Longitudinal workshop with musician Robbie Perry
To offer increased opportunities for children with individual needs to participate in Earth Explorers, The Ark engaged musician and inventor Robbie Perry to devise a longitudinal music workshop series for children with autistic difficulties and exceptional needs. Using musical instruments made from existing and recycled materials, Robbie guided participating children from St. Peter’s National School through the exploration of sounds, vibrations and self-expression.
Robbie Perry is a musician, artist and inventor, who also works as a facilitator with young people, particularly those with exceptional needs. His primary focus is in creating new music and inventing musical instruments using technology and recycled materials such as abandoned or discarded objects.
The six week long workshop process engaged two groups of students from St. Peter’s N.S. exploring sounds and vibrations as well as building compositions through technology and recycled materials. St. Peter’s N.S. has a special teaching unit for children in the autism spectrum and in particular for those with Asperger’s Syndrome. Every effort is made to include and integrate these children into mainstream class activities. The first group of children aged 4 – 8 years, included the youngest students from the Asperger’s Syndrome special teaching unit. The second group of children aged 9 – 12 years included students with individual needs including Asperger’s Syndrome and dyspraxia, as well as communication and learning difficulties.
Workshops ran weekly from Thursday 14 May to Thursday 18 June in St. Peters N.S. and The Ark.
The project was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants and was also very much in keeping with St. Peter’s Green Schools Policy of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as expressed by class teacher Mr. John O’Carroll;
“The magic that Robbie brings to materials that might otherwise be obsolete is absolutely inspirational for all the children involved, and they brought this message to our whole school community during their performance at the end of our Japanese themed M.A.D. Day (Music, Art, Drama). The magical use of our recycled instruments will help to bring us one step closer to gaining our first Green Flag.”
