News: Sound investment opens doors for York charity

More children with serious illnesses and disabilities will be able to express themselves through music thanks to a partnership between a York-based charity and a technology company based in Knaresborough.

Apollo Creative specialises in developing systems which transform body movements into sound, light, image and video, maximising the users’ abilities by detecting a wide range of gestures, allowing the system to be used for music making, sensory environments and interactive stories.

The Wakefield Music Service in West Yorkshire has now invested in Apollo’s latest equipment but, rather than disposing of their older accessible music technology kit, managers agreed to donate it to York-based Jessie’s Fund, which works with children’s hospices all over the UK.

Set up in memory of nine-year-old Jessica George - who died of a brain tumour in 1994 - the charity will choose a hospice to benefit from the donation after circulating details of the equipment to those who may be interested in giving it a new home.

Lesley & Mark with some of the donated kit

“Many of us take interacting with others for granted but, for some with speech problems or with physical disabilities, it can be extremely difficult,” said Jessie’s mum and charity founder, Lesley Schatzberger.

“For them, the world is not about doing but about having things done for them which can be massively frustrating. Having control over sound or music is extremely therapeutic as it gives them a chance to communicate and participate.”

The Apollo Ensemble equipment heading for Wakefield includes wireless games console handsets, adapted so they can be “played” as musical instruments, used to trigger sound effects or change images on display screens.

But whole orchestras, more simple sounds and even lights and images can also be conjured up by the wave or squeeze of a hand or the use of pressure pads, giving Ensemble users with limited movement similar levels of control.

Wakefield Music Services has invested in Ensemble as a powerful tool to engage young people with special needs in high-quality, accessible music making.

“We had a demonstration of the system in March and were impressed by how easy the Ensemble system is to use,” said Senior Officer for Music for Wakefield, Geraldine Gaunt. “It’s a brilliant way to make music lessons more inclusive and we’re certain it will be a valuable addition to our resources.”

Apollo’s creative director Mark Hildred added he was delighted to see Jessie’s Fund benefit from the investment in Wakefield.

“It's great when we can help two groups of children in one go. The older equipment will really benefit a hospice that has not previously had access to this kind of technology. It's a programme were hoping to extend to other organisations.”

Recycling old music technology kit for Jessie's Fund

Jessie's Fund Lesley Schatzberger (left) with Apollo's Mark Hildred

With the Apollo Ensemble equipment being used to update many locations accessible music technology equipment, the question arises of what to do with the old gear? Apollo have solved that issue by teaming up with York-based charity Jessie's Fund to pass the equipment on to children's hospices in the UK.

Recent donations by the National Centre for Early Music, iMATA and Wakefield Music Service mean that five hospices have now been kitted out with a range of equipment.

Please contact us if you have any equipment that requires a new home.

'Making Music with Special Children' Event

It was great to have the opportunity today to demonstrate the Apollo Ensemble to participants of the 'Making Music with Special Children' course, organised by Jessie's Fund.

Lesley provided some examples of how technology can be used as a musical instrument to enable children to participate in music making.  I was able to show the benefits of the Apollo wireless sensors, especially the Press and Dice.

Thanks to all on the course for a lovely welcome.

News: Apollo beats the drum for Jessie's Fund

A child playing on a keyboard

Knaresborough based Apollo Creative is pleased to announce that it will be supporting UK charity Jessie's Fund throughout the course of 2008 as their nominated charity of the year.

Jessie’s Fund is a UK charity set up to help seriously ill and disabled children by using music as a form of communication and for therapy. The charity works with children with special needs within hospices, hospitals and other centres for children with special needs providing a wide range of musical instruments and giving children access to creative music-making and music therapy.

Communication is a basic need for all but for many children verbal interaction causes difficulties; some have no means of communication at all. This therapeutic use of music can provide a powerful and profound way in which these children can express themselves and connect with the world around them.

Lesley Schatzberger, Development Director for Jessie’s Fund said – “Jessie’s Fund is delighted to have been chosen as Apollo Creative’s Charity of the Year. We use music technology in our work and have seen how powerful it can be in giving children access to a creative outlet. For those who have little chance to participate in normal childhood activities, technology can provide a fantastic means of expression, and Apollo’s work in developing further the possibilities resonates so well with our own aims.”

Mark Hildred, Creative Director for Apollo Creative adds – “With music and interaction being such an important focus for Apollo Creative this year, Jessie’s Fund was the ideal match. As a drummer I am aware of the importance music plays in my life and to me the value of the work carried out by Jessie’s Fund is immeasurable. Over the next twelve months we hope to be able to bring this charity to the attention of even more people so that its work can be recognised across the UK.”