Open Sound Ensemble

A free inclusive music-making opportunity for young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents/carers.

Open Sound Ensemble courses run three times a year in school holidays and develop musical skills in a supportive and creative environment.

What to expect

Working together alongside specialist workshop leaders and musicians from the LPO, we rehearse, perform and create our own music. We use a mixture of traditional and accessible digital instruments to explore sounds, rhythms and melodies, and make music together. We interact with each other as an ensemble, sometimes following cues from the LPO team and each other, and sometimes making our own creative decisions. Open Sound Ensemble courses often conclude with a short informal sharing moment with family and friends.

A warm welcome for everyone

Open Sound Ensemble sessions are based on a structure but will always respond flexibly to the individual needs of the musicians taking part, creating a musical role for everyone in the group. All professionals involved are experienced and trained to work specifically with young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Which group is best for me?

During each two-day course we run two different groups – a morning and afternoon group. When you apply you’ll be asked for a preference, but if you’re not sure which group is right for your young person, don’t worry as we will work with parents/carers to find the right group. Here is a little guidance on this:

Morning group: for young people with little or no musical experience. They might have explored a little bit of hand-held percussion (drums, shakers, tambourines) at school or in music therapy sessions, or have encountered an instrument a couple of times.

Afternoon group: for young people with more musical experience – maybe they have played a particular instrument in the past or play one now (e.g. piano, guitar, recorder) or they sing.

Both sessions are two hours long, inclusive of time for participants to access and become orientated with the space and time for breaks as necessary. Places are limited to 10 young people per session. Each young person needs to be accompanied by an adult family member.

How do I apply?

Applications are now open for our next course, which will take place on Thursday 15 & Friday 16 February 2024.

Working as an ensemble alongside specialist workshop leaders John and Dav and musicians from the LPO, we will rehearse and perform our own music. Instruments will be provided, but you are very welcome to bring your own.

There will be a choice of two different time slots:

• 10.30am – 12.30pm
• 1.30 – 3.30pm

Fill in our application form or call Hannah on 07793 837357 to apply.

If you have any questions about your application, or would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact [email protected].