He found his voice: A breakthrough at our SEN music session

Charlie’s breakthrough moment

This week we saw a major development from one of our participants.

Charlie got up and took part in karaoke for the first time.

So what? Lots of people do karaoke.

Well, we’ve known Charlie for almost five years. He is autistic and normally sits very quietly in the session. He likes to take part in songwriting and has a good understanding of melody. But sometimes he finds the session overwhelming and he leaves the room.

So Charlie stepping up to the mic was totally unexpected. Not just his willingness to perform, but we got to hear what a lovely voice he has! What’s more is the focus he sustained, even in an noisy environment that he would normally withdraw from.

How we build confidence through music

So how did we get here? Our approach to inclusive music making is to have lots of enthusiasm. And to show it! We engage with participants in a very visual way, almost over-played. But there’s no pressure. We make sure taking part is not daunting or scary. It’s fun and supportive! We help people feel empowered and confident to stand up and express themselves.

Why consistency creates these moments

We’ve seen this before in other places we visit. Sometimes something shifts. Something just clicks with that person in that moment and the magic happens. You don’t always know when or why but the key is consistency. By repetition over time, by building that routine we provide a place of safety and support that helps people feel secure and free to create.

It’s taken nearly five years for this special moment to happen and Charlie’s mum is  delighted with how her son has developed with T.I.M.E. Developing confidence and communication is not something that can be achieved in one session. It’s the consistent approach, building a relationship, building trust, that allows these moments to happen.

Charlie singing karaoke for the first time during a T.I.M.E SEN music session.

Want to support moments like Charlie’s? Find out how you can help by visiting our Support Us page. ❤️