Music Workshops – Inclusive Creativity, Newry

We are not – although we do like the sounds he makes! Our founder is Adele Drake, a lady who founded the Drake Music organisations in the UK, in memory of two of her own daughters. Adele asked Michelle, our CEO, to set up a branch here in Northern Ireland in 1992. Michelle loved the challenge and started workshops, then registered Drake Music NI as a charity in its own right, with Adele on the first management board. We began with studios in Belfast and Newry, as well as outreach workshops throughout Northern Ireland. The rest is, as they say, musical history!

Drake Music NI completely works by the social model of disability, where the surroundings a person has to interact with can make a person less able to function and thrive. The social model of disability proposes that what makes someone disabled is not their medical condition, but the attitudes and structures of society. At Drake Music NI, we aim to work in a positive frame at all times, with people with all natures of ability, and we celebrate the ability a person has, and work together to achieve creative expression and to exhibit talent.

Drake Music NI exists to facilitate access to independent music making for children and adults with all types of abilities, providing independent access to the arts and culture in our society, utilising assistive music technology. No one is excluded from our workshops, and we strive to ensure that we reach those who can most benefit from our unique instruments, interfaces and approaches to creative music making.

We have permanent studio spaces in Newry and Belfast, and offer outreach workshops and activities throughout Northern Ireland. Get in touch with us to bring music-making and fun to a venue near you!

Both of our permanent studios are fully accessible, with provisions for accessible lifts, workshop spaces, adjustable-height desks, and switch tables, as well as accessible and assistive technology and instruments. Everyone can join in, on equal terms and create in our sessions.

Yes – we have workshops with various ways to make music, and no one is judging anyone on instrumental ability at the start of any session.

We offer sessions suitable for children aged 3 years and above, and we group our workshops by age to cater to themes, interests, and peer association. No one is excluded!

We offer workshops on a wide range of themes and musical tastes, and suggest that adults participate in sessions that align with their interests in terms of music types. Additionally, we offer fantastic reminiscence sessions for individuals dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s, allowing memories to be evoked through relaxing music and memory sessions.

We actively encourage people who may wish to have a carer or friend with them in a session being alone, for support, encouragement or assistance.

If a music school encourages creativity, helps people to express themselves, and encourages fun and interaction, then yes!

We do not operate a formal grading system for our participants, but if you would like assistance in preparing for a music grade school exam, we can certainly help you on that journey.

All of our sessions are charity-funded, as we are a registered charity that fundraises to exist and to bring professional workshop provision to the community. We kindly request a contribution to cover costs, so that everyone appreciates the value of the sessions and the professionalism of our team and equipment. The costs for this are very low and depend on the location and the number of participants in the sessions.

As a registered charity, we are permanently engaged in fundraising duties – please do get in touch to find out how you can help keep our activities operating – thank you!

Please simply drop us a line or lift the phone, we are always seeking to add more tutors to our team – all you need is a love of music, and a great skill at communication, together with infectious enthusiasm for seeing others get the chance to express themselves through sound – we can add the rest!