Inclusive Music Resources – some ideas for you to try!
These Inclusive Music Resources have been created by musicians who participated in 4 by 8; DIY’s training programme for musicians wanting to develop their inclusive practice. The ideas have all been developed in partnership with DIY Leaders and have been piloted in partner organisations with children and young people with learning disabilities.
We hope you will find them useful!
Songs to say ‘Hello’ and ‘Goodbye’
When running music activities, you might like to start and finish with Hello and Goodbye songs. Here are some options which can work well with different groups.
– Download the resource Sing Hello, Sing Goodbye
Explore the Cajon Drum
A cajon is a type of drum you can sit on while you play it. Cardboard Cajon’s can be bought quite cheaply. This sheet explores how they can be used to:
- Turn phrases from speech into rhythms
- Make call and response rhythms
- Play along with the ‘pulse’ of a favourite song
– Download the resource to Explore the Cajon Drum
Explore Using Switch Recordings
A Switch, or recordable button, is something that you can use to record a sound and play it back. This sheet explores:
- Using switches to represent identity
- Using switches for communication
- Using switches for evaluation and feedback
– Download the resource Using Switch Recordings
Activity: Record and play back sounds
This resource takes you through simple steps to gain confidence in recording and playing back sounds. Participants work in pairs taking it in turns to make and record animal noises.
Ideally, each participant should have a device which can record. Apps on a phone, tablet or computer can all be used to record.)
– Download the resource sheets Activity: record – play back
Activity: Sound Scavenger !
- What sounds can you find just using your body and voice?
- How many sounds can you find in the room you’re in?
- Sounds with instruments
- Reflecting on the sounds discovered.
– Download the Sound Scavenger resource sheets
Bring more you to music!
A practical step by step guide to decorating a musical instrument. (A cardbord Cajon drum is used for demonstration.) Decorating a musical instument can
- Help bring your identity to your instruments
- Demonstrate how art and music go together
- Encourage decision making
– Download the Bring more you to music! pdf
We’re Walking Through the Jungle!
A fun song to learn, with actions.
– Download the We’re Walking Through the Jungle! resource sheets and sing along with DIY – click to watch the video, click again to pause.
Explore music with these resources
Below is a list of apps and websites which participants found helpful for exploring music on phones, pads and computers.
- Bloom – Apple App
- Chrome Music Lab
- Groove Pizza
- Mynoise.net
- ChordChord.com
- Bandlab.com
- AirHarp: touchless 3D harp – Apple App
- SoundPrism – Apple App
- Aumi
- BarrelTones – Apple App
- Falling Stars – Apple App
- Magic Piano – Google Play App
- ThumbJam – Apple App
- GarageBand – Apple App
- Samplebot – Apple App
- Jam Looper – Google Play and Apple App
- iMaschine 2 – Apple App
- Figure – Apple App
Many thanks to
- the musicians who took part in the 4 by 8 programme and created these resources: Sophie, Awen, Joe, Jodi, Benji and Anna
- DIY Leaders who took part in the 4 by 8 programme: Charlotte, Amy, Scott, Viv, Georgia and Adam
- partner organisations that hosted workshops: Springwood Primary, Chatsworth Futures and DIY’s Youth Drama Group.
- Programme Coordinator: Sarah Atter
- Youth Arts Coordinator: Molly Stedman
- Youth Music for their funding of DIY’s 4 by 8 Inclusive Music Programme.