Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education is passionate about making the well-documented benefits of music-making accessible to students with exceptionalities. Making music can have profound impacts on mood, motor skills, and overall well-being. The Centre’s Institute for Professional Development provides music educators with the skills and tools they need to help students of all abilities reach their full potential. Discover innovative resources, strategies, and collaborations that break barriers and foster inclusivity, allowing every individual to thrive through the harmonious world of adaptive music.
Guest
My guest today is Dr. Erin Parkes, founder and Executive Director of Lotus Centre for Special Music Education, a charitable organization committed to providing access to music education for people with exceptionalities. Erin is also an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, teaching courses and mentoring students in special music education. She presents at conferences and guest lectures internationally on teaching music to students with exceptionalities and other issues in music education.
Notes
We discuss:
- The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education: What it is, the demographic it serves, and the inspiration for its beginning in 2012.
- The Lotus Centre Institute for Professional Development: What it is, when it was launched, and Erin’s impetus for starting it.
- Professional Development opportunities available for educators, including free and paid options.
- Why music? How is music particularly effective in supporting students with special needs?
- Collaborations between Lotus Centre and arts organizations to implement music performance and improvisation for people with disabilities.
- Misconceptions or myths about music education for students with special needs.
- Additional resources for educators, parents, and students.
Connect/Other Resources
- The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education is a non-profit music school in Ontario, Canada, that provides music instruction specifically to students with special needs. This includes private lessons in a number of instruments, as well as day programs, summer camps, group music activities, a choir, and other activities. The Centre works with students of all abilities, including those diagnosed with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, and others.
- The Lotus Centre Institute for Professional Development provides education for music teachers in various areas of special music education.
- Lotus Centre Teaching Resources & Research page
- Lotus Centre blog
- Erin mentions the following resources:
- Music with Mrs. Morgan on YouTube
- Prodigies color coded music
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 120: The inclusive, sustainable music classroom; with United Sound’s Julie Duty
- Ep. 108: How is music boosting skills and learning in students in special education? With Natalie Hawkins, MT-BC
- Ep. 100: How music can help students with autism develop their emotions, with Dawn Mitchell White
- Ep. 77: Music interventions in speech development & disorders, with Laura Moorer, M.A., CCC-SLP
- Ep. 92: April is Autism Acceptance Month. One expert’s story and practical resources for music teachers of those with autism; with author Dr. Alice Hammel
- Ep. 24: Autism Interventions with Music, with Esther Thane, MTA, AVPT
- Ep. 139: What is Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and what are its benefits? With Anthony Molinaro
- View all episodes related to Education & Community
In-Episode Promo
Arts for the Health of It podcast; and
Sonix: This is a quick break to tell you about Sonix, the service that I use to transcribe these episodes. Sonix is an artificial intelligence transcription service that automatically converts audio and video files to text – and can translate to over 40 languages. I transcribe these episodes to make them more accessible. I tried multiple services, and chose to stick with Sonix because of their accuracy, affordability, and because their site is just so easy to use; that’s a big plus for me, to not need to spend a bunch of time figuring out one more platform! While I love podcasts, I do tend to be a very visual learner. I figure other people probably are, too; and having that written form of your work just makes it more versatile. Sonix transcripts make the most of your hard work and can increase traffic to your site. Sonix is spelled s-o-n-i-x. You can check them out with a free trial PLUS an extra 100 minutes of free transcription by using the link sonix.ai/invite/enhancelife100. There’s a link in the show notes. Again, it’s sonix.ai/invite/enhancelife100 for a free trial AND an extra 100 minutes of free transcription.
Coda
Erin shares about a student who had a special moment at an event held with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. The moment led to this beautiful recording:
Closing Words
And that is a little bit of Aidan playing “The Swan” with his cellist friend. You can watch the full song on the YouTube video in the show notes. Thank you so much to Erin for joining us today, and for all she does to enhance lives with music for students with exceptionalities and their teachers!
All Enhance Life with Music episodes are evergreen; so check out the back catalogue for more ways that music can make your life better.
You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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