Music Education & Therapy

“The more people in the world playing music, the better the world will be … in every way …” – Jerry Riopelle, musician, inventor of the Beamz Interactive Music System

…unleashing musical expression…

People are naturally drawn to the “light” of the Beamz – which inspires physical interaction and curiosity in conjunction with making music.

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Music & Occupational Therapy Applications

Interactively assisting special needs individuals with music

Beamz is an innovative and fun musical instrument that enables special needs kids and individuals of all ages to interactively create and play music.  It is a great tool in a variety of special needs and rehabilitation applications, most notably including physical and recreational therapy with children and senior citizens, building inspiration without discouragement.

  The Beamz provides the following music and occupational therapy benefits and attributes:

  • It is instantaneously recreational and instantly gratifying. There is no “learning” to play the instrument.
  • It impossible to get anything wrong, make a mistake, or “fail,” no matter what you do.
  • It is not language-based, thus instructions are not an issue, and multi-lingual assemblies can cross language barriers.
  • It’s highly interactive. While it can be played alone, the system naturally “invites” others to join in.
  • It provides a variety of movement activity, including musical-result incentives that inspire reaching and grasping for those with limited-motion challenges.
  • Individuals in wheelchairs, using standers, walkers or crutches may all participate. Medically fragile persons in facilities or rehabilitating at home may all play the Beamz.
  • The Beamz can either a very calming effect, or a very rousing effect – depending!
  • The Beamz works as an excellent “reward” tool.
  • The Beamz can help schools comply with Title I requirements and/or receive IDEA funding.

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Educational Applications

Interactively engaging kids of all ages into music

Beamz is an innovative and fun musical instrument that brings kids of all ages into the experience of creating and playing music. It is an authentically “cool” instrument and engagement tool for teachers to bring their students into music in an extraordinary way.

 The Beamz provides the following music education benefits and attributes:

  • It is forever intriguing to students and tends to command the complete attention of 100% of individuals in any room, immediately.
  • While there is no “learning” to play the instrument and can be played very well instantly, with practice there are infinite levels of growth attainable.
  • The system is 100% inclusive: it is impossible to get anything wrong, make a mistake, or “fail,” no matter what you do. No student need ever feel inferior to another player.
  • The Beamz works as an excellent incentive or “reward” tool for students.
  • It’s highly interactive. While it can be played alone, the system naturally “invites” others to join in.
  • The Beamz have the unique capability of either having a very calming effect, or a very rousing effect – depending!
  • The Beamz interfaces easily with SmartBoard, classroom PCs and projectors.
  • The Beamz can help students take on class-leadership roles (i.e. one person “leads” with the Beamz while others play other instruments).
  • The Beamz have proven to have incalculable applications for educators with students with special needs in Occupational and Music Therapy settings (including students with cognitive challenges and limited mobility).
  • The Beamz can help schools comply with Title I requirements and/or receive IDEA funding.

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“If you put the Beamz in a room with people playing conventional instruments, the audience would all gravitate to the Beamz. The Beamz System is the world’s best recreational instrument. The results are instantly impressive and instantly completely enjoyable …” – Barry Bittman, CEO, Yamaha Institute of Health and Wellness

Recent TV Spots – Education

Channel 12 – Phoenix, AZ – School Solutions
Kim Covington – Lead Reporter, School Solutions: interview with Jerry Riopelle, Beamz inventor & Diane Ray, Director, Special Education – Phoenix Union High School District
“Beamz Usage in Phoenix Union High School District”
October 2, 2009

Interviews

Phoenix Union High School District – Phoenix, Arizona
Louis Kiereopoulos, Technology Educator, Special Needs

Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Rachael Lyndon, Teacher
“Beamz Applications & Benefits” – November 2009