What We Do | Learning & Participation

View from above of a young girl with her hands outstretched, about to play a red midi switch

Learning & Participation

We deliver a wide-ranging Learning & Participation programme across London, Bristol & South West, and Manchester & North West. Our programme includes schools-based projects (both in SEN and mainstream settings), performance-based initiatives, mentoring and coaching sessions with young and emerging musicians, early years’ projects, masterclasses and taster/open days.

You can find information about some of our current projects below. Would you like to know more? Click on the links below or request our electronic infopack by emailing: info@drakemusic.org.

You can also find out about some of our regional projects by checking out our DM blogs in the 'Showcase' section on this site.

Current Projects

DM Education

DM Education is about better access to accreditation and formal assessment in music. We create and champion accessible music resources & courses, we deliver music lessons and training, we lobby and campaign. read more

RAMP It Up!

Real Accessible Musical Participation for disabled children and young people This schools-based programme is fully inclusive, using assistive technology to increase musical participation by disabled pupils in both special and mainstream education. read more

Kids Connect

Kids Connect is an out-of-schools accessible orchestra project currently in development for 2013. read more

Crossing Into Yesterday

Crossing Into Yesterday is a cross-arts, participatory initiative striving to inspire SEND and primary school pupils and teaching staff to connect with local history and heritage, culminating in a public performance in May 2012. read more

Turn The Tables

Turn The Tables is part of our new Artist Development programme. We are running one-off DJ workshop days in London and Bristol, with plans to repeat this in other cities once links and funding are established. read more

Music Mentoring Programme

Drake Music, London runs regular mentoring sessions with young and/or emerging musicians and artists. read more

Inclusive Projects with Adults

We work in partnership with local organisations to deliver a variety of workshops and performance-based projects with adults. Our project with Stockport CP in the North West is an excellent example. read more

Work with us

Courses & Resources

RAMP it Up! Feedback

"The music project running at Mandeville School is going absolutely brilliantly and I really do urge you all to get Drake Music in and find out out how to maximise your music resources and skills. We are working together with a KS2 PMLD group with our own iPads and Soundbeam and I am amazed at how quickly and proficiently Gary and Gawain bring everything together so that we can achieve our goal of connectivity between the children. Their explanations as they go along are clear and we are all learning huge amounts - children and staff - and having a fantastic time!"

Carrie Lennard (Music Teacher)

"The primary pupils at Richard Cloudesley were able to benefit from the expertise that Drake Music have when they took part in 'Ramp it up'. The focussed project enabled pupils to use switches to access the sound beam and teachers to learn alongside them.

Drake Music demonstrated in a very practical way how to set up and use the specialist equipment with class groups ranging from P2 to P8. The hands on real classroom approach helped to boast staff confidence, as they saw first-hand pupils accessing music very successfully with equipment we had readily available, but usually in the cupboard!

Each week Drake Music built on from what we learnt in the previous week and the teachers was able to revisit skills whilst in very safe hands. A full day inset day at the end of the project gave staff time to learn more and ask questions. As a result of this project RC teachers have gone on to use the sound beam and switches in many creative ways across the curriculum thus supporting our pupils with complex needs to show their potential in a variety of ways. The technology can be set up and used in a very simplistic but effective way and this is what made the project so successful."

Caroline Brown , Assistant Headteacher (Primary), Richard Cloudesley School

"All of the pupils who have worked with the musicians from Drake Music have been able to access music in ways that they would not have been able to and have all benefitted greatly from the programme. The calm and patient manner with which the musicians approach the pupils and the music, matches perfectly with the learning styles that our pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning disabilities have. I recommend without hesitation to get your pupils with SLD and PMLD involved in music making with Drake Music."

Kerri Ovel, Key Stage 3 Team Leader, Beatrice Tate School