Sarah Dunn

Profile

I am a postgraduate researcher at the School of Music with supervision from Professor Alinka Greasley and Dr David Ireland. My PhD research focuses on how singing using eye gaze technology has the potential to increase musical opportunity, enhance communication and improve wellbeing in disabled Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users.

My research is largely influenced by personal and professional experience in disability music making. I am a parent carer of a disabled child who enjoys making music using eye gaze technology and I am chair and founder of a charity that provides accessible and inclusive music-making opportunities to children and young people who are disabled and have additional needs – Accessible Inclusive Music (AIM). Combined, these personal and professional experiences led to me pursuing an MA in Music and Wellbeing at the University of Leeds 22-24, with my dissertation research assessing the impact of active participation in music-making on the wellbeing of children and young people who are disabled and have additional needs.

Previous professional experience has been in teaching, predominantly secondary music teaching and more recently instrumental teaching (clarinet, piano and music making for those who are disabled and have additional needs). Other relevant professional experience includes my involvement in the Take It Away Accessible Instruments Challenge Virtual Band | Accessible Instruments Challenge 2020 and recent training to become a certified specialist EyeHarp Teacher.

Research interests

• Impact of musical participation on wellbeing of those who are disabled and have additional needs
• The disabled voice in research
• Music in healthcare settings

Qualifications

• MA Music and Wellbeing
• PGCE Secondary Music
• BA (hons) Music