Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Musical Behaviour – the Significance of Context and Implications for Pedagogy
Tuesday 13th February 2024, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (London Time)
The focus for the presentation is in (a) reporting the nature and incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), (b) offering an understanding of how engaging successfully in music can modify and reduce ADHD behaviour and (c) exploring the implications for music pedagogy in general and singing in particular.
According to the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, August 2023), the global prevalence of ADHD in children is estimated as around 5%, although US studies report a higher incidence of 8-10% of young people.
Concerning the nature of ADHD, it tends to be reported more in boys than girls - a sex ratio that is in line with other types of special needs, such as autism. In adults, the reported proportion tends to be lower at 3-4%, and still with a bias towards males of 3:1. The incidence is also reported to be associated with poverty, lower family income and social class. In adults, it is more prevalent in the unemployed, those with disabilities and those with mental health issues.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Of these three types, the inattentive subtype accounts for 20-30% of cases, and the hyperactive-impulsive subtype accounts for around 15% of cases, whereas the combination of all three accounts for 50-75% of cases (BMJ Best Practice, 2023). Negative impacts of ADHD are often reported in academic performance, emotional and cognitive functioning, and peer relationships.
The presentation will report evidence of recent research into ADHD and music education, highlighting the potential benefits of structured personalised music education (Wilde & Welch, 2022) and also music therapy (Martin-Maratinos et al, 2023). The research findings suggest that, notwithstanding ADHD-related symptoms, individuals can engage successfully in music and acquire musical skills. Moreover, ADHD is not a static condition in music, but variable according to pedagogical and musical context.
Dr Eva Wilde
Dr Eva Wilde is a researcher in the fields of music education and music psychology, and completed her PhD in 2019 at the UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK.
Professor Graham Welch
Professor Graham Welch PhD is Established Chair of Music Education at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (formerly University of London), a role he has held since 2001.
Sorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 22nd April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 23rd April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 24th April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday 25th April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday 28th April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 29th April 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate In Applied Neuroscience And Voice with Voice Scientist Heidi Moss
This six-day course is designed to provide an introduction to the neuroscience of vocalization. It aims to provide a foundation for those who are looking to fuse science with art and understand that the voice is so much more than an instrument.
Monday 28th April 2025
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 29th April 2025
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 30th April 2025
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thursday 1st May 2025
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Mental Health and Musicians Certificate with Dr George Musgrave
Join Dr George Musgrave – co-author of Can Music Make You Sick? Measuring the Price of Musical Ambition (2020) – for a deep dive into the social and psychological experiences of musical career creation and development, as well as the effects of the music industry and its practices on mental health. Dr Musgrave will present an overview of current research on career musicianship and mental health before exploring an array of specific themes, including success (and the management thereof); career sustainability; and cultural, social and symbolic capital. A comprehensive look at the ethics and morality of the industry provides the finale to this course!
Thursday 1st May 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
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Dr Michel Belyk
The Neuroscience of Speech and Song offers an engaging and accessible introduction to the fascinating interface between the brain and some of the things that we use it for. This course is designed to unravel the complex processes underlying how we speak and sing, using simple and accessible language.This course will start from basics and assume very little prior knowledge. We will cover the basic structure of the brain and how it works in general, then narrow in on specific processes that are relevant to speech and song!