Osborn Middle School students demonstrate United Sound inclusive-music program to district board

Osborn Middle School students and staff presented United Sound, a peer-mentorship music program that pairs students with and without disabilities, at the final regular meeting of the Osborn Elementary District governing board for 2024.

The presentation described United Sound as a nationwide club “whose mission is to remove barriers and foster social change through music.” The presenter said the program has been at Osborn Middle School for three years and that students meet weekly during a lunch period to work through a specialized curriculum that culminates in a public performance.

The program pairs three peer mentors from the OMS band program with one new musician from a self-contained classroom. “Students who are in self contained classrooms often do not get exposed and do not have that time out with their peers to do so many of the wonderful things that make us humans humans,” said Mr. Parker, a teacher in the district’s self-contained special education program, describing why he values the partnership with the OMS band staff. He said the experience helps students build regulation skills and friendships outside the classroom.

The board watched clips and photos showing new musicians and their mentors working together. Presenters identified three new musicians featured in the clips: Mario, who worked on trombone; Jaylene, who worked on bells; and Nico, who worked on a drum pad. Mentor students who spoke about their work included Olivia, Aiden and others. The district noted that the new musicians could not attend the meeting in person and that the board viewed recorded remarks and concert footage, including a performance of “Starfire March.”

Board members and the superintendent thanked students and staff for the presentation. One board member asked how instrument assignments are chosen; mentor students explained that choice and matching are part of the program process. Several board members praised the program’s inclusive structure and suggested it models peer leadership and social-emotional skill building for other campuses.

The board did not take formal action on the program; presenters and staff said United Sound will continue at OMS and will perform at upcoming concerts. The district indicated mentor training had taken place in recent weeks and that the program is largely student-led during its weekly sessions.

The presentation included student remarks and teacher testimony to illustrate how the weekly sessions and the winter concert performance support musical skill-building, peer relationships and inclusion.