Bapchild Strategies for Inclusive Music Education:

Here at Bapchild, there is an expectation that music is for all – this includes those children with SEND or who are Neurodiverse .Activities are often tailored to accommodate different skill levels. For example, while some students might play a melody on an instrument, others might contribute by playing a simple rhythm on non-pitched percussion. e.g instead of a glockenspiel, they are given either individual chime bars, bells or boomwhackers.)

When children experience fine motor skill challenges, less complex instruments might be offered to them. 

Lessons often incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Visuals like charts or videos, auditory aids like recordings, and physical activities like dancing or clapping all feature in many of our music lessons.

For those who are sensitive to the sound, ear defenders are provided and sometimes sympathetic seating arrangements are organized so that the child in question can sit on the edge of the class group rather than directly in the middle where it tends to be louder. In some cases where there is chance for 1:1 teaching, a staff member will take a child or a small group out of the classroom for a few minutes so that they can still work on the same task but with less  intense volume levels.  Using lower pitched notes are also more tolerable.

Coloured stickers are sometimes added to instruments to colour correspond to our Boomwhackers and make notes/pitch recognisable by colour. 

Musical phrases are sometimes broken down into smaller achievable chunks so that every child has opportunity to feel successful. Where necessary, numbers are added to notes on a keyboard/glockenspiel to assist with playing a particular sequence. 

The tempo of the music is often altered to suit the ability of the children.