Drake Music is the leading national organisation working in music, disability and technology.
Who we are
Drake Music is a national arts charity working across the UK with our Head Office in London. We are a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England and are also funded through Youth Music.
We have been pioneering the use of accessible music technology for over 20 years. This enables more people to make music.
In that time, we have developed lots of imaginative methods of teaching, learning, writing and playing music.
We are specialists in using technology to break down disabling barriers to making music.
What we do
Central to our work is the belief that everyone can fulfil their creative and musical potential, given the right opportunities.
We are a Disabled-led organisation and work with Disabled people of all ages, from school children having their first instrumental lessons to professional Disabled musicians.
We work where music, disability and technology meet to:
- create opportunities and instruments that make music fully accessible – like this new kind of guitar
- get more people involved in music-making at all levels – like these young musicians in Essex
- build an integrated musical culture where Disabled and non-disabled musicians work together as equals – like on this fun musical collage made at Manchester Royal Infirmary
Our skilled team has an excellent track record of developing and delivering outreach, training, artistic development and education initiatives for Disabled musicians of all ages and in all genres.
We research and develop new accessible musical instruments and technologies to create more ways to make music.
Our artistic development programme supports Disabled musicians to progress their work and we offer training and consultancy for teachers, music hubs and other organisations.
“The figures that we have from Ofsted show that between 2008 and 2011, only 6% of students with disabilities were involved in learning a musical instrument, compared to 14% of students without a disability. That is a clear disparity.
There was also a consultation by Drake Music in 2012, which revealed that there are still a number of barriers to overcome with regard to effective music education for disabled children. There need to be improvements in the areas of organisation, training and equipment provision. Nevertheless, the capacity to have change and a music education for those with disabilities exists.”
Lord German, House Of Lords debate, 30th July 2014
