A group of students from Sidney Lanier School are making beautiful music with musicians from other parts of the country, even other parts of the world as part of a program that has earned their teacher special recognition.

Through his Global Music Education Program, music teacher Don DeVito is providing his students, most of whom are disabled, with the opportunity to experience a diverse musical curriculum taught by professors and college students from the University of Syracuse, Indiana University and the Universidad de Londrina in Brazil. Thanks to video conferencing technology, his students enjoy interactive sessions with teachers who are thousands of miles away. A typical session may involve the Sidney Lanier students following a beat on African drums in their classroom under the direction of Indiana University professor Dr. David Akombo, who accompanies them on a flute. Also participating in the program are Dr. Emma Rodriguez Suarez at Syracuse and Dr. Magali Kleber for the Universidad de Londrinas.

“This really enhances their education,’ said DeVito. “My students get a new perspective, a new experience in music, and they’re making real friendships with people in other places.”

The college students participating in the program also work one-on-one with the Sidney Lanier students and their parents, providing guidance on things that can be done at home to promote the student’s learning and getting input from the parents on the impact the lessons are having on the students.  DeVito says that real-world experience will help the college students become better teachers themselves.

“Sometimes college students are apprehensive about working with students with special needs,” he said. “Through this program they learn to become more comfortable working with the students and their families and exploring new ways to overcome each student’s unique challenges.”

The Global Music program is just one of the innovative strategies DeVito uses to educate his students about music and better prepare them for life beyond school. He conducts monthly evening drum circles with students and parents, bringing in musicians from the community to work with them. His students also perform at events in the community, giving them the confidence to be in the public and raising the awareness of other citizens about the accomplishments and potential of special needs students.

“Music education allows our students to transcend their challenges and provides them with an avenue for creative self-expression,” said DeVito. “They have an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to be functional musicians regardless of their disability.”

“The experience of being in the band, taking an instrument home to practice or performing in the community drum circle is improving our students' self esteem and helping them grow and learn,” said Sidney Lanier principal Cathy Costello.  “What we are seeing is amazing!”

DeVito’s creative music education program has now earned the school statewide recognition. In January, DeVito will be accepting the Innovative Program Award from the Florida Music Educators’ Association.  He’s already presented information about his programs to music educators from across the globe.

But DeVito’s students say they don’t need anyone else to tell them what an outstanding teacher he is.

“He’s a good man, he’s a hard-working man,” said senior Brian Carter. “He’s the special kids’ music teacher, and I know he cares for the kids.”

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Teacher Uses Drums, Music to
Motivate Students with Special Needs

For most kids, a drum is just a way to make a lot of noise. But some special students at Sidney Lanier-Anchor School are finding that the drum is also a great way to express themselves and form even tighter bonds with their families.

Music teacher Dr. Don DeVito has established what he calls a ‘community drum circle’ for both disabled and non-disabled students at the school.  Several times throughout the year students and parents gather in the gym and spend an evening playing various kinds of drums together.

“We have some students who need assistance from a parent to keep the beat and others who like to improvise their own rhythms while we play,” said DeVito. “It doesn’t matter what their ability level is, everyone can participate and contribute.”

The drum circle sessions are often led by volunteer musicians from the community who share music from Africa, Australia, Brazil and other parts of the world. Sometimes students find the beat so compelling that they and their parents will get up and dance. DeVito says he finds that the drum circles are a great way for all students, particularly those with disabilities, to share their feelings and interact with others.

“It’s motivational and it creates opportunities for communication in a social setting,” said DeVito. “The reaction has been incredible—the kids just love it.”

Rick Allen has brought his son Eric to several of the drum circle sessions. “He really enjoys it,” he said. “He doesn’t always show a lot here, but then we’ll get home and he’ll be drumming on everything.”

Effie McClellan says her daughter Denise always looks forward to the drum circle. “She likes the music and the rhythm,” she said. “She tells me we’re going to be the drums together.”

The drum circles are just a part of a broader program at the school that allows students to broaden their horizons in and outside of school through music. As part of the Sidney Lanier Community Music Program, students may perform at community events or go on field trips to experience different forms of music. The school’s program has been so successful that DeVito has been selected to share it with music educators from around the world this summer at the International Society of Music Education Conference in Singapore.

“Community music programs can be adapted to help all students transcend their challenges through creative self-expression,” he said. “We’re bringing people together through the arts.”