A few weeks ago I attended a local music education workshop and the topic of adaptive music came up. The presenter mentioned Walter Chesnut, and as I had never heard of him, I decided to do some research. Walter Chesnut was a beloved trumpet professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. When a … Continue reading The Chesterhorn
Customized Instruments
OHMI Conference
Last weekend I had the immense pleasure of attending and presenting at the first ever conference on Music and Physical Disability by the OHMI Trust. There was such a range of attendees: music educators, performers with disabilities, medical professionals, music and occupational therapists, computer programmers, developers of digital music technologies, and more. I left the … Continue reading OHMI Conference
Recorder +
Earlier this month I visited the Nuvo Instrumental office in Beverly, MA. They are creating a line of high-quality pre-band instruments and recorders. These instruments are designed to make wind instruments easier for children to play and learn. I think the applications for students with limb differences, low muscle tone, fine motor challenges, and other … Continue reading Recorder +
Renaissance Recorder
If you told me seven years ago that I would play Byrd’s Fantasia 2 in a Renaissance recorder consort, I wouldn’t believe you. But that’s what I did last Monday night! I recently got a Renaissance alto recorder in F, and as it was with my other recorders, it was a group effort to make … Continue reading Renaissance Recorder
One-Handed Ocarina
The ocarina is an instrument with many variations. Some have four holes, some have six, some have twelve. Some are made of wood, some are made of metal, some are made of plastic. Thanks to the Ocarina Workshop, some can be played with one hand. Christa Liggins at the Ocarina Workshop says that their motto … Continue reading One-Handed Ocarina
Another Way to Play 