Quora Music Room: ‘Students Are Discovering New Passions’
Quora Secondary School scholars. “I love to see our scholars engage in experiences that cause them joy,” says principal Kristin Salava.
Each year, the 916 Education Foundation holds a fundraising Gala. Back in 2017, the focus was to raise resources to elevate the Quora Secondary School music program.
Elevate, they did. Attendees of the Gala donated more than $15,000. “We immediately put that to good use,” says Kristin Salava, principal of Quora and WELS North. The school bought sound insulation for the music room, music recording software, and electric guitars and an electric drum set, among other things. What started as a club for guitar lessons is now becoming a music program.
Quora Secondary School is a school in Little Canada that educates scholars in grades 7-12+ who have educational disabilities in the areas of emotional behavioral disorders (EBD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD), and certain low-incidence disabilities. Music quickly became a popular elective at the school among the scholars. Kristin says that many people helped make the dream come true. For example, Tom Coughlin, a Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District employee, started offering guitar lessons during clubs and now offers guitar and keyboard lessons throughout the week.
Since then, music has become a popular elective. Why? “The appeal of music seems to go across all ages, all disabilities and all cognitive levels,” Kristin says. “With music, there aren’t barriers.”
What effect does music have with young people in special education? “We have scholars who are rigid and do not like change,” Kristin says. “Music helps them find there are other things they can do. It helps them discover new passions.”
Scholars, too, are paying the program forward. A former scholar loved to play the guitar and taught other scholars how to play the guitar. The scholar’s family gave the school donations for more music items, so he very much lives on.