Elliot’s Musical Journey
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We’ve had the joy of working with Elliot the last academic year. Music has become a space where his personality shines, offering a window into his expressive and social side that isn’t always seen in other settings.
At the beginning of the year, Elliot was vocalising with some pitch and control, often adjusting his sounds to match the changing harmony. He responded well to encouragement, clapping along and occasionally engaging with instruments. Toward the end of the autumn term, he became a little harder to engage, but he continued to vocalise and make musical choices when he felt able.
Over the spring and summer terms, Elliot’s musical confidence has blossomed. He now anticipates when familiar songs begin, singing along with increasing accuracy in both lyrics and pitch. He’s taken real ownership of the musical games we play, directing start-stop moments with excitement and asking for songs to speed up, clearly demonstrating a growing sense of agency and preference in activities.
His curiosity with instruments has grown too. Elliot now explores the double bass, ukulele, and gathering drums with purpose, playing repeated patterns that fit the music and stopping in time with the group. His focus has developed beautifully, as he’s now able to fully engage for the entire 25-minute session.
Lately, he’s begun encouraging his classmates by name during intensive interactions, showing an emerging awareness of and interest in his peers. Elliot is clearly highly motivated by music and shows genuine excitement when practitioners Alice & Grace enter the room to begin our sessions.
It has been particularly interesting to observe Elliot in other contexts, as his engagement during music sessions reveals a different, more expressive side of him. Music appears to offer him a unique avenue for communication, interaction, and enjoyment that may not be as readily apparent in other settings.
It’s been a real privilege to support Elliot as he finds joy, connection, and expression through music!
