The aim of Sounds of Intent is to investigate and promote the musical development of children and young people with complex needs (e.g. learning difficulties ranging from PMLD to SLD to autism). Based on extensive research and observations over 10 years, the SoI framework is designed to help teachers and parents relate what they observe in music sessions with a child into more concrete statements/ levels – and then to help them plan activities that will hopefully support that child to progress to the next level(s) within appropriate timescales. SoI is free and Teachers are encoraged to create an account and get started by going to www.soundsofintent.org. SoI actively want teachers and parents to enter the data that they collect (process is secure and anonymous) which generates printable graphs and charts of a child’s progress.
The framework is divided into three areas (or ‘segments’): Reactive, Proactive and Interactive. Each segment is then divided into 6 levels and then each level has four elements within it (to view an interactive picture of the framework look here) The fact that levels are broken down into smaller steps supports teachers in making accurate judgments about where a child’s (or adult’s) current progress lies.
The Sounds of Intent research project (still ongoing) was set up in 2002 jointly by the Institute of Education, Roehampton University, and the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Comments