Some of the key reasons to try Clarion would be
that it offers a really satisfying sensory experience
for people with learning disabilities, particularly
with PMLD, where they have a lack of movement
as well as being able to express themselves.

An example that came to mind is of a young woman
with Rett syndrome who has very limited movement now.

She was very shy in the therapy room.
She wasn't used to trying to initiate communication.
She would find it enjoyable to listen and be passive,
but when I was using Clarion, she started to realize
that she had some input into how the music might sound.
And so her small movements could have quite a big effect on
the difference in the music.

And having been someone who I found quite difficult
to connect with
and who I often felt slightly at a loss with how
to make a relationship with her, she suddenly started
to feel in control of the music.
And she laughed when she saw that
what she did on the screen would change
what I would do on the piano.
and this suddenly changed the
dynamic of the relationship.

And she felt like she was in charge.
And the way she came to sessions was very different.
She smiled as she came in.
She was engaged and it was because of using the screen
and using Clarion.

Another example
With a client who's adolescent and has cerebral palsy
and is very aware of music, very cultured, has a lot
of set ideas around the kind
of music they'd like to hear and play.

And they can use Clarion
by setting up the screen themselves in a way
that feels right for them.
They felt as if they are playing
as if in an orchestra sometimes,
but also being able to do intimate
music therapy improvisations.

It gives freedom of expression in a way that
trying to use the acoustic instruments doesn't.

My top tips
I would encourage you to play around
and to see what you think of it
and to try all the different settings
and all the different ways of making the screens up to be
exciting and different.

And then that gives you some experience in
how someone else might come to the app
and to see how they might engage with it.

I would also encourage you
to try the app with somebody else.
So, to improvise music using Clarion, either
with both of you on Clarion or with one of you on Clarion
and the other on an acoustic instrument
because it will help you feel what it's like to
to use it as a client.
In the same way
that we've always practiced other music techniques.