Rock Your World: Music for All Abilities

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There are many ways a person with a disability can enjoy making and listening to music.  From high-tech computer devices that simulate instruments to musicians with disabilities patenting new musical devices, anyone, no matter the disability, can get out there and get in on the melodious fun.

Use what you’ve got
Before you run out and buy an expensive adapted musical device, look into non-adapted musical instruments that you might be able to use. One such instrument that works great for those with limited finger dexterity is the harmonica. If your arms get easily tired, you can even purchase a head holder that will hold your harmonica directly in front of your mouth. You can buy a decent harmonica for $20.

If you want to play the guitar but lack the arm strength, you can make what’s called a “guitar stand.” It works by resting the bottom end of the guitar on the stand and in turn, the stand ends up holding most of the weight. Don Jaeger, the inventor of the stand, hasn’t begun selling this device, but you can visit this website to get more information: Coalition for Disabled Musicians Inc. – http://www.disabled-musicians.org.

The “universal cuff” is a plastic cuff that allows those with limited finger movement to hold various things like forks and pencils, but it can also be used to play various instruments. One can put a “universal cuff” on both hands and then insert drum sticks into each of the cuffs in order to play the drums, you can put pencils in them to play the keyboard, and you can put peg-like wooden hammers in each to play the dulcimer.