“Hi, my name is Yanni.”

In the Spring of 2019, I had the privilege of taking the course, “Teaching Exceptional Music,” where I volunteered once a week at Park School. In particular, I worked with ages 18-22. I was particularly interested in a student named Yanni. Yanni is shy and doesn’t talk. But when he does warm up to you, he gives you the biggest smile. Other times, if he is uninterested, he’ll just sit in his rocking chair and fall asleep or lay on the ground.

To be honest, I was skeptical at first if he’d ever participate in a music class. However, my skepticism quickly went away as I was introduced to many creative tools and technologies that helped me engage with students who might not otherwise be able to learn music in the traditional way.

Yanni, for example, only likes to enjoy music by playing the drums with a mallet over and over again. Yanni made me realize that music is for all, and that if a student is not interested, it’s up to me to find a way to engage them in the way that would interest them. I enjoyed working with Yanni so much that I wrote a poem about him, imagining what he would be thinking if he were able to speak.

I’m so thankful for the experience of being able to observe and experience working with students who need special education.