For nearly a decade and a half, Community School faculty member Francesca Bori and the Adaptive Music Program have been embodying the School’s commitment to access through their service to special needs students.
The Colburn School is dedicated to providing equitable access to excellence in performing arts education. The School’s philosophy is that all who desire to study music or dance should be able to do so, under the the care and guidance of an exceptional faculty. For nearly a decade and a half, Community School faculty member Francesca Bori and the Adaptive Music Program have been embodying the commitment to access and inclusion through their service to special needs students.
The Adaptive Music Program provides a special education music program for children and adults with academic or learning challenges. The program uses music and related experiences, including music instruction, to address psychosocial needs and to improve one’s quality of life.
This program provides students the opportunity to express themselves musically, interact, and learn to play a musical instrument in a therapeutic environment. A structured music-based assessment is provided, including assessment of motor skills, behavioral, social, emotional levels, attention, and communication ability. As the Music Specialist, Francesca also gives monthly updates and meets with parents to make sure the student is on track with their studies. Using her primary instrument of cello and her background in piano, Francesca has worked with musicians of all kinds, including singers, trumpeters, cellists, and pianists.
The Adaptive Music Program started about 14 years ago when the Community School saw an opportunity to widen access to the arts. Then-Dean Robert McAllister initiated the conversation with Francesca about a program devoted to helping students with learning differences take music lessons and partake in music education. With mentorship and consultation from the world-renowned music therapist Anita Louise Steele MT-BC, Francesca launched the program.
With her professional musician mother and grandmother as inspiration, music education became a part of Francesca’s life and career. She began her piano studies at age five and cello at age 10.
She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with a Certification in Music Therapy from California State University at Long Beach. With her training complete, she understood the power that music education held. She is passionate about the importance of the arts for students with special needs.
On the significance of arts education, she explains:
“Learning through music can help the student to have increased self-esteem which can help the person to generalize this feeling to other areas of their daily lives. For students with challenges of speech communication, the process of learning music and performing promotes their social voice of communication with their family, friends, and community.”
With her passion for arts education, training in music therapy, and skills for teaching special needs students, Francesca is uniquely positioned to provide access through the Adaptive Music Program.
Grace not only learns music theory, develops her keyboard skills, and continues to compose her own original melodies, but she also is seen as a complete human being, she is heard through music, and her very existence is affirmed through this important relationship. Olivia Rosewood, mother of Adaptive Music Program participant Grace
Grace not only learns music theory, develops her keyboard skills, and continues to compose her own original melodies, but she also is seen as a complete human being, she is heard through music, and her very existence is affirmed through this important relationship.
The program has allowed students with special needs to experience the joys and benefits of the performing arts. Olivia Rosewood, mother of Adaptive Music Program participant Grace, shared with us the challenges that her daughter faces and how Colburn has opened the door to Grace to experience the performing arts. Olivia notes that “Grace is without speech, and her other abilities are also impacted by her challenge. She has global partial paralysis, also called quadriplegia, along with other issues, all related to the chief diagnosis of cerebral palsy.” However, despite the communication obstacles, it was “clear music would be a way to reach Grace’s spirit unlike any other.”
After joining the Adaptive Music Program, Grace found a connection to Francesca through music. Through this connection, Olivia has witnessed that “Grace not only learns music theory, develops her keyboard skills, and continues to compose her own original melodies, but she also is seen as a complete human being, she is heard through music, and her very existence is affirmed through this important relationship.”
Even during the pandemic and quarantines, Grace’s piano lessons with Francesca continue to have great impact. “Grace looks forward to her sessions with Ms. Bori, and readily engages with her as if they were in person,” Olivia said. “The huge smiles, blowing kisses, speaking in music: all of this has somehow continued between them across the great digital distance of our pandemic. It is safe to say that Grace’s sessions with Ms. Bori have been the one constant source of joy and continued development since March of 2020.”
Encouraged by the positive impact of the Adaptive Music Program for special needs students and their families, Francesca is excited about the future of the program. She hopes to reach more students with the program both by her network of educators and from word of mouth.
The Community School is grateful for Francesca and her commitment to access to education and inclusion through the arts. Aside from providing an exemplary service to students and families, leading the Adaptive Music Program has been and continues to be personally and professionally rewarding for her:
“It is most fulfilling to work with and to watch all of the students work towards their goals. Whether it is achieving a performance goal or a different musical goal in the classroom, it is very rewarding to see. There have at times been students who had spent 10 years in the program and have gone on to college.”
At the Community School, we are consistently reminded of the dedication and passion of our teachers. Francesca embodies the mission of Colburn. She is dedicated to providing greater access to arts education and including students in the joy of the performing arts.
For parents of special needs students, do not let learning differences stop your child from experiencing the wonders of music. Colburn is committed to access, and the Adaptive Music Program can help you or your child be a part of our incredible community.
Learn more about the Adaptive Music Program.
If you want to be a part of the Adaptive Music Program, submit an inquiry today!
If you have questions about the Adaptive Music Program or any other program at the Community School, please email cspa@colburnschool.edu.
To support our work in providing Adaptive Music learning, make a gift here or contact us in the Advancement office at advancement@colburnschool.edu or 213-621-4512.