Engaging Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Music and Sound Making

This accessible resource, based on the Sounds of Intent framework of musical development, provides ideas for musical activities for young deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Drawing on years of work with D/deaf musicians and contemporary research, IMAGINE – ‘ideas for musical activities and games in the early years’ – offers parents and the professionals who work with them a wide range of tried-and-tested, everyday strategies for how to engage their young child with little or no hearing in music-making.

With over 250 ideas that keep the child at their heart, the book reimagines music as a multisensory experience that involves not only listening, but feeling, looking and moving too. Activities provide a source of fun for the whole family to join in, while supporting the development of early communication and social skills, and promoting the growth of speech and language. All activities are suitable for both deaf and hearing parents and children with all levels of hearing loss, and require no specialist music training to deliver. Accompanying online videos and 13 specially adapted songs deconstruct the music, making it easier to follow.

Engaging Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Music and Sound Making is an invaluable resource for both music and non-music professionals working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families, as well as parents, early years practitioners, music therapists, community musicians and those attending specialist training courses for the teachers of deaf children.