Musical opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities
A look at where Make Some Noise is now with one of its Music Education Hub partners, the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub and a collaboration to increase universal access to whole class music making
Music charity, Make Some Noise specialises in moving young people beyond disadvantage through music and has delivered projects for several years in Special Schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) for children with physical and mental learning difficulties (PMLD), and emotional and behavioural difficulties.
In 2012, Make Some Noise was awarded a Musical Inclusion grant by Youth Music to focus on upskilling the workforce and developing progression for children and young people deemed at risk of offending as a result of emotional and behavioural, who face barriers to accessing diverse music-making opportunities as a result of Socio-economic factors preventing participation and low activity, low engagement or low investment in their area and with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.
As a result of the grant, between 2012 and 2014, Make Some Noise prioritised and range of provision in partnership with Music Education Hubs to replicate and support good practice in Special Schools and PRUs across the Midlands.
The projects were highly successful and innovative, engaging children in high quality music making as well as developing staff skills in referral agencies, schools and community organisations. In 2014 Make Some Noise’s Musical Inclusion work in special schools and PRUs received praise and recognition in a House of Lords Debate on music education for children with disabilities. However, convincing Special Schools and PRUs to pay for the full cost of delivery has proved a barrier, owing to pressure on budgets. Click here for the latest music news on the spending review
Since the establishment of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub, a reformed partnership approach has been taken, to offer musical experiences and progression to children outside mainstream schools. Make Some Noise, a core funded partner, currently places professional and highly experienced music-technology specialists with trainees (non music-technology specialists) in schools both to deliver activity and to mentor and coach teachers and support staff in each setting. Click here for a rough guide to assistive technology. The aim is to offer accessible music making through the use of technology to more children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This two-fold approach develops the local workforce (community musicians and teachers) and increase access to music making opportunities
Special Schools targeted initially for this partnership approach, were those identified by the Hub, Arts Connect West Midlands and the National Foundation for Youth Music as being in areas of low arts engagement, and with limited opportunities for children to progress musically, socially and educationally.
By 2015, Make Some Noise developed two models, the first being long-term arts award projects for schools which were enthusiastic, but couldn’t allocate the funds. The second approach was to roll out the successful delivery model as short-term pilot projects across 12 special schools but without Arts Award. All research feed in to the hub’s local needs analysis.
A highlight of the impact from the long-term approach was working with music specialists from Two Rivers Special School in Tamworth. Pupils progressed from first access on iPads, to instruments, to performing their own music and other pieces at the 2014 Music Mark Annual Conference. Join over 80 practitioners / organisations who are discussing music making with children and young people with special educational needs disability
Gail Brindley, Headteacher at Two Rivers Special School, adds: "I appreciate that technology is at the forefront of Music education and have been delighted to welcome Make Some Noise into our school. The students have really benefitted from using a wide variety of Music technology. They have succeeded tremendously well in everything they tried which has increased their self confidence levels and their interest in music in general. In addition, with the added support of Make Some Noise staff, students have completed enough work to gain a Trinity College Bronze Arts Award in Music." For more information on Arts Award Resources available click here
To try and ensure sustainability for the work, Make Some Noise has supported Two Rivers in Tamworth primarily, but also other special schools in accessing additional funding totalling £50,000 specifically to focus on music technology.
To connect and develop the workforce, three symposiums were held to bring together the music specialists, school staff and support workers, with project partners and other experts in the field. All symposium initiatives led to invitations for specific training, consultation and project delivery with 8 other Hubs across England, including Shropshire, Telford, and Birmingham proving the need to support hubs in the field. This has also led to training and networking for over 100 support staff, teachers, musicians and session workers.
A documentary showing the journey the Two Rivers' pupils is here
Watch the full live performance at Music Mark's Annual Conference in 2014 here
All events have also attracted a wider audience and enabled Make Some Noise to share best practice at a national level through the Music Education Council’s (MEC) national S.E.N.D. forum and in a national debate as part of Musical Futures’ MufuChat.
Andrew Worrall, Chair of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub Advisory Group, said “Make Some Noise is a vital part of the music education partnership. The hub helps to give Make Some Noise a strategic context for its work while Make Some Noise gives access to high quality music education to young people in settings which other hub providers might find challenging. Most of all, for me, the showcasing of Make Some Noise activities at Hub events demonstrates to everyone that there is no barrier to young people experiencing the value of making music.”
The next year of this development is very interesting for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Music Education Hub as Make Some Noise joins forces with Entrust Music and Performing Arts (lead hub partner) to develop a first access provision for at least 30 pupils to discover the capability of large scale ensemble playing using the latest technology and apps. This iPad Orchestra project is a collaborative approach to engage some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in whole class music activities.
This development is being showcased amongst the three North West Midlands Music Education Hubs and the Hive as part of the recently awarded 3 year strategic partnership funding (Fund C) that was awarded to the Musical Communities partnership by the Youth Music. See Telford and Wrekin Music Hub's Leadership Challenge blog here