New Northamptonshire Musical Inclusion Team
As part of the Northamptonshire Music Education Hub's Musical Inclusion programme, we've just established a brand new team of music practitioners.
The team recently came together, not only for an introductory session setting the scene for their activity together over the next few months, but also to be put to work running an afternoon half-term creative music workshop for some severely disabled children, their parents/carers and other family members.
Leading the training was Isabel Jones from Salamanda Tandem and Suzanne Oliver from local arts organisation and Northamptonshire Music Education Hub partner, Catalyst Theatre Arts. The main topics for discussion centred around:
- The role of being a musician in inclusion settings
- Reflection on recent practice and experiences
- Artistic ambitions
- Barriers to professional development
- The importance of tunning into the people around you
The last topic led into a short creative improvisation session tuning into the physical movements of visually-impaired dancers, Indra Slavena and Mickel Smithen.
In the afternoon, everyone had to put their skills into practice to help Isabel and Suzanne run a session with 10 severley disabled children, their parents/carers and family members. A challenging session with a vast array of different needs that the team responded to with aplomb. Parents and carers were clear that there isn't enough of this sort of activity taking place... a clear indication for the new team of the work that needs to be done going forward!
We were also lucky to be joined by some young string players from Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) who are collaborating with the team and Salamanda Tandem on a forthcoming event at Corby Cube
Our team:
Helena Frost Jon Kendall Alice Nicholls Kate Rounding Julie Wright
NMPAT String Players:
Alice Flannery James Flannery Hannah Lee and.. Harriet
Some photos to follow in a few days.