Empowering Inclusive Music-Making Through Technology: A Soundabout Training Day At Bristol Beacon

Soundabout’s music practitioners are at the heart of our inclusive music-making community. Recently, we had the joy of bringing them together for a Music Technology Training Day at Bristol Beacon. With practitioners travelling from across the UK, the day was a rich blend of inspiring discussions, collaborative idea-sharing, and hands-on exploration of accessible music technology.

At Soundabout we are deeply committed to ongoing training and development, not just within our practitioner and staff teams, but across the wider inclusive music sector. Reflecting on our practice, and learning from others, is central to how we grow and enhance our work.

During the training day, practitioners refreshed and enhanced their knowledge of various music technologies, and gained confidence in integrating technology with acoustic instruments in music sessions. This approach allows for greater adaptability to the movement and sensory experiences of our participants.

Soundabout practitioners explored a range of innovative tools including Thumbjam, Cosmo Switches, Arcana Strum, and Theremini. A standout moment was a creative jam session using the Soundbeam 6, showcasing how technology can unlock new possibilities in music-making.

After the event, our practitioners shared how valuable it was to connect and share ideas as a team, and dive deep into the world of music tech. We are excited to see how this training will shape future sessions with the Soundabout community.