Sounds of Intent

youtu.be/IsSD0DBKKFI Victoria Thomas, Lead Music Teacher at Linden Lodge School for the Blind, explains how the Sounds of Intent framework informs music practice in the school, and demonstrates the benefits of music to pupils with additional needs in general.

youtu.be/7xTUtFI95hU In our June 2026 webinar, Claire Bowes talks about her fascinating research into how blind children learn and memorise piano music.

Did you know that Sounds of Intent offers a postgraduate qualification? tinyurl.com/SoIPGCert2026 This is a part-time course taught online and worth 60 credits. It’s designed for educators, musicians, therapists, clinicians, carers and anyone committed to inclusive practice.

Did you know that this term, Sounds of Intent ran the first ever iteration of our Awards for Schools scheme? Now, at the end of the scheme, we’re so proud to be able to see how far the awards have reached. What an incredible community all across the UK! soundsofintent.org/en/awards-for-…

youtu.be/s82HKtEu6i0 Blind and autistic pianist @ChapmanShum performs his own original composition Kennedy Town, based on a train station tannoy. #Improvisation #KennedyTown #HongKong #Piano

youtu.be/6oKyfc_q1fc In our May 2026 webinar, Sharon Kirk, Maths Lead and Class Teacher at West Hill School, joined us to explore and discuss See, Hear! - A project developed in collaboration with the SoI framework that opens up alternate routes for communication and learning.

@LiveMusicNowUK is seeking a Project Manager to oversee the Tuning Into 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. livemusicnow.org.uk/jobs-and-oppor… #Autism

We are thrilled to have hosted Sounds of Intent's first ever conference on June 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. #soundsofintent

How does needs-aware music education look? Here, Adam, an experienced practitioner, explains his first keyboard lesson with M. He believes that support should be given and gradually phased, not the other way around. #specialeducation

What does inclusion look like for deaf students in music lessons? Ruth Montgomery talks us through it. By pushing for creative solutions to inclusion, rather than simply lowering expectations, we can all benefit from a more collaborative musical experience. @Audiovisability

Sounds of Intent was founded on research that centred those with learning difficulties. What we found is that music can be having an enormous impact in the brain even with no perceptible response. Visit soundsofintent.org for more #music

We’re delighted that our next webinar will be hosted by PhD student Claire Marie Bowes. She will cover her PhD research on effective memorisation strategies for blind children learning piano. Wednesday 3rd June at 4:30pm - sign up at the link here: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mvv2TU8Fgs

One week left to sign up for our conference on the 9th of June! @TechnologyinMu1, @theambertrust, @TrinityC_L and @LiveMusicNowUK will all be hosting stalls - You can Sign up (either to attend in person or to receive the materials) here: tinyurl.com/soiconference2…

Your final reminder to have your voice heard if you work in a UK special school! We are conducting research with @RoehamptonUni and @ucl to better our support for inclusive music making. The survey will take just 15 minutes - tinyurl.com/soimusicimpact…

Our first ever annual conference is going to be held this year on June 9th at @RoehamptonUni in London, 10:30-3:30pm. There will be several presentations about our work as well as the wider community we support. Please register at tinyurl.com/soiconference2… @theambertrust

We are so proud to be celebrating the @Childrens_Trust School, the first school in the country to be receiving a GOLD Sounds of Intent Award in Musical Education! This round of applications closes in one week - on the 26th May. You can apply here: soundsofintent.org/en/awards-for-…

We had a great day on May 5th with our friends at @electricbrolly, running a CPD session for EU practitioners. Always a pleasure! #InclusiveEducation #MusicEducation #SpecialEducation

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. soundmusichub.com

If you are based in Northern Ireland, we would be particularly interested to hear your responses in our current study with @RoehamptonUni and UCL. The survey is here: tinyurl.com/soimusicimpact… #MusicEducation #SpecialEducation

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 See, Hear! enables alternate routes of communication and learning for children with autism or learning difficulties.