Adaptive Musical Instruments: Developing an Organological Framework to Support Disabled Instrumentalists in Mainstream Ensembles

Abstract

New adaptive music technologies are making participation in mainstream instrumental education a possibility for many students with disabilities for the first time. However, traditional organological classification systems focusing primarily on an instrument’s method of sound production do not adequately describe these technologies, leading to uncertainty around how they are played and taught. This chapter discusses approaches to creating appropriate taxonomical languages for adaptive musical instruments combining information about their sound production, playing methods, and historical connections. These approaches can assist music educators to better understand which instruments are most su..