Day 27

In August 2019, Cecilia England, music teacher at Cedar Springs Academy, had an idea for a dynamic music program for her students, all of whom are sensory multi-disabled. She created the Dynamic Dulcimers program, choosing a simple instrument, a dulcimer, which students would build from a kit and learn to play. Dulcimers are stringed instruments that are very popular with folk musicians in Appalachia. In April 2020, we were delighted to receive a grant for $1,200 from the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation. A month before that, the Governor closed all school campuses in South Carolina, and students transitioned to virtual learning.

After returning to in-person learning on campus in August, we ordered the dulcimer kits. In October, students began constructing their dulcimers. After construction was complete, students learned how to use the dulcimer strumming technique, how to play the melody of various songs and how to accompany a melody by playing the basic DAA chord. Instead of a recital performance attended in-person by fellow- students and staff, on November 19^th, the students performed via a live broadcast over Zoom. Students performed two songs for the Zoom audience. The dulcimers are now part of a permanent collection of instruments for use by current and future students at Cedar Springs Academy. We are extremely grateful to the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation for their generous funding of our Dynamic Dulcimers program!

The picture on the previous page shows a completed dulcimer sitting on a music stand.   The picture at the top of this page shows a student and (retired) music teacher Cecilia England practicing.

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