Student

 Background  Project:  Student  A    

 
Student  A  is  a  freshman  trumpet  player  in  one  of  the  band  classes  at  my  

placement.  After  observing  this  student  in  class  and  discussing  with  my  cooperating  

teacher  I  am  able  to  understand  more  about  her  background.    This  student  is  legally  

blind.  She  is  able  to  see  basic  shapes  in  outlines  but  can’t  make  out  smaller  details.  

This  student  plays  in  the  concert  band  and  Jazz  band  at  her  school.  This  student  also  

participated  in  marching  band,  and  marched,  in  the  fall  and  received  

accommodations  so  she  was  able  to  do  it.    

  This  student  has  a  private  teacher  who  records  all  the  music  for  her  so  she  

can  learn  it  by  ear.  In  addition  when  we  went  to  assessment  they  provided  her  with  

a  recording  so  she  could  participate  in  sight-­‐reading  with  the  rest  of  the  band.    Last  

year  when  she  played  in  assessment  they  wrote  her  part  out  in  braille  for  her  so  she  

could  read  with  the  rest  of  the  band.  While  observing  this  student  in  class,  she  was  

always  continually  engaged.    She  is  always  prepared  for  class  with  her  instrument,  

and  music  learned.    Something  else  I  noticed  that  whenever  we  took  breaks  or  there  

was  down  time,  this  student  kept  mostly  to  herself.  Lastly,  this  student  always  has  a  

positive  and  energetic  attitude  whenever  I  have  observed  or  interacted  with  her.    

  After  discussing  and  observing  this  student  I  have  come  up  with  several  ways  

that  we  might  accommodate  her  in  the  classroom.  First  off,  I  think  we  can  continue  

to  provide  for  her  is  recordings  of  all  the  music  we  are  playing  so  she  can  learn  them  

by  ear.  Something  else  we  can  do  is  put  all  of  the  music  into  braille  for  her.  If  she  

wants  a  copy  of  the  music  that  she  can  use  in  class,  there  are  programs  and  people  

who  put  music  into  braille.    

After  observing  this  student,  and  discuss  her  background,  I  am  able  to  understand  

her  better  and  accommodate  her  in  my  class.