Emily Kemper | The Chronicle
One voice counts the notes in the music, a hand flips through the practice workbook, another demonstrates the finger position on an instrument, all as a new musician successfully plays a brand new note.
While a typical band or orchestra class at Mason High School (MHS) focuses on the whole rather than each individual student, personalized learning is the central focus of the United Sound music program.
United Sound is a student-led initiative that provides students with disabilities the opportunity to learn and perform music alongside their peers to learn a new instrument and form new friendships. While attending the National Concert Band Festival last March, junior Henry Hornung saw a United Sound group performing with a National Honor Band, which prompted him to bring this national program home to Mason.
Taking on the role of conductor was natural for Hornung, as he helped both to get the program approved, recruit mentors and new musicians, schedule meetings, and prepare musicians to play a piece alongside the MHS Wind Symphony during their winter concert.
“The most important part for me to plan [for each practice session] is a fun activity to start off our time instead of just [being] in this environment to learn music,” Hornung said. “A lot of those students don’t get that peer interaction with others in general, so it’s really awesome to see people just having fun, both mentors and mentees.”
When the group divides up, every student gets to work at their own pace. Hornung said that some new musicians have flown through the United Sound practice book and are consistently mastering new notes, while others are still learning how to make noise with their instrument and taking a slower pace.
Ayaka Horii-Green (standing) explains an eighth note to Jacob Liscesse (middle) with club founder Henry Hornung (right).
“Giving everybody access to music is so important,” Hornung said. “Music is something most people love, and these students haven’t had direct access to the MHS band program. No matter how good or how much they struggle with their instrument, they can still come [to United Sound,] try, learn and have fun.”
MHS junior Lucia Munoz, a mentor for United Sound said that the group lowers the barrier for entry to learning music and connecting with new peers, which is important, especially in a school as large as Mason.
“It really hit home,” Munoz said. “I have family members with autism spectrum disorder or [other] neurodivergences, so I understand how important one on one connection is [because] they learn so much faster.”
Munoz said that the winter concert has been her favorite experience so far in the program.
“The mentees afterwards were ecstatic,” Munoz said “They were all on top of the world. You dedicate a lot of your personal time to programs like [United Sound], but it helps make the school a little smaller for everyone involved.”
Munoz said that while it is easy to be passively involved in many clubs and activities, everyone in United Sound truly wants to be there. For her, the best part of the program is seeing the direct impact on the school community.
“A lot of times you hear people saying inclusive things and there’s not a lot of action behind it,” Munoz said. “But this is [a] tangible example of reaching out to a group that doesn’t normally get that kind of experience.”
While scheduling rehearsals and other technicalities have been difficult, United Sound musicians are continuing to improve and beginning to prepare for their spring concerts.
Hornung said he’s grown so thankful to everyone who’s helped him get where he is and he wants this program to remain a part of MHS forever, continuing to give students of all abilities the chance to connect, grow, and have a musical experience.
“I’m hopeful that when I leave that’s not the end,” Hornung said. “I want [United Sound} to grow within Mason, as big as we can make it.”
