We had the opportunity recently to meet once again with Martin Fröst, a Swedish clarinettist and conductor considered one of the most renowned instrumental soloists ever.
The meeting took place at London’s Wigmore Hall in December 2022, a venue included as part of Martin’s European tour. Its purpose was to bring Martin up to speed with OHMI’s exciting work on the 3D-printed one-handed clarinet following a first meeting with him some ten years ago. The 20-minute conversation involved Martin, Dr Stephen Hetherington (OHMI’s Chairman), Clare Salters (OHMI trustee) and Peter Worrell (acclaimed instrument maker). Stephen explained the concept behind the 3D-printed one-handed clarinet: namely, that the charity recognised the need to produce an instrument that is more economically viable. Fortunately, Arts Council England were in full agreement, and provided the funding for research into the instrument and development of a prototype. Peter went on to demonstrate the features of the instrument, created entirely in his workshop in Norfolk, using relatively inexpensive machinery. We were delighted to hear that Martin considered the instrument to be the ‘perfect idea’ and is committed to collaborating with OHMI further to help raise awareness. You can watch the video in full here: https://youtu.be/7gt6r1aMLLM On the retirement of our founder and Chairman, Dr Stephen Hetherington, the Trust seeks a new Chair of the Board of Trustees to lead, monitor and support the executive team in delivering our objectives. Please see the briefing pack below for further details. If you wish to apply, please send a CV and Expression of Interest to our General Manager, Rachel Wolffsohn - rachel@ohmi.org.uk - by Monday 13th February at 12:00 noon. Any queries may also be addressed to Rachel. The OHMI Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 1143623) and Scotland (No. SC052047) The OHMI Trust is committed to ensuring that its leadership, governance and workforce represent the diversity within the communities we serve. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of their personal backgrounds. We particularly welcome candidates with lived experience of disability.
Applications are now being accepted to a new one-day course which will help teachers to assess the needs of children in their music service. The course, which will be held on 28th April 2023, is being delivered by a partnership of Birmingham City University (BCU) and OHMI. It will take place at BCU’s campus in Edgbaston. It follows an initial pilot in the summer which secured an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant as part of Phase 3 of the IAMM (Inclusive Access to Music-Making) Programme. A total of four participants completed the pilot training which included exercises to assess the child's ability to weight bear, and explore their fine and gross motor skills and breath control. Delphine Evans, who undertook assessments with children from Northamptonshire, explains how her role has benefitted from the training, “Having worked as Head of Music in a secondary school for five years and for the music services (in Stockport and Tameside), I am very aware of the real-life challenges facing children who live with a disability. The training not only gave us the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the kit we would be using to assess the physical needs of the children – particularly their use of digits and fine motor skills – it was also particularly helpful in improving our communication techniques. Listening back to recordings of my online sessions was really useful because it made me more aware of the language I use, and how to phrase things more positively – for example, focusing on what the child can do as opposed to what they can’t.” The training will help deliver on the Government’s ambition to be doing more, collectively, to level up musical opportunities for children with special needs ambition (following publication in June 2022 of ‘The Power of Music to Change Lives – A National Plan for Music Education’). It starts with all schools and music services considering the needs of their disabled pupils before they choose an instrument for whole class participation. Opting for the ukulele, for example, may seem inclusive; until a child presents without a digit or digits. There are alternative options, and with forethought and forward planning, there is a much different outcome. It was not long after the training that Delphine had the opportunity to see for herself the difference that access to the right equipment can make. When a pupil presented with quadriplegia caused by cerebral palsy, the school’s initial solution was that someone could hold her trumpet for her. Being fully conversant with the equipment available through OHMI’s Instrument Hire Scheme, meant that Delphine could request a trumpet stand to enable the girl to play independently. Rachel Wolffsohn, OHMI’s General Manager, adds, “Our new training course – and the awareness it raises of solutions – is a big step towards a better understanding of each individual child’s needs. We’d like to encourage music teachers across the country to take up this training so that more disabled children are matched with the right instruments and enabling equipment for their particular requirements, and are given a better opportunity to participate fully in music lessons.” Anyone interested in finding out more about the training can do so at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-music-making-for-physically-disabled-children-tickets-506594637197
Engineering students at the University of Sheffield were putting their innovation skills to good use at the weekend for the annual Hackcessible make-a-thon. The challenge brings together students and people living with disability to collaborate on transformative solutions.
Competition for the Hackcessible prize was strong, with other teams working on a range of projects including a device to minimise tremors and kit to make school life easier for a child with a limb difference. They were, however, pipped to the post by an adapted drum kit for use by wheelchair users. The idea was submitted by The OHMI Trust on behalf of 11-year-old Xavier whose Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy means he requires adaptations to his drum kit. Xavier’s goal is to be able to use the drum kit pedals while sat in his wheelchair. The task for the students was to explore how the drum kit pedals could be operated or positioned to allow them to be controlled effectively, as well as explore ways of supporting Xavier’s arms in a playing position. As Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager of the OHMI Trust, explains, “Xavier's team developed a prototype by adding buttons to the drumsticks which operates one drum kit pedal each. This is the perfect solution for wheelchair users, lower limb amputees or anyone who might otherwise lack the strength in their legs to apply pressure on the foot pedals." "The next steps are to power up the motor so that it is faster and more responsive for the bass drum and also to find a mechanism for operating the hi-hat pedal. If funding can be sourced, we hope that this work will be undertaken by the students during the course of the next academic term." “We’d like to say a big thank you for Xavier for coming up with the challenge. The resulting solution will offer a wonderful opportunity for him and many others to play the drums in the most effective (and loudest!) way possible.” This year’s theme for the UN-sanctioned International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December 2022 is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development’ so it is very fitting that Hackcessible has chosen the same date to run its 2022 make-a-thon. This assistive technology competition is organised by Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Sheffield and brings together students and people living with disability to collaborate on solving technology challenges.
This year, OHMI has chosen 11-year-old Xavier as Challenger to Hackcessible’s make-a-thon. Xavier is an avid fan of Formula One (one of the noisiest sports on the planet) so it perhaps stands to reason that his choice of musical instrument – the drum kit – is equally as loud! However, the progression of his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy means Xavier requires adaptations to his drum kit. Xavier’s goal is to be able to use the drum kit pedals while sat in his wheelchair. With the help of OHMI, he has set the Engineering students at the University of Sheffield the following challenge:
This is not the first time OHMI has participated in a Hackcessible challenge. In 2021, its collaboration with professional French Horn player and disabled musician Chris Griffiths, together with students at Newcastle University’s Engineering Department, led to the creation of a French Horn stand. The stand was chosen as the winner of Hackcessible’s 2021 make-a-thon. So far, three students have teamed up to attempt to address Xavier’s challenge. They have started to think of solutions and will discuss those online with Xavier before creating a prototype during the weekend Hackathon. Best of Luck to Xavier and the team, and of course to all other Challengers to this year’s Competition! |
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April 2024
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