April 15, 2024, Geauga County – RockAbilityⓇ, an adaptive, integrated music project for musicians with developmental disabilities, will be performing at 6:30 p.m. Wed., May 22 at the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities / Metzenbaum Center (8200 Cedar Road, Chesterland, Ohio 44026). The all-ages performance is free. T-shirts and other merchandise will be available for purchase.
RockAbility welcomes musicians with disabilities into performance-based musical projects. Participants have the opportunity to play and perform with mentor musicians who are actively performing and recording in various genres throughout Northeast Ohio. RockAbility was formed in January of 2022 and has performed in open-mic nights, local jam sessions, fundraising and special events. The group has 14 scheduled performances in 2024, including shows by ensembles as well as the full band. This May 22 performance is a full-band, two-hour show with an intermission.
Play “Spin the Wheel”
The band will play original songs and popular covers featuring well-known artists such as Elton John, Bob Marley, Beatles, Genesis, Olivia Rodrigo, Barenaked Ladies and many more. Six lucky attendees will have the opportunity to be called up to stage to play “spin the wheel” and choose the next song the band will play! If they choose the song the wheel lands on, they will receive a free RockAbility T-shirt. If not, they will get a free RockAbility bandana.
What is RockAbility?
RockAbility is a performance-based musical project which integrates musicians with disabilities with local mentor musicians. RockAbility’s mentor musicians are local artists, many of whom have life experience with someone who has a disability. RockAbility places musicians with disabilities into situations where they can bring their existing skills to a project that can help elevate everyone’s abilities. All rehearsals and performances focus on musicianship and teamwork. Participants are expected to practice their parts ahead of rehearsals, which are devoted to learning how to put songs together, collaborate, problem solve, and compromise. This is not a music education program that teaches people with disabilities how to play an instrument or to sing.
Goals
- Increase confidence
- Build community connections
- Elevate self-advocacy
- Establish & build touch-points with audiences
- Demonstrate integration in action
- Improve musical skills
- Have fun and rock out!
RockAbility exists as a quality-of-life program for musicians with developmental disabilities so they can have something productive and constructive to do. It is offered free of charge.
What RockAbility Isn’t
RockAbility is not a music instruction organization run by music teachers. We do not gather during rehearsals to teach people how to become drummers, guitarists, singers, or play any other instrument. RockAbility is not intended to be a source of income for any client musician.
Inclusion and diversity in action
Musicians with documented disabilities who want to level-up their skills while working with our mentor musicians are welcome to contact us. A successful audition demonstrating an ability to play an instrument or sing is required to participate. Space constraints prohibit the group from accepting everyone, however, the group’s non-performance track “Inside Circle” meets at Burton Public Library and Chardon Library monthly, and everyone is welcome to play there and be invited to join the full band on select songs at performances.
Mentor musicians provide guidance, suggestions, and musical camaraderie. They offer constructive suggestions to the clients who need help finding the beat, staying on pitch, or working out a few kinks in a solo. Often, mentors show up at practice early or stay late to help a client musician work on specifics. Although the emphasis is on spotlighting the musicians with disabilities, mentor musicians can step in and help carry the material as needed.
NPower Services is grateful for the support of individual donors as well as the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Metzenbaum Foundation, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Jewish Family Services Association. This undertaking would not be possible without them.
About NPower Services
NPower Services helps adults with developmental disabilities build meaningful lives by identifying and finding opportunities including volunteering, employment readiness, athletics, art, music, service projects and socialization. Learn more: https://npowerservices.com/