This pioneering programme brings weekly music lessons to five schools for Deaf children across London and Hertfordshire – led by professional Deaf musicians and BSL-trained practitioners. Using visual and multisensory approaches, music is taught in a way that is tailored to each student’s needs – opening up creativity, confidence, and communication through sound, rhythm, and vibration.
What we offer
Small-group music lessons
One-to-one instrumental tuition
Specially Designed Curriculum
School & Community Performances
Our approach
Built over more than a decade, the programme uses:
Visual communication – combining sign language, movement, and visual cues to make musical ideas clear and expressive.
Tactile feedback (like vibration) – using rhythm, touch, and physical sensation to help children feel the music as well as understand it.
Shared cultural experiences – connecting Deaf and hearing communities through inclusive music-making, performance, and creative collaboration.
Led by Ruth Montgomery, a Deaf musician and pioneering educator, the programme offers weekly, sustained music education that goes far beyond one-off workshops.
Our impact
126 days of classroom teaching across 5 schools each year
Students built skills in rhythm, turn-taking, and musical literacy
Children from profoundly Deaf families learned to read and perform music
Transformative outcomes – building measurable gains in speech clarity, vocabulary, reading fluency, and numeracy skills, while nurturing confidence, independence, and social awareness through regular, language-based music-making.
Schools observed gains in focus and communication across other subjects
Training the next generation of inclusive educators
In partnership with the Royal College of Music, we launched a groundbreaking teacher training course in 2023–24.
Now entering its third year, with two successful cohorts completed
A 12-session programme combining theory and practical teaching in classroom and school settings
Designed and led by Ruth Montgomery, offering a revolutionary approach to teaching Deaf children through visual and tactile methods
Participants praised the hands-on school visits and real-world SEND experience
This course is now a core part of Music of Life’s strategy to build a more inclusive future in music education.
“Children were taught life skills alongside their instrumental and musical skills. As a group, they have become better at attending to each other and working together, waiting for their turn. All children have shown interest in music and want to practice independently.”
— Ruth Montgomery
Looking ahead
We’re working to:
Expand to more Deaf schools and hearing-impaired units
Enhance teacher training with more British Sign Language (BSL)
Grow a new generation of Deaf and hearing music educators
Support inclusive music education
Your support helps us break down barriers and make music education truly inclusive for all children.
