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HeartBeats

Using Music to Build Community and Contribute to Well-Being

A collection of colorful percussion instruments displayed on a round, marble-patterned drum. The set includes a green egg shaker, two purple maracas, a black-handled mallet with a foam head, a blue wrist jingle bell strap, and a pair of yellow castanets.

🎯 Project Focus: For centuries, music has served as a powerful tool for connection, healing, and engagement. HeartBeats builds on this rich history by providing a safe space to engage and socialize through music-making experiences that encourage sharing and connection. Developed by School of Music faculty, this initiative gives students the opportunity to engage as "citizen artists" with individuals who have developmental disabilities. UNO students serve as citizen artists as they move beyond the concert stage to connect with their community in non-traditional spaces.

💡 Why It Matters

  • Music improves well-being: Research shows that music engagement enhances emotional regulation, reduces loneliness, and improves cognitive function.
  • Community access to the arts is imbalanced: Communities that have historically faced barriers, such as the disability community, often have limited access to culturally relevant resources and support.
  • Experiential learning strengthens student’s skill set: HeartBeats empowers students through education and experience beyond the walls of the classroom and allows them to apply theoretical learning to practical applications.

🚀 Key Initiatives

  • Student-Centered Music Residencies
    • UNO School of Music students and faculty lead five nine-month residencies at Duet and UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute.
    • Programming is adapted for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Community Partnerships
    • Duet and UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute support individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs. UNO faculty, students and community partners work in tandem to support participants through music engagement.
    • WhyArts provides access to inclusive arts education and serves as a resource and model to HeartBeats.
  • Training and Professional Development
    • HeartBeats leverages student knowledge and experience with partner training and feedback.
    • HeartBeats prepares students to adapt and engage with a variety of listeners and participants, an essential skill in today’s evolving musical ecosystem

📈 Impact Goals

  • Expand music engagement opportunities for individuals with disabilities
  • Give over 200 School of Music students the tools and opportunity to engage with the disability community through interactive music-making.
  • Develop an online HeartBeats toolkit to share curriculum resources, music libraries, and best practices.
  • Enhance UNO’s reputation as a leader in the Arts in Health field, music education, and community engagement.