Sounds of Intent

Live Music Now is seeking a Project Manager to oversee the Tuning In to Autism project, which is a collaboration with Sounds of Intent. Please follow this link to find out more and apply. The deadline for applications is the 13th of July, 2026. www.livemusicnow.org.uk/jobs-and-opportunities/

Tuning In to Autism offers an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to help shape and champion an emerging area of inclusive music practice.

The Project Manager will lead and coordinate the national delivery and
development of Tuning In to Autism. The post holder will help build awareness and engagement with the project through partnership working,
training, communications and events. They will also play an important role in translating research and theory into practical, accessible approaches for practitioners and families.

The role would be great for: a primary phase teacher or an early years’ specialist, someone with experience of autism and social communication approaches within education, or someone with lived experience of autism and a passion for inclusive creative practice.

#Autism #CharityJobs #MusicJobs

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

Sounds of Intent

We are thrilled to have hosted Sounds of Intent's first ever conference on Tuesday the 9th. It was an invigorating day of connection and inspiration. Thank you to all the delegates for the warm atmosphere, evident passion, and commitment to changing lives through music.

For our inaugural conference we couldn't be happier. Watch this space as we'll be sharing some of the expertise and research, as always, on our social media in bite-size pieces!

#Inclusivity #MusicEducation #SpecialEducationalNeeds

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

We’re delighted that our next webinar will be hosted by a PhD student who works with Sounds of Intent - Claire Marie Bowes.

She will cover her PhD research on effective memorisation strategies for blind children learning piano, exploring effective memorisation and the importance of including learning from memory in instrumental lessons.

If you’d like to understand the processes involved in memorisation and how to teach memorisation effectively, do come along! Attendance is totally free.

Wednesday 3rd June at 4:30pm - sign up at the link here: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mvv2TU8Fgs

#Blindness #Memory #Music

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

We’re thrilled to be collaborating with so many amazing organisations at our conference - coming up on the 9th of June. TiME Technology in Music Education, The Amber Trust, Trinity College London Music and Drama and Live Music Now will all be hosting stalls where you can learn about their work and our partnership. A great demonstration of the different angles from which we can work towards inclusion in music.

‪@TrinityVideoChannel‬ and Sounds of Intent co-developed and run a qualifications scheme called the ACMDs whereby learners of all ages can gain accessible, inclusive, nationally-recognised music qualifications.

‪@TIMETechnologyinMusicEducation‬ supports our work on the Mugo, a project to develop a musical instrument accessible to learners of all mobility levels. More on this soon!

Live Music Now work closely with Sounds of Intent on many projects, including our Awards scheme for schools.

And ‪@theambertrust‬ is our close partner in crime, focusing on making music accessible to blind and visually impaired learners.

With all these collaborators, our conference promises to be an inspiring event, and it’s totally free. Sign up (either to attend in person or to receive the materials) here: tinyurl.com/soiconference2026

Image description: A young boy hits a drum with a stick, causing glitter to fly into the air. Below, text against a dark pink background below reads. "One week left to sign up for our conference on June 9th." Above are the logos for Trinity College London, TiME Technology in Music Education, Live Music Now, The Amber Trust and the ‪@RoehamptonAcUk‬, London.

#InclusiveMusic #SpecialEducationalNeeds #MusicEducation #PMLD #SEN #SpecialEducation #SpecialNeeds

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

Your final reminder to have your voice heard if you work in a UK special school! We are conducting research with ‪@RoehamptonAcUk‬ and UCL to better our support for inclusive music making.

The survey will take just 15 minutes and could shape the future of provision for YOUR work - www.tinyurl.com/soimusicimpactsurvey

Image description: Yellow text against the SoI colours of blue and pink, "Final reminder to have your say in our music impact survey - we need your help with our study to understand how teachers and schools think about and implement inclusive music education. Fill in our short 10 minute online questionnaire for a chance to win our guestural instrument, the Mugo, for your school or setting. For more information please contact Natalie Cairns-Ratter, Research Assistant at the University of Roehampton, cairnsrn@roehampton.ac.uk or 07496058751

#InclusiveEducation #MusicEducation #SpecialEducation #SEN #PMLD

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

Hello all. We're delighted to announce that our first ever annual conference is going to be held this year on June 9th at the ‪@RoehamptonAcUk‬ in London, 10:30-3:30pm. There will be several presentations about our work as well as the wider community we support, including by our founder Professor Adam Ockelford.

Our conference is aimed primarily at special education and music education practitioners, parents, and researchers. However, anyone with an interest in what we do is more than welcome to attend - and it’s totally free.

David Rees, chair of ‪@mertonmusicmmf‬ will speak about our collaboration on the Mini Musicians project, accompanied by a performance by the children themselves. David Shaw, Deputy Head of Linden Lodge School will present a case study in how the Sounds of Intent framework can be implemented in educational environments.

Our founder Adam Ockelford will give a talk about the many ways in which we are changing lives through music and we are also looking forward to being able to formally celebrate those who have received a Sounds of Intent School Award and present certificates.

All of this is joined by a panel discussion; a performance by 15 year old ‪@chapmanshum‬ who is blind and lives with severe autism, of his own composition 'Kennedy Town'; and stalls from
‪@TIMETechnologyinMusicEducation‬
‪@theambertrust‬
‪@TrinityVideoChannel‬
livemusicnow

It promises to be an inspiring and invigorating day of connection and learning.
To secure your free place, please register at tinyurl.com/soiconference2026

If you can’t make it in person, there’s also the option to ask to receive the materials after the event.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Image description: The two-page flyer for the event containing all of the above information and consisting of blue and pink text against a pale green background with a photo of a young boy hitting a drum covered in confetti which is flying into the air.

#InclusiveEducation #MusicEducation #SpecialEducation #SEN #SoundsofIntent

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

Sounds of Intent

It was great to attend Sound! Music Hub’s conference last month in Liverpool. Sounds of Intent’s founder, Prof Adam Ockelford, gave a presentation about facilitating inclusive music making and loved getting to see the new hub.

We love opportunities like these to come together and connect!

Image description: Adam stands at a lecturn in front of a room of people seated at tables. There is a banner next to him that says "Sound! Music Hub - Music for Everyone, Find your beat, www.soundmusichub.com"

#InclusiveMusic #InclusiveEducation

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

We are committed to gaining an even picture of what inclusive music looks like in everyday practice, so that we can tailor and strengthen our support.

So if you are based in Northern Ireland, we would be particularly interested to hear your responses in our current study with Roehampton University and UCL. The survey is here: tinyurl.com/soimusicimpactsurvey

By taking part, you will help us gain insight into what is working well and what could be improved to make music education more accessible and meaningful for all students.

Every survey response is entered into a free prize draw to win a Mugo for your school, a portable musical instrument that allows children with disabilities to create music.

Please help us by taking 10 minutes to fill out the survey, and passing it around to Northern Irish colleagues - thank you!

Image description: A flyer for the survey themed in green, pink and blue with a picture of the Mugo, a QR code and the information above along with additional contact information: "For more information please contact Natalie Cairns-Ratter, Research Assistant at the University of Roehampton - Email: cairnsrn@roehampton.ac.uk - Tel: 07496058751

#NorthernIreland #InclusiveEducation #MusicEducation #SpecialEducation

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

Our next webinar will be held this Wednesday May 13th and we will explore the See, Hear! project. As always, you can sign up here: forms.office.com/e/mvv2TU8Fgs

Developed in collaboration with the Sounds of Intent framework, See, Hear! enables alternate routes of communication and learning for children with autism or learning difficulties.

Image description: Photos of several small objects, such as cubes, straws and spindles, designed to support tactile learning and pattern matching skills. The text, "See, Hear! - Providing opportunities for children witha dditional learning needs to be heard. Join our next webinar on May 13th."

#InclusiveEducation #SEN #SpecialEducation

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Sounds of Intent

Did you know that Deaf Awareness Week is in May? The amazing charity, ‪@audiovisability‬ is offering some fantastic training sessions. CPD certificates will be shared after the sessions are complete - you can book online here: www.audiovisability.com/training - Check out the training descriptions below.

Music and Deaf Awareness (1.5) Wednesday 6th May 6:30pm - 8pm
This course is aimed at those who wish to expand their music teaching and/or understand more about the experience of being deaf. Covering general deaf awareness and specific strategies for teaching music to deaf children and young people and good practice.

Music - Art or Access? (1.5 hours) - Tuesday 5th May 2pm - 3:30pm (repeated 6:30pm - 8pm)
Looking at the difference between art and access, this session investigates methodology to make music accessible to deaf people in imaginative and modern ways that champion the deaf perspective. We are running two sessions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

BSL in a Classical Music context (2 hours) - Thursday 7th May 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Music is a complex subject which might be unfamiliar to those working outside of the domain. In this session, aimed at trainee and registered BSL interpreters/translators, we look at the elements of music theory, introduce new terminology, and understand how to interpret classical music.

Image description: A young man with blond hair in a red hoodie plays keyboard under bright studio lighting. The Audiovisability logo beneath with the text "Deaf Awareness Week training sessions".

#Deafness #DeafAwareness #DeafMusicians

1 month ago | [YT] | 0