Musical Connections is the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's (OAE's) national programme for children and young people with additional needs. We work with hundreds of participants each year, and the programme demonstrates the magical power of music to enrich lives and make connections.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Students with learning disabilities can face significant academic and social challenges at school. They are more likely to feel lonely, have poorer educational outcomes and are at a higher risk of exclusion than their mainstream peers. These challenges can have a detrimental impact on their mental health and overall well-being. Many students across the UK have little to no exposure to live music making and performance of any kind, or the skills associated with this industry.
Solution
Music is a non-verbal medium that empowers students to express themselves and facilitates emotional regulation and coping strategies. At our partner schools, many students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and struggle to access support services. Musical Connection enables students to work closely with OAE musicians in 1-hour sessions to compose, improvise, and rehearse music, creating inclusive pathways to wellbeing and expanding mental health support in the schools.
