Research Proposal:

I am not familiar with a lot of deaf culture. I do not know much about the proper terminology surrounding

the culture, the treatment options, or the ways that music may be taught or accepted within the culture.

For these reasons, I am interested in researching musics place in the deaf culture. How can I teach music

to students who are deaf of hard of hearing? How can I respect the deaf community while teaching music

to deaf students? Do cochlear implants and other assisted hearing devices impact the way I should teach

music to deaf students?

Over 75% of deaf or hard of hearing students are mainstreamed in public education programs.

(Antia,2013) Based on this statistic, it is impossible to believe that no deaf or hard of hearing students will

ever be in a music classroom. I think that because music appears to obviously rely on "hearing" music, the

possibility of having a student who is hard of hearing or deaf seems minimal to beginning teachers.

However, it is important to remember that all students deserve a music education experience, all

students need a way to express themselves (maybe through music), and all students can enjoy music. The

saying "all students can enjoy music" is interesting because it does not define how a student can enjoy

music. Because music can be expressed and felt in many ways, there is a way for every student to

experience music in a general music classroom. Through this research, I hope to learn more about how

deaf and hard of hearing students experience music in a general music classroom.

In my music education classes, we have briefly discussed teaching students who are deaf or hard of

hearing within a music classroom, but have not discussed at great length what the job entails. Through

this research, I hope to also become more familiar with certain teaching techniques that I may use in

order to assist students with their needs in the classroom.

Resources:

Antia, S. (2013). Deaf and hard of hearing students in the mainstream. Raising and Educating Deaf
Children: Foundations for Policy, Practice, and Outcomes. Retrieved from
http://www.raisingandeducatingdeafchildren.org/2014/01/01/
deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-students-in-the-mainstream/

This online journal entry aims to provide information about teaching students who are deaf and hard of
hearing to educators. The article discusses issues such as academic and social integration and support for
students who are deaf and hard of hearing in the classroom.

Darrow, A. (1993). The Role of Music in Deaf Culture: Implications for Music Educators. Journal of

Research in Music Education,41(2), 93-110. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3345402

This study discusses the role of music within deaf culture and the implications this might have on music
education for deaf and hard of hearing students. Through a series of steps, the study works directly with
the deaf culture to analyze the importance pf music and provides quotes from educators on the issue.

Darrow, A.-A. (2007). Teaching students with hearing losses. General Music Today, 20(2), 27-30.

https://doi.org/10.1177/10483713070200020107

This article shares helpful information relating to teaching music to students with hearing losses. Largely,
the article discusses general music education and how the curriculum can be adapted to fit the needs of
students
who are deaf or hard of hearing. The author argues that students who are heard of hearing or deaf learn
best through active
participation in a creative setting.

Hash, P. M. (2003). Teaching instrumental music to deaf and hard of hearing

students Research and Issues in Music Education, 1(1), 8. Retrieved from ERIC database.

(Accession No. EJ852403)

This article discusses some issues behind teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing; most of
which stemming from a lack of understanding and knowledge from educators. The article aims to educate
readers about terminology and teaching methods that educators may find helpful when teaching
students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Lyn, Manuela, S.-J. P.-W. (2009). Strategies for working with children with cochlear implants.

Music Educators Journal, 96(1), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432109341274

The article discusses certain considerations music teachers might take into account when teaching
students with assistive hearing implants. Specifically, the two authors discuss considerations relating
to the child's perception of musical elements, auditory development, individualized education programs,
recordings that emphasize large ensembles, and spectral capacities and external components of the
cochlear implant.