People with varying degrees of disability often remain passive connoisseurs of music. Not anymore — they can just touch, press, or tap a small five-coloured cube and make music.
Skoog, an instrument developed for persons with disability, can enable them to access and create music, said Nigel Osborne of Edinburgh University, during a visit to Vidyasagar, an organisation that works with disability, with his team Opera Circus.
Speaking at a conference on ‘Music and Creative Arts for persons with disabilities’, on Tuesday, he said, “Skoog is a cube that you can press to make expressive sounds. So, it offers them a chance to communicate their emotions. We have incorporated several instruments including flute, piano and violin that will allow the user to choose which one he or she wants to play.”
This concept works as therapy, he said, adding that some children even picked up mild speech after being exposed to Skoog.
“We keep in mind the concept of multiple intelligence when we teach children here because each child has its own intelligence. We encourage children who are musically inclined and learn through music to work closely with members of Opera Circus with this instrument,” said Shirin Mammen, co-ordinator, Vidyasagar.
She said people of all age groups at Vidyasagar used Skoog for a while every day, adding that children who are able to move their hands and feet very slightly have been using the instrument.
Music improves expressions, emotions and can also be used to stimulate and control movements, said Dr. E.S. Krishnamurthy, founder-director, Neurokrish and Trimed Clinic.
Singer Tanvi Shah talking to The Hindu said music assumes a vital role in calming.
“I heard that a little boy who suffered from high levels of anxiety and almost never slept, suddenly began to sleep after hearing the cover version of my song ‘Raat ka’ from the movie Guru. It is overwhelming to hear what music can do for a person,” she said.
