Live Music Now

Last week, Live Music Now NI hosted two events as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council - AHRC funded Musical Connections project, exploring music access for autistic learners.

On Monday 15 June, Live Music Now’s Northern Ireland musicians gathered at The MAC Belfast for an Inclusive Music-Making with Autistic Learners training session, led by Dr Beth Pickard and Alex Lupo. The session introduced the core values, principles and approaches emerging from the Musical Connections research project, exploring how musicians can create safe, inclusive and meaningful musical experiences with autistic children and young people.

On Tuesday 16 June, we welcomed researchers, educators, musicians, parents and sector colleagues to From Research to Practice: Music Access for Autistic Learners. The event shared findings from the project, including insights from musician residencies in Northern Ireland and Wales, a panel discussion with musicians and staff from St Dallan's Primary School, Warrenpoint, and a screening of the Musical Connections film.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to these important conversations. As Musical Connections moves into its next phase, we're excited to build on the project's findings through practical resources, policy recommendations and continued collaboration to support more inclusive music education for autistic learners.

Read the full news story here: https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/musical-connections-bringing-research-practice-and-partnership-together-in-northern-ireland/

Join us for a free online event where we'll share early insights from the Arts and Humanities Research Council - AHRC-funded Musical Connections project, exploring how access to high-quality music-making can be expanded for autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases.

Delivered in partnership with Music Mark this session brings together research, practice, and policy to explore music as an issue of equity and entitlement—and what needs to happen next.

📆 22nd June 2026
🕰️ 3.45pm - 5pm
💻 Online
📝Sign up: https://ow.ly/X7x050ZewWO

A year of music, connection and community in Devon 🎶

Over the past 12 months, our Musical Memory Cafés have brought 36 live concerts to people living with dementia and their carers, reaching nearly 1,000 participants.

These sessions support:
💬 Communication skills through shared singing and conversation
💛 Emotional regulation by creating joyful, calming experiences
🤝 Inclusion & community building by bringing people together in welcoming spaces

“It’s made my whole year!”

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund for making this possible 🌟

Totnes Caring The Ness Care Group Dartmouth Caring Age UK Exeter Memory Matters Age Concern Crediton

In partnership with Sounds of Intent and the University of Roehampton, we’re looking for a Project Manager to lead and coordinate the national delivery and development of ‘Tuning In to Autism’ and help shape an emerging area of inclusive music practice.

About the role:

🏠 Home-based (UK)
📑 Fixed-term, 12 months
📆 3 days per week
💵 £33,000 (FTE) pro rata

Main duties and responsibilities:

📈 Project management and coordination
🤝 Partnership Working and Sector Engagement
🎯 Training, Resources and Delivery
📢 Communications and Promotion

The role may suit a primary phase teacher or an early years specialist; someone with experience of autism and social communication approaches within education; someone with lived experience of autism and a passion for inclusive creative practice.

Does that sound like you? Read the job description and person specification to see how you match up!

https://ow.ly/1KCS50Z8Ty3

⏰ Deadline to apply: 5pm, Monday 13 July 2026

To apply upload your CV and a short video clip (approx. 2 min) explaining why you are suited for this role: https://ow.ly/B6sK50Z8Ty0

Our programme for Musical Mondays 26-27 is now live!

In 2026-27 we'll be streaming fun, interactive concerts live to classrooms across the country. Music services, music hubs and multi-academy trusts can join us to bring concerts to their schools. Performances feature an array of Live Music Now's exciting professional musicians, and a very special international Musical Mondays live on location.

Check out our programmes for mainstream primary schools (https://ow.ly/buzv50Z6KMx) and a dedicated special schools series (https://ow.ly/YNk250Z6KMw).

See you on the other side of the screen! 🎺💻

Are you an educator, parent, carer, musician, or involved in supporting autistic learners through a school, charity or organisation?
Do you have lived experience of autism and/or an interest in music education? 🎶💛

Join Live Music Now and University of South Wales at The MAC, Belfast for ‘From Research to Practice: Music Access for Autistic Learners in Northern Ireland’.

This free networking event will share early insights from the AHRC-funded ‘Musical Connections’ project exploring how access to high-quality music-making can be expanded for autistic children and young people in Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools (SPiMs).

Together we will share:
-Key learning from residencies in Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools (SPiMs)
-What enables—and limits—access to meaningful music experiences
-Early insights shaping our upcoming toolkit for schools and policy briefing
-Panel discussion with perspectives from practice, research, and lived experience

📅 Tuesday 16th June 2026, 10am-1pm
📍 The MAC, Belfast
🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-research-to-practice-music-access-for-autistic-learners-in-ni-tickets-1988409238559?aff=oddtdtcreator

We’d love to bring together a wide range of voices and perspectives for this important conversation and would be delighted if you could join us or help spread the word by sharing with your networks.

If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

This project is supported by the University of Southampton's Centre for Music Education and Social Justice and delivered with researchers Dr Beth Pickard (University of South Wales) and Alex Lupo (Live Music Now)

Join us at Eglinton Community Hall for a morning of music, scones and connection with musicians Anna Nolan and Rohan Armstrong ☕✨

We're delighted to welcome the duo to Eglinton Community Hall on Thursday 4 June for our next intergenerational Songs & Scones concert. Together, they perform a rich mix of Jazz, Gospel, Soul, Folk and Roots music.

📍 Eglinton Community Hall
🗓 Thursday 4 June
🕙 10am–11.30am

This event is free to attend thanks to funding from Apex Housing Association.

Book your free place by texting: 07759 502327
Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment!

We can’t wait to see you there 🎶

Photographs courtesy of Stephen Latimer Photography, taken at our most recent Songs & Scones concert with musicians Conor Lamb and Deirdre Galway.

Join us on Wed 3 June, 3.45 – 5pm for a free online seminar sharing early insights from the AHRC-funded Musical Connections project, exploring how access to high-quality music-making can be expanded for autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases.

Delivered in partnership with Gwasanaeth Cerdd Cenedlaethol Cymru/National Music Service Wales researchers Dr Beth Pickard (University of South Wales) and Alex Lupo (Live Music Now) this session brings together research, practice, and policy to explore music as an issue of equity and entitlement—and what needs to happen next across Wales.

We will share:
- Key learning from residencies in ARBs
- What enables—and limits—access to meaningful music experiences
- Early insights shaping our upcoming toolkit for schools and policy briefing
- Panel discussion with perspectives from practice, research, and lived experience

Register now (http://tr.ee/JzHgke) to be part of the conversation on how equitable access to music can be realised for autistic learners in Wales.

This project is supported by the University of Southampton's Centre for Music Education and Social Justice.

We recently checked back in with the parents from our Essex Lullaby Intervention. We knew the songs were beautiful, but we were moved to hear how they’ve become a part of the family fabric.

From "kitchen dance parties" to soothing babies during night feeds, these tracks are much more than just music - they are "living memories" that parents will cherish forever.

Read the full update here: https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/essex-lullaby-intervention/