Online inclusive choir

At Accessible Inclusive Music we aim to provide music making experiences for everyone. At the moment, we deliver a weekly online inclusive choir.

To us, inclusivity doesn’t mean creating an activity for those who struggle to access mainstream extra curricular activities, it means everybody can participate together whether they consider themselves to have additional needs or not.

Information

Tuesday 5pm (term time only)
free to join
online (if internet access is a barrier please contact AIM for support)
under the age of 18 (find out about our youth choir pilot project)
for both disabled and non-disabled children
for anyone in the UK

How you can participate

You or your child can join the choir in any way that’s accessible to you. This might include:

singing
using Makaton
moving your body
making sounds
using an eye-gaze or switch
listening to others

What to expect from a choir session

Our fully inclusive choir is more than just a musical activity. Parents and carers have commented on how their children have developed in confidence, learnt new skills, made new friends and developed their communication skills through music!

Each rehearsal has a specifically designed structure to promote familiarity and routine and rehearsals are intentionally designed to work online which is often well received by busy parents/carers and those participants with additional needs who use specialist seating/equipment or find new environments over stimulating.

Despite only launching our fully inclusive choir in June 2021 we have provided free fortnightly and weekly rehearsals to children and young people all across the UK.

This has included:

2 summer inclusive choir workshops
a Christmas virtual video opportunity
an online and in person workshop with Bradford and Airedale Youth Choir (BAYC)
worked collaboratively with the Leeds based charity SNAPS Yorkshire to provide in person inclusive choir sessions

How to join

If you or your child would like to join the choir, please email us at accessible.inclusive.music@gmail.com for more information.

Testimonials and reviews

T: Picture shows a boy in a red hoody smiling and holding a handbell in each hand. He is surrounded by instruments.

AIM choir is vital part of Toby’s education and he loves it too. His signing, engagement and participation are all slowly improving each week. I was amazed how much he signed this week, and how much he’s looking more at what is happening on screen. Best of all he is also starting to vocalise when noises are used ie copying when you say ooooh etc. This is a huge step forwards as Toby is largely non verbal. Getting him to copy simple sounds and signs is really helping his speech and communication. It’s part of our weekly routine now.

“Thank you for another term of the wonderful choir that E has enjoyed so much. She has continued to grow in self esteem from taking part in the choir. as well as experiencing joy through singing. She is developing a real interest in music; this was something that seemed to have bypassed her previously. She can now be heard singing in the house, this is a pleasure to experience. She is really enjoying the music of George Ezra and The Interrupters and is learning the lyrics so she can sing along. We never thought E would do this; we are so pleased that she is experiencing the power of music. Thank you Sarah and the team; being part of the choir has opened up a new world for E. This will change her life for the better forever; being able to have music in her life and all the benefits it brings is a priceless treasure. Thank you.”
AIM choir parent/carer

S: Picture shows a boy with short dark hair smiling whilst looking at a computer screen

"Samuel loves attending the AIM choir sessions. He has a love of singing and is often singing at home. Attending an online choir where there are no expectations of how he joins in and participates has given him such a confidence boost and he loves the sessions. Thank you to everyone involved for providing such a fantastic (free!!) opportunity for our kids."
Samuel's mum

“My daughter who has Cerebral Palsy, attends AIM choir, as does her twin sister. Choir is excellent for the girls’ wellbeing. They always feel included, encouraged and never judged. As a result, their confidence has really grown and they love to sing! AIM has given them the confidence to have a go at singing a little solo, something I never thought I would see! My daughter with CP works tirelessly to improve her speech intelligibility, so it shows how comfortable she feels during AIM choir to volunteer to sing a solo. She continuously builds on her resilience which is paying off as her ability to sing different notes is improving all the time. I am so grateful for AIM choir and the opportunity it affords ALL children.”
AIM choir parent/carer

Picture shows a boy smiling with a tambourine in his right hand

"I love AIM choir. I like singing and performing, working together with friends and seeing them thrive, and exploring sounds - especially silly ones!
Afternoon activities are hard for me because of pain and tiredness. I feel different than others, I can't keep up and sometimes I'm too overwhelmed at the end of the day but I can do AIM choir at home in my own way and I always feel included.
I had a bit of sign language before but because of AIM choir now I know lots and that helps me include others out in the world.
I have learnt some great songs at choir. I'm always singing wherever I go!". (Warren-online inclusive choir member)

“My two children love attending choir; it is great to see how they have grown in confidence. It really is fully inclusive and everyone is made to feel welcome and treated as equal. And the bonus for parents, it’s on Zoom so mum’s taxi service not required!”
AIM choir parent/carer

"I just want to share with you how life changing the choir has been for Eris. Prior to joining, Eris did not sing; music was something other people liked and were able to participate in. Since joining your choir all this has changed. Eris was shown acceptance and celebration of diversity. She was introduced to the pleasure of music and the joy of singing. She has a keen interest in a variety of songs now and often googles song lyrics so she can learn them.
Eris can now be heard singing all over the house. It has brought her joy and a new found confidence where she has been able to experience and understand part of the world that was alien to her.
Thank you for making this enormous difference to Eris' life."

Inclusive Youth Choir pilot

In November 2023 we piloted a free online inclusive youth choir for young people aged 16-25 who are disabled and have additional needs.

Led by our wonderful choir leaders Karen and Georgie, participants were able to join in with rehearsals singing, signing, moving to the music, using an eye gaze device or switch.

The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by participants, and this is something we would like to revisit as an organisation subject to funding and interest.

If you are a young person or parent/carer of a young person aged 16-25 who has additional needs and would be interested in this kind of musical opportunity, please get in touch via email: accessible.inclusive.music@gmail.com