Case History - Special Needs Children, John Lyons Project
Wednesday 19th August 2009
A 3 year project, with funding from the John Lyons Trust is currently taking place in London. This provides access to musicians and music of a very high quality through a continued music programme for children and young people with special needs in the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing and Harrow. Each year 18 special schools in these boroughs have access to two interactive performances a year and in addition, some of those schools benefit from more intensive workshop sessions.
In Year One, 2,645 children with special needs, staff and carers 
directly benefited from the project, with participant groups ranging from 35 to 150. Musicians were selected according to the schools' priorities and ranged from Western classical groups to 'world' groups including African, flamenco, Eastern European, Greek and Latin styles. Musicians also covered a variety of vocal, brass, wind, string and percussion combinations.
Lee Helyer, a teacher at one of the schools involved, told us:
"I have been surprised at how some of the quieter children have come out of themselves and how much they enjoy maker the louder sounds! All the kids were very excited about having the workshops and really behaved themselves and focused on the sessions. They really enjoyed working with the different types of drums. The sessions have been invaluable in building their confidence."
Sue Hardy, John Chiltern School, Ealing
The school caters for pupils who have physical and/or medical disabilities age 2-18
"We are so grateful to you for the fantastic experiences you bring to our pupils. We plan for the visits, we learn about the instruments we are going to hear and see and we also listen to similar music on disc so that we know what to expect. However, when the concert comes, the experience is just amazing. As you know, this is the only opportunity the pupils have to hear live music. There is just nothing else like this around. Live Music Now is particularly marvellous because your talented musicians have such special communication skills."
Evaluation of the first year has indicated many positive outcomes for the participants:
• improved communication skills
• greater capacity to take part in group work
• increased confidence and self esteem
• unlocking creativity and potential
• developing musical skills
• growing sense of achievement
• increased attention span
