Music has long been a universal language, bringing individuals together with their diverse cultures, abilities, and backgrounds. However, students with disabilities have often found themselves faced with barriers from participating in ensembles.
Today, United Sound is bringing a change to this reality. With over 12,000 students across the nation, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing musical opportunities for students with disabilities and is helping change the narrative.
At United Sound, new musicians are partnered with peer mentors in school music programs to work through a specialized curriculum and learn how to play an instrument. The program challenges outdated notions that individuals with disabilities cannot excel at or engage in music by removing traditional barriers to participation.
Through a carefully structured curriculum made up of a United Sound Method Book and flashcards, musical concepts are made easier to grasp for new student learners through the use of food and colors, transforming abstract concepts into music. United Sound strives to focus on the participation and joy that students will be able to experience rather than perfection. The implementation of the United Sound program in over 30 different states allows students of all abilities to celebrate each other’s musical achievements today.
As a peer mentor for United Sound, I can confidently say that it is a program that offers valuable experiences to both the student mentor and mentee. I had the privilege of being able to mentor multiple different students throughout my time in the program, and was able to quickly realize that every student learned in their own unique way, requiring different approaches to support and guidance.
My first peer mentee, Alec, whom I was able to teach the marimba to, allowed me to learn about the power of patience and adaptability in teaching. Although there were times I deemed it difficult to communicate my teaching to Alec, I did not give up because I knew that for Alec to become a great musician, he needed to have a mentor with a strong mindset.
Watching Alec progress from struggling to hold two mallets to confidently playing an entire piece showed me that growth was reliant on the effort of both the student mentee and mentor. Each note that was missed became a stepping stone toward comprehension, and every diversion became a chance for refocus and redirection. The marimba, once an intimidating task, became a medium for Alec to express himself.
United Sound’s mission is a reminder that music is about the possibilities, not the limitations. As the program expands across the country, it demonstrates that all students can make a mark in the world of music, regardless of their ability.
