A week of training (21-25 March 2005) is coming to the Highlands in Orff Music and Movement Education, Music Psychology and Music Therapy for teachers, childcarers, musicians, arts workers, students, health practitioners and carers supporting those with additional needs.

Four practitioners, including Doug Goodkin and Professor Barbara Crowe from America, Nanna Ingvadottir from Iceland and Dr Raymond MacDonald from Glasgow will be providing practical hands-on training workshops in their field.

The training will aim to give new skills to those working in the community, education and care arenas, and to artists. It will cover all abilities – knowledge is not necessary, but a willingness to learn and participate in a group will be. Some of the workshops will be client-based and observers will be welcome.

The impetus for this week of training was initiated by musician Alpha Munro from Ross-shire, tutor with Feis Rois, performer and community artist and member of Artlink Highland. The week will be delivered in the ethos of the HI~Arts project, ArtsPlay, whereby arts training is made accessible and affordable to all regardless of ability.

Around 100 people will be attending from all sectors from the Highlands and Islands, and three attendees from Holland! Orff Schulwerk covers music, dance, movement, poetry and rhyme. Music Therapy uses sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.

The workshops will offer gains in music, movement skills, confidence, leadership, initiative, imagination, self-awareness and group dynamics. The Highlands have only one music therapist, and we hope that the training week will also highlight the need to increase interest in these arenas and to prove that there is a demand for this type of knowledge and skills.

The week kicks off with an introduction to the tutors and their work in the Spectrum Centre in Inverness on Monday 21st March. For more information please contact Jelica on 01463 717091 or Jelica@hi-arts.co.uk

The week is funded by NESTA, HI~Arts, Highland Health