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Adam Ockelford – ‘Music: insights into the autistic mind’
Thursday 24th October at 6.00 pm, Jarman Studio 2
This talk considers how the structure of music as a form of human communication is uniquely suited to the autistic mind, and why it is that so many children and young people on the spectrum have a special affinity for music. Indeed, around 5% have exceptional musical abilities, which can pose a particular challenge to the education system. A model of how musicality develops in these children is presented, and illustrated with video examples which show pedagogical theory in action.
Adam Ockelford is Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton, and Director of the Applied Music Research Centre. He has over thirty years experience of working with children and young people with special musical abilities or needs, and is active as a researcher, writer, speaker and composer. His most recent book is 'Music, Language and Autism: Exceptional Strategies for Exceptional Minds', published in 2013 by Jessica Kingsley.