The Adaptive Music Bridging ProgramME: Creating Instrumental Music Education Pathways for Children with Disability

Dr Anthea Skinner, Dr Leon  de Bruin and Prof Aaron Corn, University of Melbourne, Australia

The Adaptive Music Bridging Program (AMBP) is an inclusive instrumental ensemble based in Melbourne, Australia. A collaboration between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Youth Orchestras, the AMBP is open to any student aged between 8 and 14 who has struggled to access instrumental music education because of any type of disability. As a result, the ensemble brings together children with a wide range of support needs, from kids who already play an instrument but struggle to concentrate in their school band, to children who are unable to even hold a standard instrument. The AMBP assists students to take their first steps as instrumentalists, preparing and supporting them to graduate into Melbourne Youth Orchestras’ mainstream ensembles or other music opportunities that suit their interests. In this paper we reflect on the process of creating an inclusive educational ensemble that meets the needs of children with a broad range of disabilities. Taking a case study approach, we will explore the ensemble through the experiences of four students with a range of physical, neurological and sensory disabilities. For each of these students we will begin by discussing their initial musical interests and goals and the way students, parents and teachers came together to ensure that these were met throughout the program. We will examine the way appropriate instruments, whether standard or adaptive, were chosen or when necessary, further adapted or created and how these diverse instruments were then combined into a single ensemble. We will briefly explore inclusive pedagogies utilised within the ensemble, including peer support, inclusive composition and music literacy supports as relevant to each student discussed. Finally, we will discuss possible future pathways that can make music participation a conduit for lifelong inclusion, creativity and learning for each individual student, no matter their disability or support needs.