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.
Thursday 26th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 1st July 2025
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There are evolving expectations for vocalists, who now need to perform in a variety of styles beyond traditional classical music. In this two-part course, Page Stephens argues that voice teachers should incorporate contemporary repertoire and techniques into their lessons to help singers grow in expressivity, flexibility, and economic opportunities. The course will cover industry trends, cultural pressures, and economic benefits of contemporary music, and provide tools for integrating new music into vocal education. Interviews with professionals will highlight the strengths and weaknesses observed in the field, and strategies for teaching new music will be discussed.
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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The identity politics of accent learning!
Jenru Wang
Jenru Wang has an MFA in Voice Studies with distinction from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London - in this session, he will begin to explore the complexities accent coaches might face in their work, examining the intersection of language, identity, and cultural sensitivity. Participants will explore how to navigate challenging situations in different contexts and understand what to do—and avoid—when working with diverse clients and materials.
Thursday 3rd July 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Kim Chandler
What is a session singer? Officially it’s a freelance, short-term “singer for hire” brought in to be part of a live or recorded musical project. However, it’s more generally understood to be the “behind-the-scenes” singer who is regularly booked for paid recording work. The type of work (and pay) varies a lot. Session singing is a side of the music industry that is largely hidden from the public and isn’t easy to find out much about, even online. Join Kim Chandler as she unpicks this topic, based on 35 years of session singing!