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WHO WE ARE

Life Skills, Vocation, Music & Arts

Berkshire Hills Music Academy is a unique college-like program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are looking to expand their social, vocational, and life skills in a music-infused environment.

Questions about BHMA?
Email admissions@berkshirehills.org or submit our inquiry form: 

THE VALUE OF MUSIC

Music uniquely stimulates all areas of the brain, promoting significant opportunity for enhanced learning and retention. Our highly trained staff employs the therapeutic value of music to help students, regardless of experience or aptitude, improve and increase:

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PHYSICAL ABILITIES

Gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and organized muscle responses

COMMUNICATION

SKILLS

Speech, articulation, and language organization & retrieval

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

Focus, attention, and engagement

SOCIAL SKILLS
Teamwork, problem solving, and self-advocacy

STUDENT STORIES

Carly Ziemba

Since graduating from BHMA’s two-year program in 2017, she has focused on expressing herself through dance, art, and music as part of the LIVE Program.

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Carly Ziemba in her Trader Joe's uniform holding up a jar of pasta sauce in the middle of a grocery store aisle.
Jack Ryan

“I’m good at dates,” declares second-year student Jack Ryan with conviction.

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Jack Ryan, wearing a red zip-up sweatshirt, looks down at his hands as he plays with a bright purple ball; a Circles rainbow is visible in the background.
Jen Barrett

As a member of the Ascending Artist Program, Jen makes a range of creations and earns a paycheck from sales at art shows, local businesses, and our online marketplace.

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Jen Barrett holds a camera to her eye and photographs a flowering plant in a greenhouse.
Mark Palardy

Mark, who has Noonan syndrome and experiences hearing loss as well, is passionate about music, and his schedule is centered around using it as a means of employment.

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Mark Palardy, wearing a blue plaid button-down shirt, smiles at the camera as he sits at the keyboard.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming Public Performances:
Every Friday: Variety Hour at 2:00pm
 
December 5th- Woodwind Group 12:15 pm–1:30pm at The Springfield Museums
December 6th- Jazz Ensemble and Jeremy at the South Hadley Holiday Stroll 5:00- 7:30pm
December 8th- Yarde Tavern in South Hadley: Ethan from 4:00-5:00pm, Mark & Michael from 5:00-6:00pm
December 8th- Emily and Franklin 12:00-2:00pm at the Holiday Open House and Festive Market at Wistariahurst Museum​
December 12th- Sax Master's Concert at 1:30pm BMC Performance Hall
December 13th- Mark, Tori & Jeremy 12:00-1:30pm at The Springfield Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees
December 15th- Yarde Tavern in South Hadley: Emily and Franklin from 4:00-5:00pm, Marco and John from 5:00-6:00pm

December 19th- Classical Ensemble from 12:15-1:30pm at The Springfield Museums
December 20th- Winter Ensemble Concert 6:00pm
 
Past Public Performances: Click here to view!
All videos were filmed & edited by South Hadley Community Television

Check Us Out on Instagram

INSTAGRAM UPDATES

HIRE OUR PERFORMERS

BHMA’s music vocation program supports the goals and talents of its aspiring and professional musicians. Sharing their passion on stage raises visibility, promotes acceptance, and changes perceptions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Music Instructor Joel Turcotte plays the piano.
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SUPPORT BHMA

Your contributions fund our life skills, vocation, music, and arts programs today, and create opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the future. 

CONNECT WITH BHMA

Join Our Mailing List! 

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