Case History - Special Needs Children
Friday 13th June 2008
For the past three years, LMN has been providing eleven special schools in Tees Valley with participatory performances by a selection of some of the finest young musicians working in the UK today.
The schools told us that transport difficulties make it challenging to organise trips to cultural venues for music events, and that often concerts are not particularly suitable for their pupils. So LMN North East put together a package for them that enabled all the pupils to experience high quality live music, specially tailored to suit their needs, and performed in the familiarity of their own school surroundings.
Children and young people aged 3 - 18, with special needs including emotional and behavioural difficulties, learning difficulties, physical disabilities and autism, have been introduced to a wonderful mix of musical styles. Greek folk musicians, a flute and harp duo, British traditional musicians and an up-beat percussion duo - all have enabled the pupils to experience their special music through hands-on involvement and active listening, giving a full sense of involvement and complete enjoyment. In Summer 07, we extended by the project by incorporating day-long workshops at 5 of the schools, enabling pupils to try out an unusual range of percussion instruments and create their own music alongside the LMN musicians.
Teachers were impressed by the musicians' skills in responding to the individual needs and abilities of the children, adjusting the flow and content of the concert to ensure the best possible interaction. This included encouraging pupils to participate throughout the concerts, often spontaneously, through movement and dance, as well as by using their voices and singing. There were also hands-on opportunities to participate, for example by touching and playing instruments, as well as learning about the culture from which the music originated. Musicians also moved around the audiences, creating a rapport with individual children, particularly those with multiple and profound learning disabilities, responding sensitively to their reactions.
The headteacher at one special school told us the experience was: Not just good, but fantastic. Pupils were involved throughout the whole performance - moving and dancing spontaneously and performers responding to the children. The performers were sensitive to the needs and abilities of a very complex group of people.
The concerts brought the whole school together in a creative activity which helped to increase morale and a sense of community within the school. Feedback from the schools shows other ways in which these experiences brought benefit to the children and young people.
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The musicians' skill in encouraging the pupils to participate in musical activity helped individuals to gain in confidence and self esteem
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A child who becomes startled by music and new experiences, left the hall as usual in these circumstances, but couldn't resist returning and dancing behind the musicians. |
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The music elicited responses from some children who are normally withdrawn or hard to reach
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Specific responses noted were the reaction of children with profound and multiple learning difficulties who appeared captivated by the soft singing and gentle string playing.
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| The live performances enhanced understanding of cultures from around the world and reinforced regular learning within the school environment | It was an excellent opportunity for pupils to be able to see such a good variety of percussion instruments being played as opposed to hearing recordings and looking at pictures. It really brought it to life for everyone and their level or pleasure and enjoyment was evident. |
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Inclusion of children and young people with special needs within a whole school activity was important to many schools, ensuring that the each and every pupil had access to high quality cultural opportunities.
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Many of our children with profound and multiple learning disabilities showed real joy during the performance through laughing or their increased movements. |
The work has been funded by Arts Council England North East and the Tees Valley Community Foundation through the Local Network Fund. We are currently seeking funding to continue our work in Tees Valley.
