Introducing the International Alliance of Accessible Music

A Global Movement for Inclusion through Music

I’ve always believed that accessible music education and performance should transcend international borders. Individuals with learning disabilities often communicate less through spoken language and more through gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and positive reinforcement. Above all, they connect through the universal language of music.

From Local Origins to Global Ambitions

Throughout my 25 years of service to this international community, I learned that individuals with learning disabilities share commonalities regardless of their origins. My teaching trips to South Africa, India, Nepal, and the Philippines unveiled a global community bonded by shared challenges. The mischievous grin of a child with developmental delays in Kathmandu, the warm embrace of an adult with Down Syndrome in Bangalore, the anxious anticipation of an autistic girl in the Philippines, and the determination of a teenager with Cerebral Palsy in Johannesburg all mirrored the faces of my UK students. While cultures and attitudes varied, their needs were the same, as was their potential.

This global community, along with their families and caregivers, motivated my campaign for inclusive music education and performance for everyone. They encouraged me to shatter the barriers in my hometown, my home county, and even my home country. If my method succeeded in Southend-on-Sea, why couldn't it be effective on every continent in the world?

My trips abroad were generally self-financed, enabled by invitations from schools, charities, or churches that supported vulnerable individuals in their regions. I did everything possible to make these journeys successful—despite having no budget, significant teaching responsibilities at home, and a young family. I traveled thousands of miles to areas where disability was viewed as a curse. Children were abandoned and left in care homes for years, with some even chained to buildings in the jungle. I observed the combination of disability, poverty, and a culture of fear and misunderstanding. However, I also saw remarkable human resilience in overcoming challenges. I witnessed innovation, dedication, and kindness in the parents, siblings, teachers, and caregivers. It wasn’t only the disabled individuals themselves that reminded me of home; it was also the loving communities that guided and protected them.

In every country I visited, I shared my accessible music techniques, conducted workshops for a few days, and highlighted the students' progress through community concerts. These experiences were incredibly fulfilling, shifting perceptions of disability in just a short time. Nonetheless, the logistical and financial obstacles of providing sustained support to these communities were significant challenges. While some projects eventually faded, the memories and the hope that my music continues to resonate in these regions remain.

The Music Man Project in Nepal

Further reading:

Teaching in Nepal

The Turning Point

A pivotal moment occurred in 2019 during my Churchill Fellowship in New York. There, I connected with accessible music providers who shared my vision of music as more than just therapy—it is a medium for excellence, expression, and entertainment. This revelation planted the seed for a worldwide alliance that could unite like-minded organisations under a shared mission.

Further reading:

The Community Access Unlimited/Kean University Partnership in New Jersey

In 2020, I brought The Music Man Project to Estancia in the Philippines. It turned out to be my most successful expedition so far, uniting families traumatized by a devastating tornado a few years prior, along with children with special needs - some of whom had been confined to their homes for months. It was overwhelming to witness a blind girl perform my song, "Music is Magic," accompanied by numerous children living in the most extreme poverty I had ever encountered. Yet, just as momentum was building, the pandemic halted everything.

Further reading:

Teaching in the Philippines

 A New Chapter in the Face Tragedy

In 2021, the brutal murder of our charity’s president, Sir David Amess, shook us deeply. But his legacy became a rallying cry for hope. With support from global marketing CEO Chris Lewis and Government Minister Penny Mordaunt, The Music Man Project embarked on an international mission. Chris invited The Music Man Project to perform at the TEAM LEWIS global conference in San Diego. For the first time, I had the opportunity to expand my vision for accessible music worldwide with the help of my disabled musicians instead of staff and volunteers. Could my students travel such a distance? Would they adapt to the new environment? I underestimated them. They captivated San Diego, performing throughout the city, including on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier with the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines. As the audience stood to applaud, I realized the best way to convey my message was to showcase my students' talents and achievements. The Global Ambassadors for The Music Man Project were created. This coincided with my appointment as the UK Government's Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture - a position that Sir David had encouraged me to apply for. I now had the platform and the voices of the disabled to promote the UK as an international leader in accessible arts and culture.

Further reading:

The Music Man Project in San Diego, USA

With the support of TEAM LEWIS, I brought the ambassadors to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Canada. They were the stars of the show, captivating 20,000 people over 5 outstanding performances, accompanied by the Central Band of the RAF. Their participation was featured by Canadian TV and media.

Further Reading:

Flying the Flag for Britain: Our Stars of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo

The Birth of the Internaional Alliance

The final component was a musical collaboration with an organisation similar to The Music Man Project in another country. TEAM LEWIS connected me with 'AllegroModerato' in Italy. Our joint concert, 'Music is Magic in Milan,' marked the first ever musical collaboration between performers with learning disabilities from two different countries. Their leader, Luca Baldan, quickly became a friend, and we discussed the idea of a global network which could change perceptions of disability through music education and performance. We agreed to seek new members to learn from one another, collaborate, and promote our shared mission. 

Further reading: Music is Magic in Milan

The International Alliance of Accessible Music will:

1. Connect accessible music education and performance providers around the world

2. Share music, teaching resources and techniques

3. Perform joint concerts at prestigious international venues

4. Promote accessible music globally through sharing of member’s achievements,

   progress and events

5. Convene annually to learn from each other and share best practice

6. Train, mentor and inspire the next generation of Special Educational Needs music educators

7. Help develop new technologies and explore the potential of AI in making music more accessible

8. Fundraise to further the aims of the alliance and its members

9. Attract new members to the alliance

Today, the alliance has members across North America, Europe, and Asia:

1. The Music Man Project (London, UK)

2. AllegroModerato (Milan, Italy)

3. Scooppiati Diversamente Band (Rome, Italy)

4. Jostiband Orchestra (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

5. Slow Label Earth Pieces (Tokyo, Japan)

6. Community Access Unlimited/Kean University Partnership (New Jersey, USA)

While relatively rare, we know there are other organisations across the globe using music education and performance to change lives and reverse perceptions. Our new challenge is to find them all, to learn from them, to support them and to collaborate with them.

From South Africa to the Netherlands, my journey has been one of discovery—of the resilience of disabled individuals, the power of music to unite, and the importance of global collaboration. With every performance, we continue to challenge perceptions of disability, showcasing the extraordinary potential of people often underestimated by society.

Looking Ahead

The International Alliance of Accessible Music is just the beginning. Upcoming collaborations, like the “Best Life” concert in Rome and the “Music is Magic” performance in Amsterdam, promise to amplify this movement further. Together, we aim to make music truly accessible to all, leaving no one behind.

Perhaps one day, I’ll return to South Africa, India, Nepal, and the Philippines to finish what I started. Until then, the alliance stands as a beacon of hope, a testament to the transformative power of music, and a call to action for a more inclusive world.

For more information about the alliance, visit www.themusicmanproject.com/IAAM.