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MC² - Mini Conference: Music-making with Neurodiverse Children and Young People

Music Spark Show

MC² - Mini Conference: Music-making with Neurodiverse Children and Young People

For this event tickets are free of charge. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

Sage Gateshead is delighted to present MC², the sixth in our series of mini-conferences for music leaders, music teachers, and educators working with children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances. MC² will include presentations and workshops exploring music-making with neurodiverse Children and Young People. Delegates will come away with new knowledge and skills for working inclusively with neurodiverse children and young people while also having the space to network with others in the sector.

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that covers a broad range of neurological differences including, but not limited to, Autism, ADHD, Dyscalculia, and Dyslexia. Recent studies have indicated that one in seven people may be classified as being neurodiverse and that there is often a lack of understanding on how best to support neurodiverse individuals across various educational settings.

Music-making has been highlighted as a valuable tool supporting neurodiverse children and young people across non-verbal communication, stress relief, and socio-emotional reciprocity. Understanding the impactful role music-making may have for this demographic, this event will enable a space for exploration to explore and consider different approaches that music leaders and educators may take when working musically with neurodiverse children and young people.

The event will begin with a keynote address delivered by Professor Adam Ockelford, ‘Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton and Co-develop of the Sounds of Intent Framework’, exploring his research into music-making with neurodiverse children and young people and the Sounds of Intent framework. Later in the event, delegates will have the opportunity to explore practical approaches to working with neurodiverse children and young people through two ‘Illustration of Practice Sessions’ led by MUSINC’s Open Orchestra programme and Sage Gateshead’s Music Spark programme.

For this event tickets are free of charge. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.

ℹ️ Useful Information

Timings:
1.15pm – 1.30pm Tea and coffee on arrival
1.30pm – 1.40pm Welcome for all delegates
1.40pm – 2.40pm Keynote: Adam Ockelford
2.40pm – 3.25pm Illustration of Practice One: Open Orchestra
3.25 – 3.35 Break
3.35 – 4.25 Illustration of Practice Two: Music Spark
4.25 – 4.30 Closing Remarks

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Adam Ockelford

Adam Ockelford

Adam Ockelford is Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton in London, having previously served as Director of Education at the Royal National Institute of Blind People. He has spearheaded a number of initiatives to improve music education for pupils and students with special support needs or abilities including the ‘Sounds of Intent‘ project, an assessment framework and freely available resource for teachers, which is highlighted in relation to the new National Plan for Music Education. A new system of national music accreditation, based on Sounds of Intent, that is open to all learners, is currently being set up in partnership with Trinity College London.

Open Orchestra

Middlesbrough Open Orchestra Team

Open Orchestra is a programme which supports young disabled people to learn a musical instrument and play with others independently, expressively and in real time. The programme is led by Open Up Music who have developed a network of over 45 orchestras across the UK, and the programme offers CPD, repertoire and access to the award winning ‘Clarion’, an instrument which can be played with any movement of the body. The programme in Middlesbrough brings together groups of young people from across two special schools in Middlesbrough. The programme consists of some small group work and 1:1 lessons within each school, and then full rehearsals take place on Friday afternoons at Middlesbrough Town Hall. The programme is a partnership between the schools, Open Orchestras and Middlesbrough Town Hall’s musical inclusion programme ‘Musinc’. Speakers from the Middlesbrough Open Orchestra team include:

  • Adam Featherstone – teacher
  • Priory Woods, Neil Thomas – teacher
  • Beverley School
  • Ben Hopkinson – music leader
  • Musinc
  • Rebecca Johnson – Musical inclusion manager
  • Middlesbrough Town Hall
  • Jonathan Westrup – Education manager
music-spark-show-2

Music Spark

Music Spark is Sage Gateshead’s music training programme for young people and adults aged 15-25 years with additional needs. The programme aims to support the young people to learn and develop their musical and leadership skills in an inclusive environment with opportunities to progress at a pace suited to the individuals. Groups are co-led with young people who have developed their music and leadership skills and are now employed by Sage Gateshead as Support Musicians. Several of the young people will be speaking at the event about their experiences of engaging in the programme.