Special Virtuosi, a new music group for people with learning difficulties, has just been set up in Manchester.
The idea is to provide opportunities to play in an orchestra/ensemble setting, with tutors spread around the group to give assistance to the students.
They're also running a percussion group, to teach students about rhythms and general musicianship skills. This group will be open to everyone, regardless of whether they currently play an instrument.
Their website is currently under construction, but it does contain contact details for anyone who might be interested in going along.
Visit them at
Radio 4's Thought for the day, for Friday the 15th of December, mentions famous violinist Yitzhak Perlman, who contracted Poleo at the age of 4. Presenter, Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks illustrates the musician's atitude to his disability, and indeed life in general. click here to listen.
The audio will be available until Friday the 22nd of December.
If you were wondering why they call this holiday period silly season, then just let me tell you a bit about what has been happening in the Ouch inbox over the past week or so.
Not only are we receiving press releases from companies advertising such things as kettle tippers and card shufflers as "the ideal gift for that disabled friend or relative", but even more worryingly, disabled people and their offspring have been producing the cheesiest of musical endeavours.
We have been receiving regular mail from people involved with a man called Stephen Collins, who has Cerebral Palsy. Besides the fact that he has just begun a webbased company, which we couldn't advertise even if we wanted to, his Daughter Rose has put pen to paper, and mouth to saxophone to write a song about dear old dad. Click to listen. It would warm the cockles of your heart.
Then, we got a message from someone by the name of Antti Kariheimo who said, "If you are out of interesting things to write about, perhaps you could write few words about my blind friend who makes music with his computer?"
We're not, but thought it was an interesting way to promote something so here is his where you can hear all of his cheesy tunes.
If I don't speak to you again beforehand, have a very merry Christmas, and keep sending in that music.
Look out next week for a new five part daytime series - "Nobody's Normal" showing every day from Monday 11th December at 9.15am on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One.
These documentaries, produced in association with the Open University, chart the progress of families and their disabled children from pregnancy and birth through to adulthood.
The series is being supported by an Action Line number (08000 566 065) which viewers can use to get support and advice, or to request a copy of the Open University booklet that accompanies the series.
For more information, view the Open University's website at https://www.open2.net/nobodysnormal/index.html
Here's some details of a documentary ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ2 are showing tomorrow night with subtitles and audio description.
Mik Scarlet has been paralysed from the waist down since he was a teenager, spending most of his adult life in a wheelchair. An operation could offer him the chance to walk again - but there's no guarantee of success. What will he decide?
Find out tomorrow night: 7th December, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ2 at 7pm.
The World Paralympic Swimming Championships begin in Durban this week.
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport will be showing the following coverage of the event:
•Live Interactive Coverage - Sunday December 3rd 1500-1700
•Live Interactive Coverage - Thursday 7th December between 1500-1630
•Highlights programme on Sunday 10th December from 6.15
These programmes will be available on Freeview/Satellite and Cable.
Digital viewers can access live coverage of the IPC World Championships by pressing the red button on their remote control while watching ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One or ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two and selecting 'Live Swimming' from the interactive menu.
In addition to the interactive coverage, Sunday Grandstand will be showing a feature from the championships on Sunday 10th December, and a daily highlights programme will be available on the , which will also bring you comprehensive coverage of the event.
