“In 1999, I befriended a young man with Downs Syndrome called Tony. One day I sang him “I Am The Music Man” and he soon requested his favourite song: “The 12 Days of Christmas”. 14 renditions later we both collapsed in fits of laughter. It was the middle of July after all! Tony’s reaction changed my life forever. I taught a small workshop for people with learning disabilities and promised them that one day they would play the Royal Albert Hall. It was a joke that became a dream, that became an ambition and then my obsession.
Twenty years later, The Music Man Project presented 200 children and adults with learning disabilities from across the UK in a concert of my original music. ‘Music is Magic at the Royal Albert Hall’ was the UK’s largest ever celebration of accessible music-making. My students have now played the Royal Albert Hall four times, played the London Palladium twice, broken a world record, entertained Royalty, appeared on TV and performed alongside Michael Ball, the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Band of the Royal Air Force. They’ve performed all over the world, including America, Canada and Italy.
The Music Man Project joins a remarkable community of people together through song, country by country. It multiplies that original moment of joy I experienced with Tony and shows what people with learning disabilities can do, not just what they need.”
Accessible Music Education and Performance for All
The Music Man Project teaches children and adults with learning disabilities to sing, sign and play original music and arrangements. We train our students to become respected musicians in their community, capable of entertaining large audiences at prestigious concert venues through the study of standard repertoire using standard instruments. Our approach is not corrective music therapy but instead responds to the demand for the same practical live group music tuition and performance opportunities afforded to the mainstream.
The chance to see and hear people with learning disabilities perform in the most prestigious venues across the UK and around the world, alongside celebrities and industry professionals, with national media coverage, holds incredible value for everyone involved, from the performers and their families to the audiences they inspire.
Documentary Playlist
Musical Collaborations, Celebrity Endorsements and Political Suppport
The Music Man Project works with politicians, celebrities, world renowned musical ensembles and industry professionals to help us promote the talents of musicians with learning disabilities. Our collaborations include legend of musical theatre, Michael Ball, His Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines, the Royal Air Force Band Service, Taiwanese mezzo-soprano, Der-Shin Hwang, singer and actor, Lee Mead, singing duo Classical Reflection, actor Peter Egan, the Phantom Peter Kerrie and stars of Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor. We receive support from Prime Ministers, the Leader of the House of Commons, the Speaker of the House of Commons and members of the British Royal Family.
From Southend to San Diego: Meet the Global Ambassadors
The home of The Music Man Project is Southend-on-Sea, the City where David established his first weekly music school. Following the debut of 80 Southend-based Music Man Project performers at the London Palladium in 2015, a group of 12 original students became the charity’s first Student Ambassadors. These leading musicians tour the UK with concerts and workshops to encourage other communities to duplicate David’s original service. They regularly appear in the national media and at major concert venues, and they have delivered workshops to 17,000 primary school pupils. In 2023, the Student Ambassadors became Global Ambassadors following their tour of San Diego, supported by His Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines and courtesy of our global marketing partner, TEAM LEWIS. In 2024 they performed at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Canada.
Corporate Away Days
Our inspiratoinal Corporate Disability Team Building Sessions bring disabled and business communities together through singing, signing, playing and dancing with our award-winning musicians. Find out more.
Education Workshops
Our workshops for schools inspire future accessible music educators and reduce prejudice and ignorance in future generations. Pupils learn to sing, sign, play and dance to repertoire from the Music Man Project Songbook, led by The Music Man Project Global Ambassadors. Book a visit.
“I stood back at one point to take in the children’s reactions, all I saw was smiling, happy and laughing faces. The children were hugging and dancing with the Music Man group, just having the time of their lives. They didn’t even want to go back to class!”
Higher Education and Academic Research
The Music Man Project is the basis of PhD research at the Royal College of Music by Music Man Project Director, Dr Natalie Bradford. We have lectured at Berklee College’s ABLE Assembly in Boston, Manhattan School of Music in New York, the UK’s National Music Mark Conference and the Inclusive and Supportive Education Conference (ISEC21), hosted by the University College of London Centre for Inclusive Education and the National Association of Special Educational Needs. Regional Music Man Project work in partnership with local colleges and universities and we support research students at universities around the UK, including Bath Spa University, the University of Birmingham and University College, London.
“Inspiring, informative and impactful for our students” [Manhatten School of Music, New York]
Charity Directors
Sarah Mann
After completing a music degree, Sarah Mann began her career in the Music Library at the BBC. She very quickly moved to join the production department at BBC Radio 3, where she worked as Radio Production Assistant and then Presenter.
Leaving the BBC to raise a family, Sarah began work for Kent Music, teaching music to pre-school and primary aged children. During this time, she studied Kodaly musicianship and became a Colourstrings international tutor and trainer, working in a number of settings in London and the South East.
After gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2008, Sarah became a primary school teacher and worked in a leading SEN school for several years. Within her role as class teacher Sarah was able to employ her ability for creative teaching by using singing and musical activities in all areas of the curriculum to engage, motivate and inspire learning as well as producing a positive impact on outcomes for pupils. In 2012 she was recognised as a Specialist Leader in Education for music and was invited to share her skills and expertise by offering peer-to-peer support and training, to develop outstanding and innovative practice in education.
Sarah’s journey with music and education has led to some exciting and wide-ranging projects – including leading a series of community outreach programmes with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; presenting workshops at the Royal Festival Hall for the LPO’s ‘Family Funharmonics’ concert series; establishing the annual Primary School Prom Concert in the Medway Towns; judging the coveted Medway Young Musician of the Year; and working with Pimlico Opera in their ground-breaking performance of Sweeney Todd, working alongside prisoners serving life sentences at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
Sarah has also had the privilege of sharing her love of music education overseas and has been involved in short term projects in The Gambia (Yalding School, Farato), Thailand (Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities, Nonthaburi) and in India (Bangalore) and Nepal (Kathmandu) with The Music Man Project.
In September 2017, inspired by the work of David Stanley, Sarah became Regional Director for Kent for the Music Man Project, where she and her colleagues Sue and Andy (fellow music graduates and qualified teachers) run sessions for adults in the local community and in 2019 she became a director of The Music Man Project national charity.
Dr Natalie Bradford
Natalie Bradford is passionate about providing equal access opportunities to music participation for everyone, irrespective of their needs or challenges. She is a musician, teacher and academic researcher, with a special interest in understanding how participating in music can enhance well-being and support people in achieving happy and fulfilling lives within their community. Having spent her summer holidays as a student volunteering at a local special needs school, an interest was sparked which was going to become a life-long venture.
Natalie studied for her first BSc Degree in Psychology at London University, with special needs education forming an integral part of her studies and dissertation. After working as a stockbroker in the City for a few years and raising three daughters, Natalie then returned to education. She moved into the world of music and embarked upon an exciting journey that has led to worldwide international travel and academic study at the famous Royal College of Music Conservatoire in London. Learning to play the violin as an adult and having progressed through all the grade examinations, a performance-based music degree seemed to be the next logical step. This was undertaken at Colchester Institute Music Department (University of Essex), where a first class BA Music Degree was awarded in 2014. With a keenness to pursue further musical expertise, the next step of the journey involved a Masters’ Degree at the Royal College of Music (Performance Science). Upon successful completion of this, Natalie was then invited to remain at the Royal College of music and undertake a PhD, as a scholarship award candidate.
David Stanley BEM MMUS BMUS NPQH PGCE CF FRSA
David is a disability rights campaigner, musical director, teacher, composer and the founder and CEO of The Music Man Project, a multi award-winning international music education service for people with disabilities. David studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, King’s College London, the Royal Academy of Music (piano) and the Institute of Education (UCL). He holds a Master’s Degree in Musical Analysis, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and the National Professional Qualification for Secondary School Headship (NPQH).
David was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours List for services to people with Special Needs. He is a Churchill Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary International) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. David was a 2020 Global Peace Ambassador for People with Disabilities and became the UK Government’s Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture in 2021. He was a member of the Advisory Panel for the new National Plan for Music Education, representing the rights of children and young people with SEND. In 2022 David’s work to improve access to music for people with learning disabilities around the world reached the United Nations in New York. In 2023 he became a Freeman of the City of Southend-on-Sea. Read more here.