Rock Bands for All

Just Accessible Music (JAM) is forming rock bands for persons with disabilities, teens, adults and seniors. Using Figurenotes, an approach to simplifying reading music and adapting rock band instruments, beginning musicians can learn to play popular music in an hour. Figurenotes was developed in Helsinki, Finland at the Resonaari Special Music Centre and is used throughout Europe and Asia.

Kim McCord, a recently retired professor of music education and a musician with extensive experience performing in rock and jazz groups, teaches the bands. McCord is well-known as one of the top names in special music education and first brought Figurenotes and rock bands to Illinois. She recently moved to Shelton and will be teaching rock and jazz groups there.

In Illinois, she formed and taught Music Jam, rock bands for musicians with disabilities; The Grannies Band, a band for senior women in their sixties and seventies; and other rock bands for teens and adults. McCord plans to continue with these populations and will add bands for senior men and mixed groups.

Music Jam uses a variety of adaptive equipment and teaching approaches. Electronic instruments such as the Skoog, Soundbrenner and other devices help everyone to access music. Her bands have included individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing and vision loss, Williams Syndrome, Fragile X, and physical disabilities.

McCord was nominated by the YMCA as a Woman of Distinction for her inclusive rock bands and community outreach in Illinois.

Visit the Just Accessible Music web page for more information on Figurenotes and this unique approach to learning popular music at http://www.justaccessiblemusic.com

or the Facebook page that features videos of the rock bands at https://www.facebook.com/justaccessiblemusic/

Contact:

Kim McCord

kamccor@ilstu.edu

309-310-5538

8 Sylvesters Way

Shelton, CT 06484