GUITAR INSTRUMENT ADAPTATIONS
Chord Buddy
South Hill Location
1305 W. 14th
Spokane WA 99204
Phone: (509) 456-0376
http://www.amendmusiccenter.com/AssistiveTechnologies.aspx
For many years AMEND MUSIC CENTER has been working on ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES. We have developed many adaptive mechanisms that have been designed to help musicians that are disabled in any manner. This includes changing fingering mechanisms, adding braces, moving existing parts, building support systems and many other physical adaptations. Our crowning achievement was brought to life by means of a Small Business Innovation and Research Grant that we were awarded by the United States Department of Education. We manufactured and developed a device that successfully takes the place of a person's disabled fingers and allows them to play a musical instrument that would normally require the use of a full set of fingers. We have named the device the AMEND MIAD (Musical Instrument Actuating Device). We have successfully completed development of MIADs for saxophones and baritones. We have plans for many other instruments and are sure that they would work to an extent at least equal to the MIADs we have already built. The following is a reprinted version of an article written for the Spokane Spokesman Review newspaper. It will give you an idea of how we believe ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES can change people's lives.
Chordmakers E-Z Chord Capo
West Music
P.O. Box 5521
Coralville, IA 52241
Phone: 800-397-9378
http://www.westmusic.com/p/chordmakers-e-z-chord-capo-for-guitar-353489
This is an adaptive device for the guitar that allows individuals to play 4 basic chords in a variety of keys, using only one finger. To change chords, push buttons at the right time. If you move the device up the fingerboard, the chords will change a 1/2 step for each fret moved.
Pick Assist
A Day's Work, LLC
2320 NE 8th Road
Ocala, FL 34470
Phone: (352) 861-0510
http://www.adaysworkmusiceducation.com/pickassists.html
The various sized knobs are beneficial as an adaptation for grasp of the pick assist. I often use them in rehabilitation of individuals having upper extremity hemiparesis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's Disease, arthritis, and general deconditioning. The graduated sizes of the knobs and pick assists, make it feasible to use with clients having small and large hands alike. The assists with knobs have made it possible for my clients to strum a guitar, an autoharp, a lap dulcimer, and pick a small lapharp. The pick assist with the dual knob variation has especially been effective with ataxic clients.
Giant Guitar Pick
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 589-3300
Giant guitar picks are 4.5" tall. Good for adaptive uses in music therapy sessions or just to look great on your desk.
