COMPs have a particular applicability for children and adults with special needs. This is partly because of the remarkable sensitivity of so many with special needs to music generally. More than that, however, the unique approach of COMPs—with their emphasis on the altruistic use of music in a non-judgmental environment—is particularly successful in helping those with a wide spectrum of special needs.

The basic idea is very simple. We teach groups of students appropriate songs and take them into places like nursing homes to sing them with seniors. We encourage students to interact as much as possible while singing, making personal contact (holding hands, looking into their eyes), and dancing/moving with the resident.

COMPs are profoundly beneficial for those taking part.

In a general way COMPs benefit students by encouraging:

• Enhanced socialization through altruistic music-making
• A broad appreciation for music’s altruistic purpose and therapeutic function
• An appreciation of the needs of others and common bonds of humanity
• A positive self-image based on a meaningful contribution and the non-judgmental acceptance of others
• Their natural love of music and singing

More specifically, COMPs nurture musical talent by:

• Encouraging musical confidence and diminish stage-fright
• Helping with the development of aural skills
• Helping with memorization skills
• Encouraging confidence in singing and the student’s belief in his significance as a musician
• Encourage “Natural Musicianship”

One remarkable quality of COMPs is their universality. They are able significantly to enhance the lives of t hose across the entire special needs spectrum of psychological, cognitive, and physical challenges. Here are three instances.

Autism

COMPs have a special applicability for those with autistic spectrum disorder. COMPs encourage positive social interaction through the “safe” area of music (music is generally much less alienating for those with autism than regular verbal communication). From this the autistic student gains a positive experience of interactive communication which, over time, can be generalized into other areas of life. Here’s an example.

Diana is an adult with moderate autism. She joined one of our COMPs, going every week into a nursing home and singing songs with seniors. At first, her behavior was problematic. She would scarcely ever sing and would spend much of each outreach sitting in a corner of the room reading a newspaper just wandering around aimlessly. Over a period of several months, her behavior gradually changed. Through the encouragement of our volunteers, she got to the stage where she would be singing almost all the time during the outreach session and showed a remarkable willingness to interact with the nursing home residents. Over this period her care-givers have reported a significant improvement in her general social functioning.

Emotional/Behavioral Challenges

One remarkable finding of those who run COMPs is that, contrary to expectation, it can be a transformative experience for those with emotional and behavioral challenges. Here is an example.

Bradley is an eight-year-old primary school student, labeled “at-risk.” He engages in behaviors that are often anti-social and potentially damaging to himself and others. He has learning difficulties; he gets angry easily; he throws furniture; he kicks and scratches when teachers try to restrain him. On outreach in a nursing home, however, his behavior is transformed. He takes the hands of one of the residents, 82-year-old Betty, and, singing “Red Red Robin,” looks deeply into her eyes as she looks into his. He moves her hands gently as he sings, and skillfully persuades her through his approach to join in singing with him. He does all this willingly, without protest, and never needing to be policed.

Physical Challenges

So many with physical challenges benefit from COMPs.

David is a ten-year-old severely affected with cerebral palsy. He cannot walk unaided and gets around by means of crutches or a walker. He is also visually and cognitively challenged. But he loves to sing and he loves to come with us on COMPs! He learns songs with phenomenal rapidity and has built up a large repertoire remarkably quickly. Even more impressive than the speed at which he learns is the depth of his musicality. A song he learned last week sounds as though he has been singing it for years. All this is of tremendous benefit when making music in the nursing home. Even more important, though, is the fact that David loves to reach out and help others through his music. This altruistic aspiration gives his singing a special quality, an inner radiance, that draws you instantly to it. Once you hear it, it will remain with you forever.