I recently had a unique opportunity to see music work its magic with a very special group of people. When my sister-in-law, Mary, called and asked for advice about putting a music video together with “her kids at the school,” I thought it quite peculiar. You see, Mary works as a physical therapist at a school for special needs individuals. The students at Echo School in South Holland have many physical and/or mental issues that make learning extremely challenging.
So, when I heard that they had learned a song from the band Train called “50 Ways To Say Goodbye,” I was flabbergasted. This is a song that has verses packed with lyrics, and a tempo that requires quite a swift delivery of those lyrics. How can these kids be pulling this off?!
When I arrived at the school, I found seven people vocalizing, moving to rhythm, and playing percussion instruments. Mary told me that a few of these folks are selectively mute, and they will only communicate through song. She told me that the young man singing has a better speech pattern when he is singing than when he speaks. She told me coordination and motor skills are a hurdle for most of them; yet I see a boy hitting a bass drum and a girl tapping a tambourine in near perfect rhythm.
The magic I witnessed by the students that day won’t soon be forgotten. They, along with the helping hand of music, defied the odds that have been placed against them. With music they did overcome, and I saw it.
