What is it?
Open Orchestras is behind the largest community of inclusive ensembles in the UK, in partnership with Music Education Hubs and special schools. With our award-winning programme, learning an instrument and playing with others independently, expressively and in real time becomes accessible to all young disabled people.
You’ll get everything you need to succeed: digital training and mentoring, musical resources, CPD, access to the award-winning Clarion™ – an instrument that can be played with any movement of the body. There’s also an amazing community to support you!
Access to Clarion™
Young people play a mix of acoustic and accessible and electronic in Open Orchestras. Through the programme, you will get exclusive access to Clarion, an accessible instrument that removes the barriers often associated with traditional instruments. There’s no need to bow, pluck or blow it!
Available on iPad or PC, Clarion can be played using mouse of finger touch, but also head movement or eye movement.
It has won multiple awards over the years, including the 2020 Tech4Good Accessibility Award.
Repertoire
Finding musical repertoire that is accessible to young people with a range of additional support needs can be a huge challenge.
We’ve carefully re-worked music that enables young disabled people to participate in Open Orchestras whatever their needs and access requirements.
Continuing Professional Development
Since launching the UK’s first Open Orchestras in 2013, we’ve been refining a pedagogical approach that is transferable and deliverable.
Our training and support will ensure that your workforce are confident in providing young disabled people with opportunities to play and perform as part of their very own Open Orchestra.
Durham Music Service
Live Music Now
Services for Education Music
Coventry Music Hub
Nottingham Music Hub
Leicestershire Music
Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership
Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership
Luton Music Service
Music Education Islington
Sutton Music Service
Lewisham Music
THAMES Music
Merton Music Foundation
Bromley Youth Music Trust
Hounslow Music Service
Hackney Music Service
Kent Music
Dorset Music Service
Sound Foundation Somerset
ASONE Perform CIC
Arts Active
Arts Active
Derbyshire Music Partnership
Music Education Islington
Hounslow Music Service
Severn Arts
Middlesbrough Town Hall
Music for Bedford Borough
Services for Education
Luton Music Service
Lewisham Music
SoundStorm
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Dorset Music Service
Plymouth Music Education Hub
Dorset Music Education Hub
Bath & North East Somerset Music Education Hub
SIPS Music & Arts Service
Severn Arts
Solihull Music Service
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Cornwall Music Education Hub
SoundStorm
Bath & North East Somerset Music Education Hub
Bristol Plays Music
Bristol Plays Music
Bristol Plays Music
Community
Music Education Hubs, schools and arts organisations deliver Open Orchestras all over the country, creating a community of practice that reaches from Truro to Tyneside! Read their stories in Music Teacher Magazine.
If you want to increase musical access for all children and young people and are interested in becoming part of the Open Orchestras community, click the button below to get in touch.
Awards
Open Orchestras is brought to you by Open Up Music, a charity that empowers young disabled musicians to build inclusive youth orchestras. Our programmes have received a range of prestigious awards…
