COVID-19 PANDEMIC: POSSIBILITIES FOR DEMOCRATIZING DISTANCE EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL MUSICAL INCLUSION PROCESS

Abstract

This is an experience report on a digital music inclusion process for blind or low vision adults from the Music Transforming Lives Project (PROMUVI) held in Baixada Santista, São Paulo, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the project's participants reported willingness to continue with virtual classes after the end of the pandemic, even with the problems of delay, reverberation, internet outages, which made the group's musical appreciation very difficult. New ways of teaching and learning increase the diversity of the ways in which music and inclusion are transmitted. This is a phenomenon that can be observed in this peculiar time of pandemic. And the most important thing during the realization of this project in a virtual way was “making music”. It can be said that PROMUVI demonstrated musicking during its rehearsals, which can also be understood as musicality in action that allows exploring the diversity of human relationships. That the close and challenging relationship established between Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Distance Learning and digital inclusion, highlights the constant need to build new forms of educational and musical practices with space for the value that this musical making has in the lives of the participants. PROMUVI will continue with virtual meetings, seeking people from all over Brazil as a form of musical inclusion, human development and providing the improvement of professionals who want to work with people with visual impairments and ICT.