In this month's Spotlight, we're delighted to learn more about Into The Music: a unique immersive, tactile music-making environment where purpose-built string instruments allow children and young people with learning disabilities and other additional support needs to improvise music in a safe space.
Adapted diatonic piano with Figurenotes markings - courtesy of Into the Music
Into The Music is a unique immersive, tactile music-making environment where purpose-built string instruments allow participants to improvise music in a safe space.
The Scottish Government's Youth Music Initiative (YMI) funding allows us to offer sessions tailored specifically to children and young people with learning disabilities and other additional support needs on a regular basis. Our core mission is to facilitate non-verbal communication and self-expression, fostering empowerment, relaxation, self-confidence, and the alleviation of isolation through the creation of harmonious soundscapes.
At the heart of Into The Music is our innovative approach to musical instruments.
All our instruments (purpose-built or adapted) are tuned to diatonic or pentatonic scales, helping overcome the barriers that are present when playing conventional chromatic instruments and setting the foundations for meaningful improvisation without the need of previous musical experience. In this setting, tempo and steady rhythm are welcome but not essential, as we understand that rhythm perception and physical limitations vary among participants. Instead, there are other elements that can solidify a group of improvising musicians such as pitch, texture and dynamics, and the use of diatonic instruments ensures that the players are always in tune with each other.
Our son P is autistic and has Down’s Syndrome with a severe learning disability. He responds to music. We have paid for so many different clubs only to have our money wasted as he refuses to try or return. I saw these music sessions advertised and as they were free we thought let’s try! We did and it could not have been a bigger success. The two young men followed P’s lead and allowed him to explore everything at his own pace. What’s more he stayed the course for a full session not his usual five minutes. Since that day, which brought tears to my eyes, P has announced every Friday that it’s 'music day'. He is calmer after the sessions and more relaxed. I love he can access music making in a non-structured way which he really enjoys.- Parent of participant
The Youth Music Initiative’s Access to Music Making fund has been invaluable for making Into The Music sessions accessible to young people with disabilities, regardless of their financial circumstances. Engaging in extra-curricular activities can often be financially challenging, especially when considering transportation, staffing, and other essential costs.
Most of our instruments are built out of discarded wood and old piano parts donated by our generous friends at Pianodrome as a cost effective solution (as the cost of specialised musical instruments can be prohibitive) that allows us to to explore new creative possibilities. However, thanks to YMI, we have been able to invest in additional equipment that enables us to use adaptive apps such as Figurenotes and implement motion tracking technology in our sessions. These enhancements ensure that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can participate fully in our sessions.
"It is amazing to go to something where me and my son can be so calm and immersed for an hour. Into The Music is the first group setting my son has felt comfortable to take part in since lockdown! I believe the way the session is set up/the calmness and understanding of Giorgos and Pete has a big part in why my son enjoys the sessions so much." - Parent of participant.
From the beginning, we envisioned Into The Music as an environment where young people can explore music at their own pace with minimum demands and structure. Also, our approach is participant-led, meaning that as facilitators, we tend to follow the lead of participants and allow interaction to shape the resulting music.
"[The workshop] has given R the chance to express himself through music, and to actually be in charge of at least one thing in his day! It’s great that he isn’t told what to do and just given the freedom to make sounds and play in his time.” - Donna, mother of R
Into The Music has played an important role in fostering social connections among participants through the act of creating music. Our workshops offer a space where young people eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage in musical collaborations with their peers during their weekly sessions. In addition, our workshops have facilitated social interactions among non-verbal participants, with music creation at the heart of these meaningful connections.
Into The Music sessions are run by Giorgos Bouras and Pete Taylor at the Wee Hub in Ocean Terminal every Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon for children and young people with learning disabilities living in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
