soundLINCS launch new music resource for the deaf and hearing impaired

Music for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired: soundLINCS Launches Good Vibrations Toolkit

The Good Vibrations Toolkit is a new music resource for the deaf and hearing impaired developed by soundLINCS to support individuals to deliver inclusive music activities.

Dr Paul Whittaker OBE, founder of Music and the Deaf comments: “Congratulations to soundLINCS on creating Good Vibrations.  As a deaf musician with over 30 years’ experience of teaching and promoting the topic, I know there is a need for a guide explaining why music is important for deaf people, and that helps you find out more. It should be used nationally to encourage making music with deaf people and am delighted to recommend it.”

The Good Vibrations toolkit promotes an understanding of how people who are deaf and hearing impaired can experience music. People who are endeavouring to deliver musically inclusive activities can practically use this toolkit to find information, activities, advice and resources to support their music delivery.

The Good Vibrations Toolkit includes practical information such as tips and activities. It also includes relevant resources to help build knowledge and support including research, literature reviews, case studies and articles from experts in the field such as Music and the Deaf, National Deaf Children’s Society and the Ear Foundation.

Dame Evelyn Glennie, the world’s premiere solo percussionist, composer and speaker, profoundly deaf since the age of 12 remarks: “This is such an excellent toolkit, hugely helpful, and will be a great resource”.

soundLINCS believes everyone should be given the opportunity to experience music. The toolkit questions; ‘Why wouldn’t you do music with the Deaf and Hearing Impaired?’

The Good Vibrations toolkit is designed to be a colourful and dynamic booklet offering short, quick tips and advice for adults who need a time-effective information source when delivering music with deaf and hearing impaired children and young people.

Nikki-Kate Heyes MBE, soundLINCS CEO explains, “We identified that what was needed was a portal, a gateway, a simple and approachable starting point for any adult on the journey of providing music to a deaf and hearing impaired young person. The toolkit aims to do this for any person wishing to begin their journey.”

The Good Vibrations project was part of soundLINCS FundC  a National Foundation for Youth Music Funded programme. The project was developed in partnership with Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service with support from Leicester-Shire Hearing Impaired Service and Bishop Grosseteste University to name a few.

soundLINCS welcomes the opportunity to share the Good Vibrations toolkit at events. More new music resources will be announced soon.

For further information about the Good Vibrations toolkit or to find out more about soundLINCS, visit www.soundlincs.org, visit the soundLINCS facebook page: www.facebook.com/soundLINCS or twitter: www.twitter.com/soundLINCS, email info@soundlincs.org or call 01522 510073.