Back to Music: a comeback and farewell concert

The Back to Music project (2019-20) explored the effect of disability and loss of playing ability for musicians, and how musical ability might be recovered. In this article <https://sonograma.org/2020/01/back-to-music-disabled-musicians-and-the-loss-of-music/>, I explored some of the background to the project. It was borne from informal lunchtime discussion with a colleague. She had lost a 25-year career as a saxophonist after motorbike accidents, which had left without the use of the right shoulder. This sudden loss of a career has many impacts: loss of income, status, social circle, purpose, identity. Ideally, professional musicians – like athletes – can plan for the end of a career and the transition into a new identity and values. They can explore new roles and purposes that use their new abilities, for example through teaching and coaching or advocacy. They can prepare for the inevitable question: ‘who am I if I’m not a musician’? [1] When a musician’s career ends abruptly, however, there is no chance of planning and the transition is forced upon them. So, we decided to put together a project which would help her and other disabled musicians to harness their musical abilities through instrument adaptations and concert designed to showcase their music. The Back to Music project was born and we were kindly supported by an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant. I will now discuss the solution we built for our saxophonist, Charlotte, and the final concert of the project.