Creative Music Making for adults with learning and/or physical disabilities

with Rosemary Schonfeld

Rosemary Schonfeld runs Creative Music sessions for:

The Home Farm Trust - Scope - Mencap - The Robert Owen Foundation - The Parkview Society - Korcare.

TWO CD'S ARE AVAILABLE FROM RIVENDELL, Home Farm Trust: 'Rivendell Rhythms' and 'Rivendell Symphony'. RIVENDELL SYMPHONY, 2005, was funded by an Awards for All Grant, and support in kind from Rivendell. This music is a collaborative effort where Rosemary has added vocals, electric guitar, mandolin and mbira. Please contact Rivendell on (+44) (0) 1626 853 943 for orders and more information.

 

The main aim of my sessional work is to activate clients' creativity through music while enjoying themselves with drumming, singing, playing autoharp and light percussion. This helps clients find ways of expressing their potential, and has a positive effect on the development of personal skills. Individuality is nurtured and valued.

Group work encourages co-operation and improves confidence and communication skills. A sense of community is reinforced (particularly when staff and carers take part), while the actual playing helps improve co-ordination and concentration. In some instances the quality of speech improves.

 

Creative Music Making Cd Preview

I work primarily with percussion instruments (congas, bongos, maracas, tambourines, log drums, marimba, a variety of shakers), autoharp (a kind of zither) and voice. Percussion instruments provide the tools for working with rhythm.

The voice is a powerful means of self-expression. In my experience all people with learning disabilities (including autism) and physical impairments (including deafness) respond well to rhythm, and feel empowered.

Generally I divide my sessions into three sections in order to ensure maximum concentration by clients and to provide a variety of stimulating activity: I would be happy to discuss this general format in more detail.
I have run weekly and fortnightly sessions with different groups over periods lasting between six weeks and four years. I also offer one off taster/sampler sessions. Individual development can vary greatly over a period of time. In the longer term there have been noticeable and exciting developments by clients with regard to musical skill, speech development, co-ordination, confidence and ability to concentrate for a sustained period.

I run these sessions as much as possible in the same manner as all my adult drumming workshops, striving to allow each individual access to the multi-faceted and magical world of music.

 

 

 

Instruments created by

Kevin Renton

55 Russell Terrace
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV31 1HE
England

Tel: 01926 426703