Unlocking Musical Participation: Sensory approaches to singing and opera
Explore how sensory-led approaches to singing and opera can create meaningful, inclusive musical experiences for children and young people with SEND, using practical strategies drawn from the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Schools Sing programme.
This interactive workshop explores how sensory-led approaches can transform access to singing and musical participation for children and young people with SEND, particularly those with complex needs, autism, sensory processing differences, or communication barriers.
What key themes will be discussed?
- Musical participation through sensory approaches
- Musical engagement, communication, listening, and creative response at different developmental stages
What are the learning outcomes and key takeaways?
- Gain practical, adaptable strategies for supporting musical participation through sensory approaches to singing and opera.
- Learn how movement, gesture, visual stimulus, touch, vibration, and imaginative play can support musical engagement.
- Learn practical approaches for inclusive facilitation, greater confidence in adapting vocal work for diverse learners, and a deeper understanding of how meaningful musical participation can be recognised and nurtured.
This session will be of particular interest to:
- Those working with a diverse range of learners in the classrooms.
Interactions:
- Audience participation
- Audience Q&A
Speakers
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Dominic Oldfield
Royal Ballet and Opera
Dominic Oldfield
Royal Ballet and Opera
Dominic is the leader of the RBO Schools Sing programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera, a flagship national programme that empowers young people to explore dramatic singing and storytelling through opera. A passionate advocate for equity in music education, Dominic champions singing and musical participation as a powerful catalyst for self-expression, creativity, and wellbeing in students. Previously, he spent a decade leading Music departments in secondary schools, as well as freelance engagements as a baritone. His focus is on making high-quality music education a reality for all young people, using singing as a way to build confidence, creativity, and connection.
