Rebecca Sorley (University of Indianapolis), piano
MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Oregon State Youth Authority, Woodburn, Oregon
October 22, 2009
The 16 participants, aged 14 – 19, were special needs juvenile offenders who lived in a group home inside the facility. The young men were diagnosed with a variety of special needs including autism, mental handicaps, schizophrenia, and bi-polar disorder. The group was accompanied by two armed guards and four adults. Participants were carefully chosen for this project by the facility staff.
This project introduced the participants to the music of Mozart and encouraged them to work together in order to create small performance pieces based on the composer. The young men were well prepared for the event having completed some preliminary study of the piano and Mozart before the event. Ms. Sorley performed selected piano solos by Mozart and discussed biographical details of his life. The presentation also included a recording of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, mvt. 1. The students then split into three groups: one wrote a text to the first few notes of Sonata in C Major, K.545, mvt. 1, another group wrote a short rap related to the biographical information presented at the beginning of the program, the final group completed an arrangement of the opening rhythm of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, mvt. 1 using small rhythm instruments. Each group was supervised and assisted by individual staff members and the young men were instructed to make sure that all helped in the process of forming a composition. They worked well together and were constructively involved. The groups presented their compositions in performance for one another and were extremely attentive and polite. One young man expressed that he liked listening to Mozart because it helped him calm down and made him happy. Another had done some research and asked Ms. Sorley if she knew that the piano was invented in 1720. This project proved to be a rewarding experience for not only the participants, but also the presenter.
