Inclusive Music Hits a High Note

More disabled children are being offered parity of access to music-making in Whole Class music lessons following The OHMI Trust’s successful application for Arts Council England funding. 

The £48,137 grant will enable the charity to bring the OHMI Music-Makers Whole Class programme to a further three areas of England schools via the Derby & Derbyshire Music Service, the Entrust Music Service in Staffordshire and Hounslow Music Service.

The funding also secures the delivery of the programme for the same 2026-27 cycle with Bradford Music Service, Lincolnshire Music Service, Inspiring Music in Central Bedfordshire, Resonate in Liverpool, and Southampton and the Isle of Wight Music Service.

 It also allows OHMI to switch the production of one-handed flutes to the UK following the decision of the developer of the instrument, Maarten Visser, to share his designs.

“We’re delighted that Arts Council England has once again recognised the value of the OHMI Music-Makers Whole Class programme,” said Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager at The OHMI Trust, which enables children and adults with physical impairments to play the instruments they want to play, when they want to play them and where they want to play them.

“Their support means we can identify and assess individual needs of children with an upper limb absence, impairment or weakness and provide them with the instrument or equipment to match, as closely as possible, what is being taught to the rest of the class.

“Critically, this analysis is conducted before lessons begin so that all parties – the child, their teacher and the music service – are all well prepared by the time the first note is played.

“We are also looking forward to bringing the one-handed flute production to the UK. Finding makers with the right skills has been a challenge, but we are delighted to have found new makers to take this on.”

More information on OHMI Music-Makers is available at: www.ohmi.org.uk/ohmi-music-makers.html

Picture caption: Rebekah Goulston playing the one-handed flute