In Person: at Entrust Music Service Staffordshire in Stafford

OR

Online: via Zoom with Live to your Living Room

Join us for this lively informal conference and practitioner development day sharing practice in including disabled and neurodivergent people in folk music activity.

Speakers include:

Emmie Ward and Nick Goode (tutors) and Lucy Stiles (EFDSS Education Manager) - Inclusive Folk - EFDSS' creative folk music and dance programme for learning disabled young people, including those with complex needs, which is supported by John Lyon's Charity. They will lead a short practical workshop exploring material from their brand-new, free, online resource - Trad to Tech.

Cat McGill - Live to your Living Room and a freelance neurodivergent musician, working with music as a tool for connection and communication. She will be hosting our online strand. Cat will also lead a short signing song workshop and introduce her Ticking Clock interactive artwork.

Andy Haines and Billy Payne, from Billy and Andy’s Music School, will talk about their work with young people with special educational needs and disabilities and how they are smashing musical barriers with joy + tech! He will also lead a short music making workshop.

Dan Hollingshurst, folk musician, peripatetic music teacher with Entrust Music Service Staffordshire and Music Centre Manger will talk about the work of the organisation, with a focus on their inclusive music making activities.

Rachel Elliott (EFDSS Education Director) will give an update on the national aspects of the EFDSS Education programme and an outline of the National Youth Folk Ensemble.

The day is for people who run music sessions, events or classes and want to be able to better support disabled people to join them, as well as for people who already work with disabled people and want to introduce music making to their clients and students; and anyone interested in folk arts, and in any setting, such as community, education, heritage and participation settings.

Expect presentations, short workshops, and opportunities for discussion. The day will be thought-provoking, informative and enjoyable!

For more information visit www.efdss.org/whats-on/66-professional-development/16223-fedd-inclusive-music-making