SBIR-STTR Award

Phase II will involve expanding the curriculum and testing its application in a larger number of classrooms, employing experimental and control group the proposed project will study the feasibility of an alternative method for teaching basic musicianship to students with learning disabilities. It is proposed that by removing the barrier of a cumbersome notation system, the present curriculum will make musical expression available to many for whom it has been inaccessible. The proposed meloz notation system accommodates all twelve pitches in each octave without accidentials or key signatures and correlates to a twelve tone system as the keyboard does. Objectives focus on determining the feasibility of the use of meloz and electronic keyboards in teaching basic musicianship, keyboard performance and ear training and sight singing to students with learning disabilities. Researchers will also determine student and teacher attitudes toward use of meloz in conjunction with electronic keyboards. The program will be implemented with two fifth and two eighth grade classes in the Denver public schools as well as in two classrooms in a school for learning disabled students. Phase I will consist of development and testing of the new curriculum, with assessment of student progress. Project progress will be monitored through logs and monthly progress reports. Learning disability teachers, music teachers and administrators will serve as curriculum consultants and advisory committee members.Results:Comparisons. It is anticipated that all major school districts would be interested in a music curriculum for the learning disabled student. Commercial applications include publication and sale of copyrighted instructional materials written in the meloz notation system as well as manuals to instruct teachers in the use of those materials.

The proposed project will develop a curriculum based onan alternative method for teaching basic musicianship to studentswith learning disabilities. It is proposed that by removing thebarrier of a cumbersome notation system, the present curriculumwill make musical expression available to many for whom it hasbeen inaccessible. The Meloz notation system accommodates alltwelve pitches in each octave without accidentals or keysignatures and correlates to a twelve tone system as the keyboarddoes.Objectives will focus on developing a curriculum and teachermanuals using Meloz and electronic keyboards in teaching basicmusicianship to students with learning disabilities.The program will be implemented with students aged S through 13at Havern Center, Lakewood, Colorado, and grades K through 9 inthe Englewood School District, Englewood, Colorado. All of thestudents in Englewood will be beginners in the Meloz program.Phase II will involve expanding the curriculum, testing itsapplication in a larger number of classrooms, and development ofteacher manuals. Project progress will be monitored through logsand quarterly progress reports. Teachers for the learningdisabled, music teachers, administrators, and three outsideconsultants will serve as curriculum consultants and advisorycommittee members.

Anticipated Results:
It is anticipated that all major schooldistricts will be interested in a music curriculum for thelearning disabled student. Commercial applications includepublication and sale of copyrighted instructional materialswritten in the Meloz notation system, as well as manuals toinstruct teachers in the use of those materials.