Learning
Music in RNIB schools and colleges
Summary: About the variety of musical education and opportunities available in RNIB schools and colleges.
Sunshine House, Northwood
For children at Sunshine House School, Northwood, music is a vital part of life. They listen to a very wide range of musical styles, to suit everyone’s taste. We use favourite pieces of music in individual programme sessions, for motivating children to use communicators and switch-operated equipment and for rewards at the end of a task. Singing is possible, with different lines of song as well as instrumental sounds, on the children’s communicators.
Teachers use songs as sound cues for lessons and activities, and for welcome and goodbye sessions every day. Appropriate music is chosen to be played during the different topics and assemblies. The annual Christmas concert is thoroughly enjoyed by parents and children, who all have a part to play in the musical contributions.
Outside, the playground and sensory garden are full of music sounds, with chime bars and wind chimes, large metal and plastic tubes to bang with mallets and some brightly coloured flowers which do not smell but do give out a very comprehensive range of sounds – musical and otherwise!
Contact
33 Dene Road
Northwood
Middlesex
HA6 2DD
Telephone: 01923 82 25 38
Fax: 01923 82 62 27
Email: SHSadmin@rnib.org.uk
Vision, Rushton
At RNIB Rushton School, music is very important as part of our multi-sensory approach to the curriculum. Music and song are used across the subjects. They are used to teach concepts such as the body in science and counting in numeracy, in teaching different periods in history and religions in Religious Education (RE).
All pupils take part in a weekly class music session. For pupils with limited communication skills, music can be a vital way for them to express themselves both within music lessons and throughout the day.
At Rushton we recognise the importance of music to our young people and our multi-sensory approach to learning. We are well resourced with a great range of musical instruments, including both high and low tech equipment. These include instruments from around the world, keyboards and Soundbeams. We also have a qualified music teacher along with input from an RNIB music specialist and a music therapist.
We recognise that music can be a great motivator for the young people and is therefore used throughout the day in a cross-curricular fashion to enhance and reinforce the learning of our students. For example, song is an important part of the morning greetings of some pupils and may be accompanied by the use of signing or communication aids.
Contact
Wheelwright Lane
Ash Green
Coventry
CV7 9RA
Telephone: 024 7636 9500
Fax: 024 7636 9501
Email: mailto:andrew.moran@rnib.org.uk
Head Teacher: Andrew Moran
Registered Manager: Children's Home: Brenda Smith
RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home
RNIB College Loughborough
At RNIB College Loughborough we offer various levels of music courses, including the following:
- In-house music workshops using a variety of instruments from around the world
- Level 1 music performance or technology
- BTEC First Diploma in music, performance or technology
- BTEC National Diploma in music practice
- BTEC National Diploma in music technology.
Contact
For more information on course content, please contact our marketing department on 01509 61 10 77.
Content author: mas@rnib.org.uk
Last updated: 22/07/2008 10:47
More info
Latest updates
Related info
Your stories
Gemma's story - while at university Gemma volunteered as an events assistant in a charity. Being partially sighted, she faced some challenges working in a paper-based office. "The positive response to me asserting my needs has helped me feel more confident about the future." Gemma is also "convinced that employers recognise work experience as essential" and saw it as a great opportunity to develop new skills. Gemma's full story
