Live Music Now has a long history of taking inspiring performances and workshops into special schools across the UK, often providing children with their only opportunity to hear live music performed by professional musicians.
Thanks to the generous support of the National Foundation for Youth Music, we have been developing new ways of working with special schools through our 'Musicians in Residence' projects.
Last year, we piloted year-long residencies with 12 schools in England identifying the key ingredients for a successful programme. As part of the residency in Springwood Heath School, pupils worked with LMN musicians Carla and Hannah to create and perform their own Pirate music. Here is a short film we made of their celebratory concert…
<>
This year we have launched a more specialist strand of the work, piloting projects in three different types of settings: Autism specific schools, Pupil Referral Units and schools for children with Emotional, Social and Behavioural Difficulties.
During a twenty-week residency, LMN musicians deliver a concert for the whole school and lead weekly small group music sessions, engaging the children in musical activities which build their personal, social and musical skills. Schools benefit from having a music specialist in the teaching environment, whilst LMN musicians gain both professionally and personally as they develop skills to engage and inspire children with a range of needs and abilities. Musicians are supported by a LMN mentor and work closely with school staff to maximize the impact of their sessions.
Live Music Now London musicians Sam Vicary, Tom Millar, Vespertine Duo (Toby Carr and Anna Ter Haar), Antara Duo (Tom Hancox an Rachel Wick) and Radigun (Ben Insall and Fred Holden) at launch training session for residencies in Autism-specific schools with London teachers. Photo credit: Ivan Gonzalez
.
.jpg)
