A group of 160 freshmen engineering students and 12 sophomore music education students participated in an interdisciplinary project to imagine, design and adapt musical instruments for seven Stone Spring Elementary School students with varying physical and cognitive disabilities.

The music education students met with and observed their young clients, assessing their interests, goals, needs and abilities. The engineering teams then used the music education students’ notes to inform the design of their instruments.

Heather Eberly, the music teacher at the Harrisonburg elementary school, is thrilled with the impact that the instruments are having on her students. “It’s a great opportunity for these students to really be able to shine and have something just for them.”

Read more in the Fall print issue of Madison.