The Beyond Words project
The unspoken/non-verbal in inclusive music practice: implications for the arts in a post-human world.

"We are proud to launch the final report of our Beyond Words Project, conducted in partnership with Plymouth Music Zone and funded by Arts Council England. It is a landmark study in the lives of post-verbal people and their families and shows how their lives are enriched by music. It has been an honour and a pleasure working with them and we trust that the report does them justice."
Professor Jocey Quinn, Plymouth Institute of Education
Download the Beyond Words Project Final Report*
Thanks to all who attended, supported and participated in the Beyond Words Conference for making it such a vibrant and powerful event. Professor Jocey Quinn, from the Plymouth Institute of Education, who is leading the Beyond Words project said:
“The whole ethos of Beyond Words has been to find ways to give those who are regularly excluded from society a voice. This conference focused on that goal, generating a creative and collaborative atmosphere that fostered a series of innovative ideas aimed at helping those people. There are millions of post-verbal people living in the UK, and we hope that developing a better understanding of how they communicate will have a positive impact on them and on society as a whole.”
Our research partner, Plymouth Music Zone has produced a beautiful short film about the Beyond Words project, directed by award-winning film-maker Amanda Bluglass.
Other information:
Plymouth Music Zone's website: www.plymouthmusiczone.org.uk
Arts Council website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
Arts Council blog: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news-and-jobs/blog
Watch the videosOur research methodology experimented using music and visual art to capture people’s thoughts and feelings about the music sessions.