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
May 22: BHMA opens at noon to residents
May 23: Summer extension begins
May 30: Memorial Day - no day program
July 4: Independence Day- no day program
August 26: Summer ensemble concert
September 6: Fall semester begins
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.
