Connecting disabled musicians with adapted instruments

Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager of music disability charity The OHMI Trust, tells us why connecting disabled musicians with adapted instruments is so important.

When we set up OHMI Connect, our online resource designed to help disabled musicians find the adapted instruments/enabling equipment best suited to their needs, it was with musicians like Esther Mannouch in mind.

As a young woman, Esther was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and the radiotherapy treatment she received led to irreparable damage to her dominant hand. The almost complete loss of fine movement and muscular control was a shattering blow and meant she could no longer play the flute, piano or recorder. Another life-threatening brush with the disease in 1991, a course of chemotherapy, and further damage uncovered from the original course of radiotherapy took Esther further away from being able to make music herself.

It was only when she retired that Esther decided to take action and commissioned Peter Worrell, a master craftsman and OHMI competition winner, to modify a Mollenhauer Denner 5220 treble recorder. The modified instrument, which was created in 2021, is best described as a cross between a wooden recorder and flute. It has keys like the flute, but its basic shape is a very recognisable recorder. Some of the original finger holes have been plugged and remade further around the cylindrical body, and there is even a finger hook for Esther’s left thumb to support the recorder’s length.

Esther Mannouch and her one-handed recorder

Esther’s musical journey has since gone from strength to strength. OHMI has introduced her to its wonderful support network, including the Dorset Society of Recorder Players which provides regular opportunity to practise. Esther has since had a descant and tenor recorder adapted, again by Peter Worrell, to give her more flexibility and enhanced playing skills with other groups. Joining the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia, a Making Music ensemble where Esther is the only one who can solely use the hand and fingers of her left hand to play the recorder, has led to a performance at the Chichester Festival in June 2024.

'"Turning on a light that has been switched off for more than 40 years" is how Esther describes the daily joy and pleasure her adapted recorders give her after the devastation of her music-making being taken away overnight.'

Esther’s experience shows that music-making with an adapted instrument is an opportunity available to all – and not just to young people and children. However, helping musicians decide on which instruments and enabling equipment are appropriate for their upper limb/digit weaksnes, difference, restriction or absence, is a process that takes time – and the number of people our small charity can support is naturally limited by our resources!

That’s why, with the support of a Lottery grant from Arts Council England, we developed OHMI Connect. It empowers musicians to identify their own solutions by asking them a series of questions about their mobility. Once the option that best reflects the musician’s condition has been selected, a list of suitable adapted instruments is provided, including instruments that can be played left- or right-handed, or enabling equipment such as floor stands, support straps and bow holders. Each option will list how to find out more, whether it be a link to the OHMI Hire Scheme, a video demonstrating the instrument or equipment, or a link to another information source. Alternatively, the ‘Show me specific instruments’ option on the homepage provides the full list of instruments and enabling equipment.

With the help of Esther's concert fundraising support, which we're delighted about, we have acquired two treble recorders which we will make available to other musicians. Information about these recorders - and other adapted instruments and enabling equipment - are available on the OHMI Hire Scheme page. 

'Esther (and her special treble) is a confident addition to Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia. She is very natural and happy with her adapted recorders to the point where most players are totally unaware of her special requirements. The instrumental adaptations have enabled her to live and enjoy a normal playing life so whatever can be done by OHMI for other disabled players should be actively encouraged and very much applauded.' – Penny Smith, Chair of Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia

Find out more about the OHMI Trust on their website and follow them on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram