 Teachers keen to ensure full participation of all children in music-making are being invited to attend OHMI’s one-day teaching training course to help assess individual needs.
The CPD course, which will be held on 3rd April 2025, is being delivered in partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU) and takes place at their City South Campus in Edgbaston. The latest statistics indicate that 11% of children in the UK[1] have a disability which may not always be obvious. The training helps to identify any barriers that might prevent a child from participating in music-making, including tasks to assess their ability to weight bear and explore their fine and gross motor skills and breath control. Teachers are also given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with kit to assess the physical needs of the children. The training forms part of OHMI’s work in inclusive access to music-making and in sharing their years of experience so that local teachers and music services can serve the children in their area. Mark Lowe, Music Inclusion Manager at Inspiring Music (the Music Service for Central Bedfordshire), said, “I was aware of OHMI before I undertook the training but seeing for myself and learning from them was invaluable. The training was really accessible and delivered at an appropriate pace, and the most powerful takeaway from the day was the knowledge and confidence I gained to facilitate the physical assessments. Together with my new bag of tools, I’ve now undertaken twelve assessments. A really popular instrument amongst schools in our area is Djembe, a West African drum of significant size. Being able to source a stand to hold the weight of the instrument meant that a disabled child, previously unable to participate, was given the opportunity to play this wonderful instrument.” Rachel Wolffsohn, OHMI’s General Manager, added, “It’s our job to make sure teachers are fully aware of what’s on offer and to match a child with the right instruments and enabling equipment for their particular requirements. We often facilitate this through OHMI’s Instrument Hire Scheme which has nearly 400 musical instruments and pieces of enabling equipment, a number which we are constantly seeking to grow. ”Our training course gives teachers the practical information they need to better understand each individual child’s needs and the solutions available to support them – whether that be within a Whole Class teaching setting or elite ensemble. We’d like to encourage music teachers across the country to take up this training so that more disabled children can participate in music-making.” [1] Parliament. House of Commons Library (2024). UK disability statistics: Prevalence and life experiences. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9602/CBP-9602.pdf Applications may be made at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theohmitrust/1453003 Comments are closed.
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June 2025
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