By Sarah Gallaher | Staff Writer
The Baylor School of Music is relaunching Oso Musical this semester after it was shut down in 2021 due to pandemic-related health concerns. The volunteer-based program allows Baylor students to lead free music classes for K-12 children with disabilities in Waco.
Dr. Kelly Hollingsworth, faculty adviser for Oso Musical, will lead music classes alongside student volunteers every Monday night in the Glennis McCrary Music Building. She said that while most student volunteers are music majors, anyone is welcome to join.
“Oso Musical is nice, because while these students learn music in their classrooms, Oso Musical has some extra materials that can be customized for students with disabilities, [like a] smaller class setting,” Hollingsworth said. “You get the Baylor student as a peer model, so you get more one-on-one attention with the hopes of increasing some social skills and some musical skills.”
Beverly Shultz, program coordinator for Oso Musical, said the program aims to teach both the children attending and the students volunteering.
“It’s partly an educational tool for them to learn how to work with the special needs population, but I think most of all, it’s a musical community outreach,” Shultz said.
Oso Musical combines fun with learning, meaning it’s a music education class rather than music therapy. Regardless, the Oso Musical website says it provides valuable experience to students looking to work in the music and education fields while teaching them how to work with people with disabilities.
With a background in music education, Shultz joined the Oso Musical team this year for the upcoming relaunch and shared her passion for the program and its mission.
“I really, really have not only a heart for music education, but for this population, because I have neurodivergent children as well,” Shultz said. “This position touched on just two things that are near and dear to me: children, special children and music education.”
Children with any type of disability can participate, regardless of their limitations.
“The class will have students at all ability levels, so some might be cognitively disabled or physically disabled, but others are not,” Shultz said. “Even the children who aren’t able to fully participate in every aspect due to their limitations will still be engaged and benefit from the musical experience.”
According to Hollingsworth, student volunteers grow in their abilities over the course of the year as Oso Musical provides an opportunity for them to develop teaching skills and lead classes.
“Baylor students serve as peer models, assistants and aides to the children, and gradually, over the course of the semester, the Baylor students will begin to teach lesson components so they can gain teaching experience in this setting,” Hollingsworth said.
Most student volunteers have not worked with children with disabilities before, and Hollingsworth said Oso Musical is a transformative experience for them.
“For the college students, it’s about courage and confidence,” Hollingsworth said. “They have the courage to participate, and it grows into confidence by the end of their season with us.”
Oso Musical is an incomparable experience for both children and student volunteers. According to Shultz, “music teaches something nothing else can.”
Oso Musical will begin weekly classes starting Sept. 18. Students interested in volunteering can reach out via email at kelly_hollingsworth@baylor.edu or visit the Oso Musical website for more information.
