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ADMAF Supports Inclusive Music Therapy Workshops For Children With Special Needs In Al Ain |
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- A week of workshops concludes with a premiere performance entitled "Life in Al Ain"The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has stepped up its efforts to provide enhanced access to the arts to the wider community by supporting music therapy workshops for children with special needs in Al Ain. The week long workshops concluded today with a musical performance presented at the Al Ain Centre for Care and Rehabilitation by children with special needs from the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The workshops were organised by the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minors’ Affairs, with support from the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Emirates Foundation. Four brilliant musicians from the UK-based organization Live Music Now ran a series of workshops with the theme Al Ain Past and Present, providing special needs children with the opportunity to compose music and enhance their creative and performing skills. The Music Therapy Week also included training sessions on special education for students from the Women’s Higher College of Technology in Al Ain and teacher training sessions for music teachers and therapists. The workshops concluded with a final performance that featured a unique musical piece called “Life in Al Ain” composed specially for this occasion by Bede Williams, a prominent Live Music Now musician who has played with the BBC Scottish, New Zealand Symphony and Auckland Philharmonia. This premiere performance was presented by special needs children, students from the Women’s Higher College of Technology and musicians from Al Ain. ADMAF’s support of Music Therapy Week in Al Ain comes as part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care in April. The agreement has the aim of promoting recreational and cultural opportunities in the performing arts for individuals with disabilities and special needs. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s extensive year round educational programme, which seeks to support local talent and encourage creative thinking among the Emirati youth through lectures, workshops, training sessions and awards schemes in a variety of fields related to arts, culture and the media. ADMAF’s cooperation with Live Music Now started in the 2008 Abu Dhabi Festival when the group implemented special workshops for children with special needs across Abu Dhabi. Live Music Now is the largest provider of live music in the UK’s welfare, special needs, educational, justice and health sectors with a unique resource of professional musicians. Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, said “Music has very important therapeutic qualities for children with special needs and ADMAF remain strongly committed to work with the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care to ensure increased access to the arts for the wider UAE community. Our comprehensive education programme aims to not only spread knowledge about the arts but also inspire creativity for all the sectors of our society”. |
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