Community Music Practice: Working with Disabled People and Young People with Special Educational Needs

Community Music is a term used to describe an approach to music that is inclusive and participatory. This can operate both therapeutically and educationally, but as a field has its own rich history and culture. This course focuses on working with Disabled People and young people with Special Educational needs. We’ll explore some of the disabling barriers these groups face, as well as physical, cognitive and learning challenges, and how creative and participatory music sessions can benefit them. Community Musicians work with both young and older people who face a wide range of life challenges – using music as an effective tool to combat illness, disability, isolation, education difficulties, behavioural problems, offending and many more issues. Taking part in meaningful group activities is increasingly evidenced as a positive and productive way to overcome such challenges. This workshop investigates how to best facilitate meaningful and effective music experiences for Disabled People and young people with Special Educational needs. This includes those who experience:. Learning difficulties. Autism/Asperger’s . Physical Disabilities. Cognitive and sensory difficulties. Mental health needs Community Music Practice can take many forms – singing in a choir, making beats on a computer, improvising as a group, exploring technology as a means to self-expression, songwriting, soundscape work and more. Each different way of engaging with music can have personal, social and collective benefits. To gain the greatest benefit Community Music interactions need to be led by people with a range of musical, communication and other skills, as well as an understanding of the context , and the people you are working with. This workshop will enable you to develop your own skill set, as well as providing a range of activity tools that can facilitate Disabled People and young people with Special Educational needs who face challenging