The Role of Musical Rhythm in Teaching Basic Concepts of Mechanics to Deaf Students

Abstract

In the context of the integration of the students with special needs to the mainstream school we describe in this study the perspective to instruct basic concepts of mechanics to deaf students of Secondary Education using the rhythmic patterns of musical education in the motion elements of the art of dance. More specifically we analyze from the kinesiological viewpoint some basic dance movements using the laws of physics and physical quantities like angular acceleration, center of gravity, etc. and we underline the role of musical rhythm in the understanding and the execution of the above mentioned movements. Reviewing the relevant literature and presenting examples of specific physic concepts we support that the movements taught through dance -and their repetition with the assistance of musical rhythm in integrated dance groups- can improve the control of the posture of deaf children and therefore their psychomotor skills and the comprehension of the relative physic patterns.