Adaptive music education · Jacksonville, FL
Every student can make music. I teach the ones most programs leave out.
I'm Kate DePalma, a practicing ESE music teacher with a Master of Music Education. I write my own adapted curriculum because the tools my students needed didn't exist. Now I'm building them.
General music classrooms have a dozen polished tools. My students have almost none.
Most music software assumes a student can read the screen, respond in a split second, and shrug off a mistake. Many of my students can't do one or more of those things.
They still deserve real music education: steady beat, high and low, loud and soft, melody, and the joy of getting it right. Everything on this site comes from figuring out how to give them that, one lesson at a time.
My approach
Four principles behind every lesson I teach and everything I build.
Access comes first
Adaptations are designed in from the start, never bolted on for one student after the lesson already exists.
Success before speed
Generous response time and errorless learning build confidence first. Challenge comes once a student is ready for it.
Real music, not busywork
Every student works on the same core concepts as their peers: beat, pitch, dynamics, melody, tempo, harmony.
Every student is a musician
Not a participant or a visitor to music class. A musician, with a sound worth growing.
Introducing SoundQuest
A music game built so virtually any student can play it.
SoundQuest is a real game, with missions, challenges, setbacks, and retries, that teaches real music. Every part of it can be adjusted for the student playing, starting with the students most tools forget.
Each player grows one avatar that stays with them for life, at school and at home.
Accessibility settings
Change anything, anytime
Work with me
For families and for the programs that serve them.
Adaptive private lessons
In-home lessons for students with IEPs, autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other learning differences. Violin specialist, with piano, guitar, ukulele, drums, theory, and songwriting.
Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker, and Nassau counties
Book a free 15-minute callMusic education consulting
For nonprofits, arts organizations, and programs that want music to include every learner: adapted curriculum design, inclusive program planning, and professional development for teaching artists.
In person in Northeast Florida, or remote
Start a conversation"Kate instilled a lifelong love of music in my son. He began as a beginner elementary student and grew into one of the top performers in his high school music program."
One free adapted music lesson, every month.
Ready-to-use lessons for ESE and inclusive classrooms, plus first access to SoundQuest playtests. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
About Kate
I'm a professional violinist and music educator in Jacksonville, Florida. By day I teach music to students in exceptional student education. Most of what I use with them, I wrote myself.
I hold a Master of Music Education from Florida International University, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Florida, and a BA in Music and Public Policy from the University at Albany. I co-founded Bold City Remix, serve on the board of the Jazz Discovery Series, and advise Artistic Journeys International.
Read my full story