Vision
The vision of Tsad Kadima’s Arcana project is to enable people with complex physical disabilities to experience, for the first time in their lives, the expansive, melodic and normative joy that comes with playing a musical instrument – in this case the adapted Arcana. And, to share their music in ensemble groups with the wider community, thus promoting greater inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities.
Activity
The “Arcana” is an instrument that enables people with complex physical disabilities to experience and create music. The Arcana has harmonic and melodic capabilities, a joystick and keys that act as the frets and chords and buttons that cater to different levels of abilities. The Arcana is also equipped with switches and handles that enable people to play the instrument with their feet or heads.
This project takes place at the Tsad Kadima Adult Day Centers in Jerusalem, Rishon Lezion and Ness Ziona and at the Tsad Kadima Special Education High School, also in Rishon Lezion.
Youth and young adults with disabilities partake in weekly Arcana music lessons and will also Arcana ensembles who, in addition to their weekly lesson, focus on rehearsing music to be performed in the wider community.
Sadly, some of our participants still suffer emotionally due to the ongoing war in Israel – this accessible music project helps boost their moods, enables them to focus on and succeed in confronting challenges and most importantly, enables them to express themselves through the universal language of music – thus improving their self-confidence and overall mental health and emotional wellbeing.