About A Special Need For Music
Created For Students With Special Needs
Students with special needs are capable, curious, and eager to grow, yet opportunities to participate in music programs that truly include them are limited. Too often, these students are left on the sidelines or offered modified or watered-down lessons.
With A Special Need for Music, we change that. Our program is a teaching method designed for individuals with disabilities. It gives students a place to actively engage in music, experience success, and enjoy collaboration with their peers.
Our goal isn’t simply to teach music.
Our goal is to create experiences that empower students, celebrate their abilities, and build confidence and belonging.
Not Just For Students
As a part of our hand drum group, students work towards a performance experience where they can showcase their abilities like never before.
For parents and loved ones, this might be the first time they get to see their child perform in a group setting, contribute to a shared musical moment, and experience the pride and joy that comes from being part of something together.
Check out our videos page for past concerts and to hear testimonials from real participants and their families.
Empowering Music Teachers
Including music in education has many documented academic benefits, including supporting speech development, improving coordination, and supporting learning in other subjects.
Our program provides a foundation for teachers and includes the following benefits:
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Fun, exciting educational activities
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Easily adjusted for any student ability level
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Adapts to state standards and learning goals
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Works for all age groups
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Empowers student leadership
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Connects to life skills
Check out our sample lessons to see how our program can change your classroom.
The Candy Man Maracas Lesson with Mr. Howell Special Need for Music
Jim Howell, M.Ed., B.M.E.
Jim Howell is the band director and music teacher at Osnaburg Local Schools in East Canton, Ohio. He started teaching in 1998 at Chagrin Falls EVSD in Ohio. In 2009, while teaching at Claymont City Schools in Uhrichsville, Ohio, Mr. Howell began developing a teaching method that includes a performance ensemble for students with special needs at the middle and high school levels. This ensemble provides opportunities to students who did not have a chance to participate in a musical performance in the past, and has evolved into a great source of pride for participants and their families.
Mr. Howell has led music groups at Advocates for Success, an organization that provides life skills training and vocational programs for adults with disabilities in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He has also developed a music program at GentleBrook, an organization that provides adult disability services in Hartville, Ohio.
Mr. Howell is the author of the book A Special Need for Music and is the creator of the online lesson program Learn With Drums. Mr. Howell and his students were featured in the documentary film “922 From Academic Watch to Academic Wow!” and have appeared several times in the Times Reporter Ohio newspaper.
Mr. Howell has presented his teaching methods at professional conferences for both special education and music educators, such as:
• High Impact Conference for Educators 2025
• Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conference 2025
• Stark County Educational Service Center “Music Educator Network” 2025
• Milestones National Autism Conference 2024
• Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conference 2024
• OCALICONLINE 2023
• Milestones National Autism Conference 2023
• Ohio Music Education Association District 8 Mini-Conference 2023
• Texas Autism Conference 2022
• Milestones National Autism Conference 2022
• OCALICONLINE 2021 Artist Spotlight
• Milestones National Autism Conference 2021
• OCALICON 2019
• Ohio Music Education Association District 8 Mini-Conference 2013
In 2020, Mr. Howell became a Toca Percussion Artist. He was also selected to be on the Milestones Conference committee in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Mr. Howell received the “Better Together Award” from the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities in 2022.
Mr. Howell holds a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Ashland University and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University.