculty
Jessica Corwin, Program Director and Teaching Artist
opens in a new windowJon Burgos, Teaching Artist
Nora Cruz, Teaching Artist and Music Therapist
Jennifer Kass, Teaching Artist and Music Therapist
Tara Murphy, Teaching Artist
Mendon Neyerlin, Teaching Artist
I-SHEA, Teaching Artist
opens in a new windowJulia Urbank, Teaching Artist
Testimonial from a Springfield Public School teacher:
“For my students, participating in the Adaptive Music Program has been a unique opportunity to access their environment in ways that are not always open to them in the traditional classroom setting. Our adaptive music teacher brings with her engaging activities that incorporate movement, rhythm, being conscious of our body in space, etc.; which complements elements of teaching that go on in the classroom such as math (counting beats, recognizing patterns in music), or social skills (being aware of our body in space as we move through the room). AMP is a wonderful resource for our classroom.”