The start of the new school year brought many changes. New students, new teachers, and this year, a new class. Adapted Music is a class now offered to the special education students at Hudsonville. Craig Vanderwall, the high school’s band teacher, started the class after Eagle Claw, a percussion group he created for the students a couple of years ago, was extremely successful. An opening in Vanderwall’s schedule made for the perfect opportunity for a new class. Although the class is taught by Vanderwall, it’s lessons aren’t limited to band.

The students experience many forms of music first hand as they learn and participate in band, choir, and orchestra. Giving them the chance to be popstars, violinists, drummers, and much more. They make all sorts of music, going from playing rock and roll on the electric guitars to singing musical tunes on stage. “We just try to explore as many types of music as we possibly can,” says Vanderwall. Often on Fridays they visit the orchestra or choir room and make music with the other students and their teachers.

At the band concert on October ninth the class made it’s schoolwide debut. After the concert band played their songs the adapted music class students lined up on stage and sang the song “A Million Dreams” from the movie The Greatest Showman while encouraging the audience to sing along with them. From outside the auditorium the sound of over a hundred voices singing was ringing throughout the halls. The adapted music class brought joy to the audience, and it was an experience for the students themselves.

Vanderwall plans to take the class, just like his other classes, on trips. At the end of the last school year he took the Eagle Claw group to Chicago. They shopped and walked around the city, and then played their drums outside of the Navy Pier. One trip in the works for this year is a performance at a Grand Rapids Rise volleyball game. Expect more trips and performances from this class in the future.