533 | #Inspiring Minds 13: Accessibility by Design: Musical Instruments in Student Hands

from GradCast · host Maris Schneider, Anthony Cruz, Mark Ambrogio, Scott Walters, Ryan Baxter, Maria Khan, Garth Casbourn, Riya Sidhu, Sarah Bidinosti, Chrishma Perera, Bruno Mesquita, Kirstyn Seanor, Mohammed Zeratti

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Ran Jiang, a PhD candidate in Music Education, in Western's Don Wright Faculty of Music. In her research, Ran explores how certain norms sometimes go unquestioned in music; especially, by non-disabled people. Music-making is sometimes associated with an "ideal" body, such as having above-average dexterity. In her field work, Ran works with secondary school students in China who use computer software and DIY electronics to expand what musical instruments are and who they are for. In their conversation, Ryan, Mark, and Ran also discuss piano music and what it is like at Western's music faculty, as a place for research in music, music-making, and as a community. Ran's supervisor is adam patrick bell, who, in addition to teaching at Western, is also the Canada Research Chair in Music, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

What this episode covers

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Ran Jiang, a PhD candidate in Music Education, in Western's Don Wright Faculty of Music. In her research, Ran explores how certain norms sometimes go unquestioned in music; especially, by non-disabled people. Music-making is sometimes associated with an "ideal" body, such as having above-average dexterity. In her field work, Ran works with secondary school students in China who use computer software and DIY electronics to expand what musical instruments are and who they are for.In their conversation, Ryan, Mark, and Ran also discuss piano music and what it is like at Western's music faculty, as a place for research in music, music-making, and as a community. Ran's supervisor is adam patrick bell, who, in addition to teaching at Western, is also the Canada Research Chair in Music, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026Produced by Mark Ambrogio and Ryan BaxterTheme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

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533 | #Inspiring Minds 13: Accessibility by Design: Musical Instruments in Student Hands

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This episode is 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 13, 2026.

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