With Music in Mind

With Music in Mind supports parents and professionals as they use music to enhance the lives of children with neurodegenerative disease including vision impairment. Illustrated cards outline practical activities, using an ability-led model to encourage active participation in music and sound-making at the different stages of neurodegenerative disease. In a portable format, with accessible language designed for non-specialists, this innovative resource empowers parents and professionals to use music pedagogically, therapeutically and recreationally in day-to-day life with their child. The activities cover two broad areas: Music activities. These follow the Sounds of Intent framework of musical development, to focus on music itself and for its own sake. These include listening, playing and singing, and making music with others. Beyond music activities. These explore ways of engaging with music to promote wider development and to foster a sense of wellbeing. They cover topics such as socialising, feeling, communicating and understanding.Based on pioneering research promoted by The Amber Trust and undertaken at the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton by Professor Adam Ockelford, With Music in Mind supports carers as they scaffold the acquisition of skills and offer rich musical experiences both early on and in the later stages of a child’s life. They can be used in conjunction with the micro-songs available on The Amber Trust’s website (www.ambertrust.org).Intended for use in educational settings and/or therapy contexts under the supervision of an adult. This is not a toy.

Adam Ockelford is Director of the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton in London. He has spent the last four decades working with and researching the impact of visual impairment on developing musicality in children. He specialises in those with special musical abilities or needs. He has written over 20 books and lectures all over the world. His TED talk with the musical savant Derek Paravicini (with whom he has worked for 35 years), In the Key of Genius, can be found on the TED talks website. Adam founded The Amber Trust, a charity that supports visually impaired children in their pursuit of music, with a group of parents in 1995.The Amber Trust was set up in the 1990s to support blind and partially sighted children in their pursuit of music in the UK. Over the last three decades, Amber has supported thousands of children across the spectrum of musical interest and ability, including some who have gone on to have careers in the music industry, while for others, music has opened up language, communication and friendship in a previously dark and confusing world. As well as supporting hundreds of children a year through its Music Awards Scheme, Amber provides specialist services to families who have a blind or partially sighted child in the early years, and to the parents of children who have complex needs in addition to a visual impairment. With Music in Mind is the first music service in the world aimed specifically at supporting blind children and young people with neurodegenerative disease.