Leading singing in SEN settings

Making music and singing with children with special needs is a challenging but hugely rewarding journey: once you’ve started you won’t be able to stop!  Music is unbeatable for encouraging sharing, communication, turn-taking, concentration, leadership, choice, teamwork, confidence, listening and most importantly, self-expression - all of these qualities are inherent within music.   These skills are particularly meaningful for children with autism and other special needs - maybe that’s why making music with these very special children produces such incredible results.

 Here are some practical tips for you to think about before you run a music session.

• Play the same instrument (jingle bells, for example) at the start of each session in order to signal the beginning of music time.  This is a reassuring marker for children who may find transitions difficult and it’s also lovely to see the expressions of excitement when you play that special instrument.
• After you’ve played your music time instrument a ‘Hello’ song can be used to introduce every music session.  A high level of repetition in the song will reinforce the verbal message. Have a look at Hello, hello in the Song Bank for a good example.
• Sitting in a circle helps to keep children involved and focussed.

It’s very easy just to hand out the instruments without thinking about it.  Here are some creative ways of presenting instruments that give the children choices:

• Place a selection on a table in front of the group. Sound each instrument in turn and then invite group members up one at a time to choose one.
• Walk around the outside of the circle, playing an instrument. Watch members’ responses and decide who to give the instrument to.
• Offer each person a choice of two instruments, sounding one either side of her. Watch for a response, such as looking or turning the head, and give the instrument most responded to.
• Pass a box of instruments around the group and invite each person to take one.
• Ask a member of the group to distribute the instruments.
• Select two instruments. Ask a member which instrument she wants herself and then ask her to choose someone to give the other instrument to.

There are some important issues to consider when running your session:

Choice

This is something that can sometimes get forgotten when it comes to children with special needs, especially if they are severely disabled or very passive.  Try always to think about ways that you can give the children meaningful choices.  You could do this by using visual aids, for example, holding up two different laminated picture cards to represent two different songs.  So a picture of a cat would represent the song A cat sat on a mat and a bird for Little bird.  Vocal communication aids such as Big Macs can also be used so that children can make choices.  In Grandma rap, you can input ‘Grandma, Grandma’ into the VOCA and that child can choose when the song begins.

Leadership

Give all children the opportunity to lead sessions.  Get them up to the front whether it’s to lead the singing, conduct the group or sing a solo.  Action songs such as Song of the fish are a lovely way to put a child in the spotlight, as often they will love performing the actions in front of their friends and peers.

Quality

It’s crucial to believe absolutely in the concept of quality in music making.  If it’s done badly then it doesn’t have a neutral effect, it has a negative effect. Try to find ways of raising the bar and to keep making it better.

Increasing Confidence

It’s wonderful to see shy and anxious children coming out of their shells, and music is a great help in overcoming these challenges.  Use songs like As I was walking down the street, where everyone is engaged and can act a bit silly.  Often they will forget to be nervous when everyone is dancing round the room without a care. 

Creativity

Think of creative ways in which you can celebrate singing.  One Sing Up Silver Award school teacher came up with the following brilliant idea.  Every time a class sings a song then one of the children goes and sticks a sticker on a special board they’ve made.  The class that has sung the most is celebrated in assembly each week.  Of course all of the children want to win and so they will, no doubt, nag their teachers to sing.  Genius! 

Engagement

It’s important to think about engaging with the reality of the children’s lives.  Songs like There’s a spider on the floor can be a really useful way in to discussing fears and anxieties that children may have, especially those with autism.  Singing these songs can provide a non-threatening route into discussing the problems and issues that children face every day.  Even the most severely disabled child can have a meaningful engagement with music. 

Sing & Share

Lucky Voice and Pure Solo are really valuable tools for SEN teachers.  Children, especially profoundly disabled ones, will derive an immense amount of pleasure from hearing their voices recorded and it’s a great way to encourage sense of self.  Lucky Voice also provides a quick and easy way to get shy or anxious children up and singing. So visit the Sing & Share area of the Sing Up website and start exploring!

Remember:  the onus is on us to find a way to connect and engage with the young people that we work with.  And sometimes it is a struggle, and it won’t always be easy.  There is always a way in - a route into understanding and connection with the children, no matter what there disability. It may take 5 songs, 10 songs, 100 songs - just try and keep going and you will get there.  Patience is the key!

Most importantly of all, remember that singing and music making in general is an equalizer - we all have a voice and that fact is something to celebrate. We are the people who have the power to unlock and unleash musicality in children and to help children to find their musical self.  Using songs like A tiny seed was sleeping to introduce a strong sensory element into the session will enable you to include all of the children in your group.   

Good luck!

Here is a list of recommended publications if you are working with children with SEN:

Pyramid Pack

A Sing Up resource that focuses on helping shy and withdrawn children.  Available for free download.

Approaches to Communication Through Music by Margaret Corke

ISBN 1 85346 843 6

Music Moves by Adam Ockelford

ISBN 1 85878 152 3

Doing Music and Music and people with a learning disability Mencap  www.mencap.org.uk

Angry Arthur by Hiawyn Oram and Satoshi Kitamura

ISBN 978-0-099-19661-7

A Boy and a Bear: The Children's Relaxation Book by Lori Lite

ISBN 1-886941-07-6