MUSIC: NOT IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT

Carter G. Woodson High School, located in Fairfax, Virginia, currently serves as the only high school in the Fairfax County Public Schools district to offer a deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) program. Over the past two school years, Woodson Orchestras have been working with our DHH students and staff to create meaningful experiences and quality access to music for Woodson High School’s deaf and hard of hearing community.

Last year, we partnered with a nonprofit Music: Not Impossible (M:NI) to provide harnesses that transmit live waves of sound into a series of vibrations felt throughout the body. We were able to lease 15 M:NI vibration harnesses for an orchestra dress rehearsal during the school day. We have expanded our efforts this year and were able to provide 20 M:NI vibration harnesses at our Woodson Orchestras Fall Masquerade Concert this past October. At this concert we were able to invite DHH community members from Canterbury Woods and Frost Middle School, which also provide deaf and hard of hearing programs.  

Woodson Orchestras will also be presenting this story and sharing a live performance to music educators throughout the state at this year’s Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in Norfolk, VA on Friday, November 21st. Unlike other vibration harnesses on the market, the M:NI vibration harnesses can transmit multiple live waves of sound to provide a full ensemble experience throughout the body. For many students and staff members of our DHH community, this was the first time they had authentically experienced a live music performance. The response was touching, as tears of joy, laughter and dancing filled the Woodson auditorium. 

We hope to continue to provide awareness and opportunity that will not only impact our DHH community within the Woodson pyramid, but that will over time inspire a culture in music that seeks to provide opportunities such as these throughout the world. The message we share is that music is for everyone, and it is our responsibility to inquire and develop ways to provide access to quality music experiences that reach the varying needs of all society members.