Live Music Now

Live Music Now Live Music Now is a charity working to
create inclusive, measurable social impact through music.
(1)

18/08/2026

Every autistic child or young person deserves to experience the transformational benefits of music. It’s a curriculum entitlement; builds confidence and wellbeing; and can be a great tool developing communication skills.

But currently many don’t get the same access to music in schools as their peers.

We’ve developed resources to help change that, following a year of research with autistic pupils, autistic musicians, and educators.

Click the link below to:
- Watch the film
- Download the free, practical guide for anyone working with autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases (ARBs) – and beyond
- Read the policy briefings

https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/autism-resource-bases-music-programme/
Please share with any colleagues who you think will find it useful.

Live Music Now was delighted to take part in the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts in Mind Showcase at The MAC Belfa...
17/08/2026

Live Music Now was delighted to take part in the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts in Mind Showcase at The MAC Belfast last month, bringing together organisations from across Northern Ireland to celebrate the role of the arts in supporting mental health and wellbeing. 💛

As part of the programme, Live Music Now musician Gary Day (Garden of Music) joined Michelle Bradley from The Parent Rooms to share the story of the Lullaby Project – the first programme of its kind in Northern Ireland. The Henry Girls also performed a selection of beautiful and moving lullabies.

You can watch the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s short film from the showcase featuring the Lullaby Project and hear more about the project, including listening to the final lullabies from the first NI cohort in our latest news story here: https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/celebrating-northern-irelands-first-lullaby-project/

The Lullaby Project has been made possible through funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Baring Foundation through the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, alongside support from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

14/08/2026

Episode 6 of the Shared Notes podcast is out now! 📻

Tune in via your favourite podcast app to hear Dr Beth Pickard and Alex Lupo discuss the role that songs play in inclusive music workshops. Beth and Alex reflect on the potential and limitations of songs, in addition to considerations around power, style, flexibility, agency, and choice.

During the episode they mention Count Me In! which is a series of resources for making music inclusively with children and young people with learning difficulties, based on the Sounds of Intent Levels of musical development.

You can read more about the Count Me In! pilot research conducted by Dr Beth Pickard through Live Music Now here: https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/count-me-in-pilot/

12/08/2026

“For a lot of these children it might be the first time they encountered a certain musical instrument. Giving them that opportunity to play it, to experience the vibrations – there are so many different sensory experiences they can get from this.” - Megan Rushbrook, Live Music Now musician

Every autistic child or young person deserves to experience the transformational benefits of music. In this short video, you can hear teachers, pupils and musicians reflect on the social, personal, and emotional value that music provides for autistic learners.

Do you work with autistic pupils in music? Click on the link below to watch the full film, download our free Music in ARBs Guide and read the policy briefings.

https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/autism-resource-bases-music-programme/

Featuring:
Megan Rushbrook, Daisy Evans, Alex Lupo, pupils and teachers from Porth Community School, South Wales.

10/08/2026

“Just having the opportunity is so important – and it’s not a luxury – it's an absolute essential right to music education.” - Gary Day, Live Music Now, Lead Musician

Every autistic child or young person deserves to experience the transformational benefits of music. In this short video, you can hear teachers, researchers and musicians reflect on how music helps to build confidence, improve classroom engagement, and develop communication skills.

Do you work with autistic pupils in music? Click on the link below to watch the full film, download our free Music in ARBs Guide and read the policy briefings.

https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/autism-resource-bases-music-programme/

Featuring: Gary Day, Beauty Sleep (Ryan McGroarty & Cheylene Murphy), Alex Lucas and teachers from St Dallan’s School, Northern Ireland.

07/08/2026

“There are many different ways to approach music. Simply providing that space and opportunity is the most important thing.” - Alex Lucas, Research Assistant

“I think the important thing is how the adults have seen the children differently and understanding them as able children, as children who have a lot to contribute.” - Dr Beth Pickard, Lead Researcher

In this short clip, researchers Dr Beth Pickard and Alex Lucas explain how music provision contributes not only musical, emotional and social value to children and young people with autism but also changes the framing for how adults see and understand them.

After three years of pilot work and a year of research with autistic pupils, autistic musicians, and educators. We’ve developed resources for improving music provision in Autism Resource Bases (ARBs). See the link below to:

- Watch the full film
- Download the free, practical guide for anyone working with autistic children and young people in ARBs – and beyond
- Read the policy briefings
- Share with any colleagues who will find it useful

🩺 Bristol Southmead Hospital🏥How heartwarming to be recognised today by a complete stranger at Southmead Hospital as "th...
06/08/2026

🩺 Bristol Southmead Hospital🏥

How heartwarming to be recognised today by a complete stranger at Southmead Hospital as "the music lady" they'd seen on Facebook who visits hospitals with her music. It still amazes me how far my posts reach, and it's an honour to share the power of live music with those who need it most.

For those of you who are new here, hello, welcome, and thank you for following along! When I'm not on stage performing for the general public, I have the privilege of bringing music into places where it can make a real difference.

Yesterday, once again, I was trusted to sing and play across the wards at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. Seeing smiles, hearing people sing along, and watching some patients peacefully drift off to sleep is one of the greatest compliments. In a busy hospital, where pain and constant noise can make rest difficult, music can offer a precious moment of comfort.

🌈 This visit was especially meaningful because it followed singing at the funeral of a patient I'd previously had the privilege of singing to during the final days of his life. His family told me those moments of music brought so much comfort to both him and them that they wanted me to sing at his funeral and wake. It was an incredible honour.

Music is a powerful gLive Music Nowt's for patients, families or the incredible NHS staff.

I'm incredibly proud to work with , delivering live music performances and workshops in hospitals, care homes, schools, hospices and community settings across the UK.

I feel so fortunate to do what I love while making a difference through music. ❤️

If there's a charity, organisation or health service that's made a real difference in your life, I'd love to hear about them in the comments. It's always lovely to celebrate the people and organisations making such a positive impact. 💙

🎶 And stay tuned... I've got a big announcement coming tonight!

But first, it's time to head to London to get ready for Women of Americana Live at hosted by Savannah Gardner,Bristol NHS Foundation TrustnNHS SouthwestHolly Carter and Daisy Chute.
(More info via links in comments below) 🙌🏾💜

05/08/2026

Music is a great way to express emotion and it doesn’t have to be prescriptive or academic.

Every autistic child or young person deserves to experience the transformational benefits of music to help build their self-confidence and improve wellbeing. It can also be a great way to improve communication skills!

In this short clip, Live Music Now musicians Ryan McGroarty and Daisy Evans explain how music provision in autism resource bases contributes not only musical but also emotional, social and personal value to those participating.

But currently many don’t get the same access to music in schools as their peers.

After three years of pilot work and a year of formal research, we’ve developed resources to help change that. See the link below to:

- Watch the full film
- Download the free, practical guide for anyone working with autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases (ARBs) – and beyond
- Read the policy briefings
- Share with any colleagues who will find it useful

https://ow.ly/LOLl50ZoR5Z

As part of our new guide on music in Autism Resource Bases, we’ve created a flexible framework to help anyone working wi...
24/07/2026

As part of our new guide on music in Autism Resource Bases, we’ve created a flexible framework to help anyone working with autistic young people through music.

We all it The Arc. Every session can move through the same four stages at whatever pace each pupils needs. Some pupils spend weeks building safety before connection and exploration follow. Others move through all four within a single session.

See the link below to:
- Watch the film
- Download the free, practical guide for anyone working with autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases (ARBs) – and beyond
- Read the policy briefings

https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/autism-resource-bases-music-programme/

"You don't need to be a music specialist or a big budget. All it takes is curiosity, flexibility and a pupil-led approac...
22/07/2026

"You don't need to be a music specialist or a big budget. All it takes is curiosity, flexibility and a pupil-led approach."

That's the starting point for our new guide on music in Autism Resource Bases – free to download, built with autistic pupils, autistic musicians, and educators.

It’s for class teachers, teaching assistants, SENDCos, instrumental tutors, community musicians – anyone working with autistic pupils, whatever their musical background.

If you know someone who would find this helpful, please pass it on.

See the link below to:
- Watch the film
- Download the free, practical guide for anyone working with autistic children and young people in Autism Resource Bases (ARBs) – and beyond
- Read the policy briefings

https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/autism-resource-bases-music-programme/

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Live Music Now, 46 Montclair Drive
Liverpool
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