Benedetti Live:Online
Patxi Del Amo
20 May 2026 19.00
Co-creation, playfulness and curating authentic spaces
It is a well-researched idea that neurodivergent individuals can often bring unique perspectives, enhanced focus and even unusual talents to their engagement with the arts. But what does that mean to us? What kind of place does creativity have in SEND contexts? How well-equipped are we as education practitioners to maximise its potential benefits? And, perhaps most importantly, what does creativity mean to the neurodivergent child? Come and explore all of the above in this talk: “Co-creation, Playfulness and Curating Authentic Spaces.”
Rachel Cooper
28 May 2026 19.00
Reigniting wonder among our young musicians in a screen obsessed world
Wonder is a kind of magic that young people enter the world carrying naturally. Yet over time, life has a way of dulling that instinct — quietly training us to stop asking questions, to stop exploring, to stop chasing curiosity for its own sake. The growing pull of screens and the shrinking space for real-world discovery haven’t helped.
And that’s a real loss, because curiosity, imagination, and investigation are at the very heart of music-making. This talk explores the power of wonder — and how we can help rekindle it in the young musicians we teach and mentor.
Lucy Drever & Calum Huggan
1 June 2026 19.00
Singing with our students and creating new material
In large groups of musicians, there are often moments where we want to bring everyone together using their bodies and voices and get away from their instruments. Many of us find ourselves unsure of what to do in those moments. This session will provide practical resources that work brilliantly with large groups of musicians, while also supporting and encouraging you to create your own material using body and voice in large-group settings.
Dr John Coleman
2 June 2026 19.00
All about adolescence: getting a better understanding of our students
So much of reaching the student in front of us begins with understanding the brain right in front of us. In this session, we will be joined by leading adolescent psychologist John Coleman, author of The Teacher and the Teenage Brain. He will guide us through what is happening neurologically during this powerful and transformative stage of development, offering insight into the changes shaping the minds of young people today.
Jane Mitchell
8 June 2026 19.00
Music and Storytelling
This session explores how storytelling and imaginary worlds can help deepen children’s connection to music in KS1 and KS2. By using simple stories, characters, and settings, pupils can explore musical elements such as dynamics, tempo, rhythm, and mood in a creative and engaging way.
Matt Hickman and Olly Chalk
12 June 2026 19.00
Improvising with our musicians: Ways to support our young musicians improvise from the start of their instrumental journey
Innovative string teacher Matt Hickman and jazz pianist Olly Chalk are developing forward-thinking approaches to improvisation with young people. Working with Music Masters, a progressive and forward-looking organisation committed to inspiring young people to be free and experiment with music, they have created imaginative methods that help students navigate what can often feel like a complex and intimidating world.
This session will focus on practical strategies for addressing and reducing the fear many young people experience around improvisation, offering supportive ways to build confidence, creativity, and a sense of musical freedom.