The Music Workshop for Special Needs Adults is founded on the
proposition that human potential for creativity and musical expression is not
limited by intellectual disabilities. Through cultivation of musical talent,
people with significant challenges can develop creatively and make important
contributions to the cultural and economic life of their communities.
The Music Workshop provides clients with professional musical
instrument training, professional singing training, and musical ensemble
performances. In the workshop studio, musicians master piano, keyboard, drums,
voice, and other musical instruments. They also learn how to play instruments
and sing in a musical group while the musicians play. The Workshop staff is made
up of music teachers/directors, professional musicians, and behavioral
technicians whose role it is to help facilitate this development and provide
guidance when needed. When they are ready, the Workshop clients will give
concert performances to raise additional monies for the program and to provide
extra income for themselves.
Although not restricted to, the Workshop primarily targets
disabled adults on the Autism spectrum. Many with Autism have musical splinter
skills that often times never get developed. For these disabled adults, they can
feel pride that they are professional musicians providing a needed service for
society. However, all attendees must be special needs adults. When giving performances, normal functioning musicians and
singers will perform with the attendees on occasion. When this happens, they
will specifically be identified as guest performers.
Current musicians are as follows:
Omari Kiasi-Barnes is a young man of 32 years old. He plays the keyboard. He is fairly raw as a musician but he has the ability to play with other musicians and play in rhythm. He has a moderate to severe Autism disorder. He has even written one song.
Remington Walker is a young man in his middle thirties. He sings.
Brian Rowe is a young man in his middle thirties. He plays drums and percussion
Brittny Williams is a young woman in her early thirties. She sings.
Upcoming Performances:-
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--- The Hillcrest Community Day Festival, May 3, 2025. 2300 Oxon Run Dr., Hillcrest Heights, MD. From 10 am-10:20am.
--- The Ardmore/Springdale Community Day Festival, 9222 Ardwick-Ardmore Road, Springdale, MD, June 7, 2025 at 11:40am. CANCELLED.
-- The Lake Arbor Community Day Festival, 1399 Golf Course Dr., Lake Arbor, Maryland, 20721. Time 1:30pm sharp. June 21, 2025
---- Dance Party featuring the Music Workshop. Saturday August 2, 2025, 2-4:30pm, Lake Arbor Community Center, 10100 Lake Arbor Way, Mitchellville, MD, 20721. Please register ahead of time by sending an e-mail to david.kiasi@gmail.com with your name and the name of your adult special needs child.
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----- The Greenbelt Labor Day Festival, 2025, 3:30pm, August 31 2025, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD, 20770. Parking may be a problem. Plan on getting there by 2:30pm.
Youtube videos of their performance at the Lake Arbor Community Data
Festival on June 11, 2016 are:
To contact the Music Workshop, please e-mail David Kiasi at
david.kiasi<@>gmail.com or calling (301) 335-5802.
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