WMU marching band members teach music to CDS consumers
United Sound is an organization that allows WMU students ("mentors") to teach adults with disabilities ("musicians") how to play instruments. United Sound is a national organization where middle schools, high schools and universities can register as a chapter for their location. United Sound at WMU was started in 2021, but the organization as a whole has been around for longer. All "mentors" volunteer for United Sound, and work alongside CDS to gain more musicians and use the facilities on some weekdays for our sessions. Each musician meets for 1 hour a week with their mentor(s) and work on playing notes, rhythms and playing along with fun songs.
About half of WMU United Sound mentors are in the Bronco Marching Band, but it is not a requirement for any of our mentors to be a music major or be a member of the BMB.
"For me personally, I am a 3rd year music education major at WMU so I originally joined three years ago with the mindset of gaining experience for future teaching in schools and accommodating my teaching styles for certain abilities with students," said Gabi Stout, Vice President of United Sound WMU.
At the end of each semester, United Sound hosts a recital at the WMU Dalton Center that features consumers from CDS.