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Go further with music

Open Orchestras is behind the largest community of inclusive ensembles in the UK, in partnership with Music Education Hubs and special schools. Our award-winning, groundbreaking programme makes learning an instrument and playing with others independently, expressively and in real time accessible to all 8-18 year-old disabled students.

Get everything you need to set up your orchestra successfully: digital training and mentoring, musical resources, CPD, access to the Clarion™ – an instrument that can be played with any movement of the body. There’s also an amazing community to support you!

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Play Clarion™

Young people play a mix of acoustic and accessible and electronic in Open Orchestras. Through the programme, they will get access to the Clarion, an accessible and colourful instrument that removes the barriers often associated with traditional instruments. There’s no need to bow, pluck or blow it!

Available on iPad or PC, Clarion can be played using mouse of finger touch, but also head movement or eye movement.

It has won multiple awards over the years, including the 2020 Tech4Good Accessibility Award. Clarion players love their instrument, and some will use it outside of their music lessons to access other areas of the curriculum.

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Repertoire

Finding musical repertoire that is accessible to young people with a range of additional support needs can be a huge challenge.

We’ve carefully re-worked music that enables young disabled people to participate in Open Orchestras whatever their needs and access requirements.

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Continuing Professional Development

Since launching the UK’s first Open Orchestras in 2013, we’ve been refining a pedagogical approach that is transferable and deliverable.

Our training and support will ensure that your workforce are confident in providing young disabled people with opportunities to play and perform as part of their very own Open Orchestra.

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Doubletrees School
Ysgol Penybryn
Harlow Fields School & College
Ysgol Crug Glas Special School
Oakwood School
Step Up Moves
Stanton Vale School
Bettridge School
Cedar School
Portfield School
Ysgol y Gogarth
Ysgol Hafod Lon
Ysgol Pendalar
Canolfan Addysg y Bont
Stubbin Wood School
Swiss Cottage School
Lonsdale School
St John's
Elleray Park School
Yewstock School
Watergate Wonder Orchestra
Kirkleatham Hall School
Hebden Green
Warmley Park
Willow Dene School
Bower Grove School
Beaucroft
Beverley School & Priory Woods School
Merefield School
Live Music Now
Ash Field Academy
Leicestershire Music
Ivy House School
Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership
Sherwood Park School
Sutton Music Service
Perseid Upper School
Merton Music Foundation
Bromley Youth Music Trust
Bromley Youth Music Trust
Lindon Bennett
Hounslow Music Service
Ickburgh School
Hackney Music Service
Polden Bower School
Sound Foundation Somerset
Ty Gwyn Special School
Arts Active
Riverbank School
Arts Active
Trinity Fields School
Alfreton Park Community Special School
Derbyshire Music Partnership
Oaklands School
Hounslow Music Service
Regency High School
Severn Arts
Middlesbrough Open Orchestra
Middlesbrough Town Hall
Hamilton Primary School, Birmingham
Services for Education
Woodlands School, Luton
Luton Music Service
Greenvale School, Catford
Lewisham Music
Linwood School, Bournemouth
SoundStorm
Brannel School, St Austell
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Curnow School, Redruth
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Three Ways School, Bath
Bath & North East Somerset Music Education Hub
Chadsgrove School, Bromsgrove
Severn Arts
Richard Lander School, Truro
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Pencalenick School, Truro
Cornwall Music Education Hub
Treloar's, Alton
Fosse Way School, Bath
Bath & North East Somerset Music Education Hub
Claremont School, Bristol
Bristol Plays Music
Kingsweston School, Bristol
Bristol Plays Music
St Rose's School, Stroud

Community

Music Education Hubs, schools and arts organisations deliver Open Orchestras all over the country, creating a community of practice that reaches from Truro to Tyneside! Read their stories in Music Teacher Magazine or watch them on our YouTube channel.

If you want to increase musical access for all children and young people and are interested in becoming part of the Open Orchestras community, click the button below to get in touch.

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Awards

Open Orchestras is brought to you by Open Up Music, a charity that empowers young disabled musicians to build inclusive youth orchestras. Our programmes have received a range of prestigious awards…