Music for Film: Special Needs

Over the years I’ve worked on and off with dancer and artist in education Ray Jacobs who predominantly facilitates dance for young adults with special needs and disabilities.

I am usually supporting the dance through music and sound in a live capacity. These two examples however are of music with film. The first is an animation created by a group of adults with learning difficulties and special needs called ‘Let Me In’. It focuses on different stories which were found through dance sessions with Ray. An animator also worked with the group who created images for the animation.

I was invited to facilitate songwriting, instrumental backgrounds, atmospheric sounds and sound effects with the group. I recorded the sounds which were then incorporated into the finished animation.

Directed by Ray Jacobs and Jonathan Tritton, and made in conjunction with lead actor Mervyn Bradley, the second film called ‘The Sea Reminds Me’ is about a learning disabled man and his coming to terms with his dad’s death. I composed the music based on suggestions. As the film was already made, I needed to fit the music to the film…