Music method Conductology hitting the right note for SEN learners in County Derry

An innovative approach developed in Northern Ireland is transforming how children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) experience music, giving them the chance to learn new skills, build confidence and perform to the highest standard.

Conductology, a gesture-based music system created from PhD research at Ulster University by Dr Denise White, who works in the Special Schools' Service CYPS in EA, enables pupils with SEN to take part in real-time collaborative music-making, equal to their peers, while developing essential life and learning skills.

Trained tutors, known as Conductologists, use 18 universal hand gestures to lead groups of 12–20 young people with SEN. These gestures tell the musicians what to play and when, so everyone can perform together.

ABOVE: Rebecca and Cara-Rose en route to get their sausage baps during orchestra rehearsal break.

The process is as important as the final performance with pupils improving their concentration, listening, cooperation, communication, leadership, creativity and social interaction, while producing music of outstanding quality.

Teachers working with SEN pupils have described the impact as a “game-changer.”

Dr Denise White, founder of Conductology, said: “I grew up with my uncle Dessie, who had Down Syndrome, and saw first-hand how music lifted his mood and helped him communicate.

“Conductology grew from that personal experience and years of research. It shows that with the right tools, children and young people with SEN can achieve incredible outcomes in education, creativity, and confidence.”

Looking to the future, the vision is to train Conductologists in schools and SEN settings across the region, and eventually bring pupils together as the Conductology Orchestra, with a debut performance at Belfast’s SSE Arena.

Plans are also being explored for Conductology Cubs, enabling children to start their journey from an early age and progress throughout their school years.

Dr Denise White, added: “We want to see inclusive creativity embedded across education.

“Imagine young people from every special and mainstream school performing high quality music together on a big stage proving that when it comes to music and learning, ability is never a barrier.”

For further information on how to sign up email Denise@conductology or rachel@conductology.co.uk