In Autumn 2011, DM Education carried out a nationwide consultation into disabling barriers to formal music education. The consultation findings are posted here in the 'Experiences' section of the DM Education web pages becuase they represent a signficant insight into the experiences of the SEN/Disabled young people / musicians, teachers and music educators who shared their views.
AAC (Augmentative, Alternative Communication)
Worcester Snoezelen Centre and LCM Leisure Play music exams
By jonathanwestrup - 18/11/2011Like many I suspect, my first question about the small, Worcester-based charity ‘Snoezelen’ was ‘What does Snoezelen mean?’ The word - a mix of two dutch words for sniffing and dozing – perfectly evokes the experience offered by the charity: a multi-sensory environment for people with severe
P Scales Level Descriptors
By Alex Ivanovich - 27/10/2011P Scales are a format for assessing progress for students who are operating below National Curriculum Level 1. This useful document (which can be downloaded as a pdf file here) describes how to assess what level a student is at for a wide range of subjects. Level descriptors for music are on pages 27-29.
The Grid 2 Music Resources
By dougbott - 21/10/2011The Grid 2 is computer software that provides 'an all-in-one package for communication and access'. Within formal music education, The Grid 2 can enable disabled students to use music software on a PC that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Introduction to Music course - accessible accreditation from Drake Music
By dougbott - 21/09/2011Introduction To Music is a new, accessible music course available from Drake Music and OCNSWR (Open College Network South West Region). The course can be accredited at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 and is designed to be fully inclusive, enabling disabled and non-disabled students to work together.
Making the music curriculum more accessible in Gloucestershire Special Schools
By Alex Ivanovich - 19/09/2011In the summer term 2010, I was given the opportunity to visit every special school in Gloucestershire on behalf of Gloucestershire Music Service (GMS). I was tasked with assessing each school’s needs in terms of accessible music resources and training, in order to improve access to the music curriculum in each school. GMS also set aside Wider Opportunities funding to buy new instruments and music resources for each special school in the county.
Clicker 5 music resources at Learning Grids World
By dougbott - 19/09/2011Learning Grids World is website where any registered Clicker 5 software user can create an account to download and share Clicker 5 Grid Sets for free. Clicker 5 is increasingly being used to make music accessible to SEN/Disabled learners across the curriculum. Clicker 5 can be accessed using switches, touch screens, joysticks, trackballs and any other means of control, in addition to the conventional computer keyboard and mouse.
ABRSM Performance Assessment
By dougbott - 10/09/2011ABRSM offer the Performance Assessment as an alternative to their Graded Music Exams in acknowledgement of the fact that 'an exam is not always the most appropriate kind of assessment'. Participants can play their own choice of repertoire and come away with a written report containing constructive comments and advice from a member of the ABRSM examining panel.
ASDAN short courses
By dougbott - 06/09/2011ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) offer a wide choice of flexible, activity-based curriculum programmes that can be used in a variety of educational contexts with learners working at a range of levels.
AQA Unit Award Scheme
By dougbott - 05/09/2011AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) offer an extremely flexible accreditation framework called the 'AQA Unit Award Scheme'. The scheme includes scores of ready-made music awards, as well a system that enables music educators to create their own awards, which can then be accredited by AQA.