The OHMI Trust

Curious about what inclusive music-making looks like on the ground? Our General Manager Rachel Wolffsohn was invited recently to speak with Esi Hardy of Celebrating Diversity on her Equality Edit podcast. This in-depth discussion, entitled ‘Inclusive Music And the Barriers We Forget’, is broken down into helpful chapter headings: • It’s All Right To Try • Why Music Accessibility Still Falls Behind • When Instrument Design Creates Barriers • The Difference Between Crisis Support And Everyday Inclusion • When Accessibility Depends On Parent Capacity • What Happens When Schools Do Not Know Where To Start • Making Music Lessons More Accessible In Practice • Challenging Assumptions About Disabled Potential • Schools, Equality Duties And Inclusive Provision • Why Inclusion Is More Than Giving Somebody A Different Activity • How Accessibility Benefits The Whole Classroom • Listening To Disabled Children And Parents • Moving From “Difficult Behaviour” To Barrier Reduction • Practical Advice For Teachers And Education Leaders • Creating More Inclusive Pathways Into Music You can listen in here: /watch?v=XL8XjUUVkSI Please do like or share because the wider the conversation, the easier it will be, once and for all, to tackle the exclusion disabled people often face in music-making! #CelebratingDisability #LeaderInterviews #TheEqualityEdit

🎉🎶 OHMI has successfully applied for Arts Council England grant funding to deliver Whole Class music lessons for 2026–27 🎉🎶 It means we can introduce the OHMI Music-Makers Whole Class programme to schools in three new areas via the Derby & Derbyshire Music Service, Entrust Music Staffordshire, and HOUNSLOW MUSIC SERVICE. Plus continue provision in the five areas where we are already working with @Bradford Music and Arts Service, Lincolnshire Music Service, Inspiring Music in Central Bedfordshire, Resonate Music in Liverpool, and Southampton and the Isle of Wight Music Service. The funding will also allow us to switch the production of one-handed flutes to the UK. .uk/blog/inclusive-music-making-hits-a-high-note-as-ohmi-music-makers-extends-to-a-further-three-areas #accessiblemusic #inclusion #WCET #adaptedmusicalinstruments

The OHMI Support team had a great day watching the fabulous @maja.sofia running around the London Marathon course on Sunday. She has done a wonderful job of fundraising but it would be great to get her up to her target. If you haven't quite got around to supporting her then please do reward her efforts by clicking here: /pf/maja-persson All funds raised will be used to enable music-making for people with physical disabilities and will be very gratefully received. If you're interested in running in the 2027 London Marathon do email [email protected] for more information!

🏃🏻‍♀️🎶 We’d like to wish Maja Persson a final Good Luck for the London Marathon this weekend! Despite a recent injury setback, Maja has kept her pace and determination and is now tantalising close to her £2,000 target to raise funds for OHMI 💪🏻 If you can, please do help her get over the line: /pf/maja-persson 🏆

Best of luck to Maja Persson at Sunday’s TCS London Marathon! She’s kindly running in aid of OHMI and there’s still time to lend your support /pf/maja-persson

In recognition of Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month this month, we asked Hero, with the help of her mum, Amy, to share her experience of playing the violin. “The loaning of an instrument and support arranging adaptations made a very overwhelming process completely smooth!” Learn more about Hero at: .uk/case-study-27.html #limblosslimbdifference #LLLDAM

🎻Strings musicians who have difficulty with their grip or a partial hand are being offered a new, comfortable solution with OHMI’s Bow Holder🎻 Key features: • Comfortable manoeuvre without risk of dropping the bow since some or all fingers/palm/wrist are positioned between the strap and the foam • Adjustable foam (using regular scissors), to allow for a bespoke fit • Available in two sizes and in colours that blend well with the Bow Stick: Medium (Black) - up to 7cm wide at 1cm high space; and Small (Brown) - up to 5cm wide at 1cm high space • Suitable for violins, violas and cellos We’re excited to say this wonderful piece of enabling equipment has already been sent to musicians as far afield as Australia, Japan and Germany! 🔗 Find out more at OHMI’s online shop: .uk/shop.html

We’re excited to announce that OHMI has accepted an invitation to join the International Alliance of Accessible Music (IAAM). IAAM’s objective is to reverse perceptions of disability through music education and performance and has an alliance of accessible music education and performance provider members from around the world. We’re very much looking forward to working with IAAM founder member David Stanley BEM and the rest of the alliance - .uk/blog/ohmi-joins-the-international-alliance-of-accessible-music-iaam #accessiblemusic #inclusion #disabledmusicians

Dr. Deborah Amend and Jennifer Petry are both music educators and parents of children with adaptive needs. Their groundbreaking work in the US brings together students, parents, teachers, occupational therapists and engineers by creating a space uniquely available to adaptive musicians at the Cincinnati Adaptive Arts & Music Camp (CAAMC), taking place in July 2026. Findings from their research into motivation were shared when they spoke at OHMI’s Annual Conference & Awards in March 2025. Learn more at .uk/blog/what-works-well-in-motivating-adaptive-musicians #inclusivemusicmaking #disabledmusicians #musicforall

Thank you so much to everyone who donated at the @whiteknightsensemble at their recent concert and gave money to support The OHMI Trust. You raised an amazing £1,069 and we're very grateful for all of your support!