Fifteen-year-old Jamie, was born so prematurely that he could fit into the palm of his mother's hand. As well as being blind, he is autistic and has cerebral palsy, but despite his profound disabilities, Jamie has an exceptional talent for music. Music is a major part of Jamie’s life – and it clearly makes him happy.
Jamie, who loves to compose his own pieces, has written this special Christmas song for you to enjoy. Just click on the big arrow in the middle of the picture and listen to Jamie singing his song.
As well as playing the piano and keyboard, Jamie has an amazing voice and loves to sing. He is now a member of three different choirs and blossoms when he is with them. Here he is singing the song he chose to sing for you for Christmas – "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire".
Although six-year-old Marshall was born blind, he has always been fascinated by music, which, with AMBER's help, he now explores to the full. His regular sessions with his early years music specialist, Laura, has allowed him to channel his innate musicality, helping him to develop personally, physically and socially.
Participating in group music sessions has helped Marshall to involve himself with other children and he is now the most popular member of the group - the one to whom everyone looks to start singing and to remember song lyrics. He really feels a part of the group and sings and plays with the other children, listening to their contributions and taking turns with them.
Listen to Marshall taking part in his group music session
Prior to AMBER's funding, Marshall was a rather self-centred child with few communication skills. His behaviour was obsessive and almost entirely self-related. He took no interest in other children and they found him difficult to interact or communicate with. This awkward, rocking, self-centred, obsessive boy is now developing into a happy, gregarious, accepted member of his social group, and music is the key to helping him to create these vital links to his peer group and to relate to the outside world.
Marshall's mother Michelle says: Marshall has always been attracted to sounds and music from an early age. We have encouraged this with enthusiasm on all available levels. With AMBER's support we have been able to take his interest much, much further. He loves his music lessons with Laura, which have helped him to make new friends while learning about his favourite subject.
AMBER continues to help even the very youngest children, such as two-year-old Verity, who has severe sight problems, as well as global development delay and epilepsy. However, Verity responds to sound and light, and has always enjoyed the sound of music.
An AMBER Music Award has enabled Verity to have Music Therapy Lessons with a professional teacher, Linda. The aim of these vital lessons is to provide a safe space in which Verity can build a trusting relationship with Linda, using shared music-making and improvisation to increase social interaction, communication skills, self-expression and self-awareness.
Verity becomes exicted as soon a Linda arrives for a lesson, kicking her feet in anticipation. She makes good use of the instruments and usually sustains attention and focus for the whole session. Verity often reaches for the guitar during the "Hello" song and she has recently started to pluck the strings of the guitar with care and intention, making a loud, clear sound. She has also discovered that she can 'strum' the guitar with her foot and will sometimes bang the strings with her whole hand. She plays the ocean drum, cymbal and Turkish drum with both feet in rhythmic bursts.
Verity's music therapy teacher, Linda, says: “Verity continues to grow more confident and expressive in her use of the instruments, as well as becoming more communicative vocally and interacting more closely with me. She uses the medium of music to process the difficult feelings of anger and frustration she inevitably experiences and often reaches a state of calm and enjoyment through musical interaction and sharing.
For the past two years, The AMBER Trust has supported Eleanor and her brother, Joseph, who both have a rare eye condition, called Achromatopsia. This means that they cannot see colours, things appear blurry, and bright light is painful. But eleven-year-old Eleanor's world is completely immersed in music.
Eleanor playing at a concert at the Hilton
She has an amazing musical ear and since finding music, her self- confidence has soared. Eleanor enjoys nothing more than to perform in front of an audience.
The AMBER Music Awards enable her to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she studies the piano and clarinet and takes singing lessons. Eleanor is making great progress.Her father, Gareth, says that Eleanor "comes alive" in the atmosphere of the college.
One of Eleanor's teachers says: “Eleanor is an absolute pleasure to teach - a positive, enthusiastic and interested student with clear potential”.
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