WCIT MONITOR Issue 63 Nov 2014 | Page 14

CHARITY

MONITOR

John Chilton School: Music Through
Technology Project

J

ohn Chilton School is a mixed Community Special School for
pupils with physical and medical difficulties who may have
additional learning or sensory needs, between the ages of
3 - 16+ years. Pupils have physical and cognitive disabilities
including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and communication
difficulties.
There is a capacity of 90 pupils at the school and many of our pupils
come from homes where English is a second language and a large
proportion of our pupils are eligible to receive free school meals.
Many pupils have profound communication difficulties and a very
large proportion of pupils have learning difficulties in the Moderate
Learning Difficulties range. In all our work with the pupils, staff see
them as individuals where their disabilities do not become a handicap.
Our pupils have ambitions, likes and loves. They can do much for
themselves and are encouraged to ask for help only when they need it.
There was a need to find opportunities for music-making through
technology to help students express themselves and a long term plan
was put together and then funding sought. The first part of the project
was to purchase iPads for use within the music sessions, and with the
help from The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Charity, some iPads were purchased for this project. As a result more
students are able to use the GarageBand app which is now being used
for composition work, the pupils have found the touch screen easy to
use and have really enjoyed creating their own music.
The ThumbJam app has also been used very successfully for
improvisation work. Pupils select an instrument and then improvise to
backing tracks. The backing tracks reflect different styles of music and
also different moods. The next stage will be for pupils to improvise
together in a small group, developing an awareness of other parts.

© John Chilton School

A sound system within the music room, which allows pupils to hear what they need to through headphones, has been installed
and pupils can either be set up to work individually or as a group. The iPads can then be used with this sound system to make
music alongside other instruments like our new drumset, handsonic drums, keyboards and electric guitars. The next phase of the
project will be to integrate more assistive music technology like the Soundbeam, Apollo Ensemble and switches for those pupils
with more complex needs, to enable all our pupils to make music together.
This project has already had a huge impact on our pupils by enabling them to make music using technology, and we are grateful
for the support we have received from so many in order to make all this possible. The project is a work-in-progress and will
continue to be developed.
Co ntributed by Sue Hardy,
John Chilton School

Thank you to the WCIT Charity and all its donors.

Monitor Issue 62 Adjustments


With thanks to Lord Peter Levene for the following:

In the days when there was a password to the Tower of
London, years ago, the Lord Mayor received this. But this is
no longer required in today’s world.
Page 14



It is no longer a custom or practice in today’s world for the
Court of Aldermen to purchase the Lord Mayor’s Ceremonial
robe in a coronation year, but they did do many years ago.