Moor Time and University of Leeds collaboration

We are delighted to have been working with students from the University of Leeds since autumn 2023 to provide interactive live music sessions for Ilkley based short breaks charity, Moor Time.

Students from LUUMIC (Leeds University Union Music Impact in the Community Society) and LUUMS (Leeds University Union Music Society) have been working in collaboration with Accessible Inclusive Music (AIM) to design and deliver live interactive music sessions to children and young people attending Moor Time sessions.

Project planning has been supported by Sarah (AIM Chair/Founder) who has experience of delivering music sessions to children with additional needs and has lived experience of disability through her son who has complex needs. The sessions have included lots of opportunity for interaction with the children (and staff!) including singing, playing along using percussion, moving to the music with sensory scarves and hands on learning about instruments of the orchestra, dynamics, tempo, and articulation.

Moor Time staff have been delighted with the quality of the sessions; Jane (Moor Time Chair) commented:

“The young people who come to Moor Time have benefitted so much from the live music workshops run by AIM. The peer group who come along all have complex medical needs, many involving visual or hearing impairments, and they have loved the interactive and sensory nature of the workshops. We have been so impressed by the professionalism of the musicians, and their flexibility to adapt to the needs of individual young people attending. They have shown great understanding and awareness, changing the pace of the workshop when required. They have brought lots of resources to share with us, so the young people can join in and interact with the music, making it a joyful and sociable experience for them.”

The project has been a fantastic learning experience for all involved. El (LUUMS) commented:

“This project between LUUMS, AIM and LUUMIC has been really special. The society members have really enjoyed collaborating with each other and seeing the rewards in real time for what their music making can result in. Seeing the children’s reactions instead of just sitting in an orchestra where everyone sits still until it’s time to clap was a different and beneficial experience because they got to see the ‘real life’ difference their music can make. I think many are inspired to do more community music and have been able to see different parts of what they can do with music.”

The success of this collaboration has led to a longer-term partnership between AIM and Moor Time with music students at the University of Leeds and AIM freelance practitioners facilitating music sessions funded by Moor Time.

A summer of music thanks to Ilkley short breaks charity Moor Time | Ilkley Gazette