Beamz in Ganado, Navajo Indian Reservation

In Early August of 2009, Jerry’s assistant Becky Byrkit visited students and staff at the Ganado Unified School District in the Navajo Nation, AZ. She’d arranged the visit through its occupational therapist who had previously attended a Beamz demo and purchased two sets for work in OT settings and with the music (band) classes. Since the district’s four schools sit together on the same “campus,” Becky was able to demonstrate the Beamz for kindergarteners, in the intermediate school library, to fourth and fifth graders, and the middle school’s beginning and advanced band classes.

According to Occupational therapist Noelani Hong, the ALL students were  intrigued by the versatility, creativity and unique method for playing and composing music through this system.  Moreover, students with disabilities were able to participate immediately and play a variety of rhythms using this system.  These students usually encounter great difficulty with playing traditional musical instruments.  The school based occupational therapy program supports access and participation for all students with special needs in the entire standards based curriculum.  This music system supports and inspires participation, creativity and learning music.  During the BEAMZ demonstration, one of the students with cerebral palsy started learning to “play the light” in a standing position while the physical therapist provided neuromuscular facilitation and postural support for increasing standing balance, weight bearing tolerance with correct posture and breathing. 

The BEAMZ Interactive Music System uses six horizontal low powered light beams, three on each side of a central upright post (like the spine of a large open book).  When the light beam is broken by using natural body movements, different sounds, rhythms and melodies can be played.  Very little strength is necessary to break the light beam.  And the beams can be broken by any part of the body, or adaptive device such as a head or mouthstick for a person with quadriplegia.  The hands, arms, feet, elbows, or head, may be used.  The horizontal beams are far enough apart to forgive extraneous motor movements. For people who are bedridden and ill, this music activity offers comfort, diversion from pain, and light exercise to prevent deconditioning.

Technology offers our clients many opportunities to participate in everyday activities.  The arts, music, dance, and poetry enrich our lives and give us hours of enjoyment.  This music system offers endless possibilities to not only able bodied persons but those of any age who suffer from amputations, post traumatic stress disorders, psychiatric illnesses, stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer and other diseases, spinal cord injuries, and visual and speech impairments.  The rhythm aspect of this system can be set at different speeds, tempos and sounds to facilitate therapy when motor coordination and timing are part of the rehabilitation goals; and thus extending the capability of the metronome.  The auditory and visual feedback facilitate motor learning.

Becky and Jerry love having the Beamz on the Navajo Indian reservation and proud that their students love them!