Skip to Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Adaptive Music Program

festive painted mural

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.

Over 20% of the student population in Springfield is identified as having disabilities that impact their learning. Music is a proven and effective tool to unlock learning potential in students with disabilities, yet the majority of these students have historically not had access to music instruction adapted to their needs. 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 2021-22, AMP served over 500 students in 14 schools.

AMP provides:

  • Music instruction designed to include all learners, specifically tailored to the needs of each classroom in partner schools
  • Create & Connect classes for children with autism and their caregivers at CMSS
  • Professional development workshops for music educators and Special Education teachers
  • A YouTube Channel as a resource for students, parents, and teachers

For more information, contact Jessica Corwin, Adaptive Music Program Manager: jcorwin@communitymusicschool.comcreate new email

close up of AMP student sitting and smiling in an AMP music class

AMP Faculty

Jessica Corwin, Program Manager and 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

 

 

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.”

CMSS Perform-A-Thon