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Since
1994 I (Michael Dunn) have had the pleasure of working with a small number
of individuals with Learning Disabilities, helping them to acquire skills
on musical instruments. I fell into this work by accident - I am a Composer/Songwriter,
and to bolster my meagre income in the past I have done various other jobs,
including working as a care assistant at a home for adults with learning
difficulties, which is how I met the people described here, and how I came
to be asked to make music with them. In that time I learnt far more than
I ever expected about both their, and my own, musical learning processes.
I deliberately do not refer to this as music therapy, firstly because I
am not a qualified musical therapist, and secondly because that term implies
applying something (i.e. 'therapy' ) onto someone else. My dictionary defines
'therapy' as 'curative medical treatment' - I did not aim to 'cure' those
people I worked with, but I did hope to provide them with access to the acquisition
of something that many take for granted, yet that some are often denied;
namely the skill to play a musical instrument, to whatever level, so that
they may experience the spiritual, physical and emotional benefits that
making music brings. Hence the term Musical Access.
I have posted these
pages to share some of what I have learnt, for others who are also working
in this area, and who may find another person's perspective useful - it
can be hard working in isolation, yet my experience has shown me that
'one to one' is, to me at least, by far the best way… (though once
a skill has been acquired, it should not necessarily be kept in isolation
- music is chemistry, where different people are the catalysts…)
- and to invite anyone else doing similar work to share their experiences
should they wish to do so.
By definition, the
terms 'Teaching' and 'Learning Disabilities' do not go well together,
yet I have seen that very great things are achievable, but in very small
increments, and over a long period of time….
The individuals described
on this site have kindly agreed to let their details be shared for the above
reasons (though some names have been changed to protect identities where
requested). Simply click on the link to each name on the left hand menu
to discover more... further useful links to do with Music for Adults with
Learning/Physical Difficulties and also Music Therapy may be found by
clicking on the "Links" link.
I
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