LEARN MORE ABOUT BHMA
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.
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:
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.
Jack Ryan
“I’m good at dates,” declares second-year student Jack Ryan with conviction.
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.
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 17: Winter break begins
Upcoming Gigs:
Variety Hour: Every Friday at 2:00pm
December 2: Holiday Stroll at South Hadley Village Commons 5:00pm
December 3: Jazz Ensemble at Wistariahurst Museum (Holyoke) from 11:00-1:00pm
December 5: Woodwind Group at Longmeadow Country Club 8:00-8:45pm
December 7: Sound Squad at South Hadley Public Library 6:30-7:15pm
December 11: Yarde Tavern South Hadley from 3:00-6:00pm
December 12: Franklin and Tori at Catholic Women's Club of Agawam 7:00-8:00pm
December 15: Art Show at BHMA 12:30-2:30pm
December 16: BHMA
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1:00pm- "Battle of the Holidays" an original play by the BHMA acting class
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2:00pm- "A Winter Holiday Wish" the BHMA House Band's holiday program
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6:00pm- "BHMA Holiday Concert" featuring all BHMA ensembles!
December 18: Yarde Tavern South Hadley from 3:00-6:00pm
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.
