In – Home Concerts
Safe in Sound (SIS) offers in-home visits for people with disability and their families and carers. The project brings sound art and exploratory music to people with mixed abilities who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience it.
"To see the look of absolute joy and excitement on her face as she composed her own unique music with Robbie and Carolyn was priceless."
— Jenni Vick (Amber’s Mother)
We engage families.
We present music that stimulates the listener through exploring the world of sound. Drawing on our experience in sound art and improvisation, we encourage focused listening and enjoyment.
Safe in Sound engages families to observe and participate in sound making – developing new modes of stimulation, entertainment and
“Seeing my brother perform on various platforms alongside others has been a joy; the happiness and confidence it has brought him are immeasurable.”
"Seeing my brother perform on various platforms alongside others has been a joy; the happiness and confidence it has brought him are immeasurable."
Larry Larsen - Mathew's brother
Our Approach is Safe and Fun.
We have developed a safe and fun approach to performing in the comfort of your home. We aim to offer an alternative to listening to the radio or television, and believe we can offer more than just passive listening – a real-time, pers
"It was a moving experience to be with Rafael as he created the sounds and interacted freely with the instruments, directing the activity."
— Chloe Shutterd (Rafael’s Mother)
you can carry on performing and playing sounds with your loved one in the future.
We dedicate a section of the performance to educating the family and carers in improvising with sound art, sharing our skills so that you can carry on performing and playing sounds with your loved one in the future.
"We are so blessed to have been part of your very special music experience. The boys had an absolute ball."
Enza Dilettoso - Alessio and Danilo’s Mother
We share the basic principles with you, and some of our personal techniques we as experienced musicians have developed. You will be supported and encouraged to go at your own pace.
"The concerts are a great opportunity for Abanoub and bring great joy and knowledge to our home.”
— Fahkri Attalla
Depending on the family needs, each performance typically lasts for 1 hour to allow for feeding, rest time or other medical needs. We have developed a safe and fun approach to performing in the comfort of your home, ensuring the person with disability is comfortable, settled, and has access to usual care. Each performer is skilled and familiar with your family’s needs.
Our Commitment to Safety
Safe in Sound (SIS) is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all children and young people. We uphold a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and are committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing, and rights of every child involved in our programs and activities.
To ensure our commitment is reflected in practice, all employees are required to complete mandatory Child Safe training as part of their induction, with refresher training undertaken every two years.
Musicians at Safe in Sound have current Working With Children Checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sound Art and Improvisation?
A form of music where the musicians play sounds in a free-form manner to create an immediate (“in the moment”) musical composition. It combines performance with communication of emotions and instrumental technique as well as spontaneous response to other musicians (and in this case responding to the audience’s reactions).
What kinds of disabilities can Safe In Sound performances accommodate for?
We can perform for people living with different disabilities, be it physical, intellectual, neurological, etc. Families will be contacted to discuss scheduling and duration and of the performance, the musical personnel involved, any information about the condition/disability and care/treatment we need to know. There will be ample opportunity to discuss any concerns and ensure all involved are well informed.
Where do the performances take place?
We outreach to you. Performances will take place in the family home, ensuring the person impacted by their disability is comfortable, safe, has access to usual care, and can share the experience with family members and carers.
How long do performances go for?
Depending on the family and individualised needs of the person, each performance typically lasts 1 hour. This gives plenty of opportunity for feeding, rest time or other treatment needs, as well as investigating and refining the types of sounds and techniques that the audience enjoy most.
Can family and carers be present?
Yes! We encourage family members and carers to not only listen to the performance but to take part in it too. Our sessions include time dedicated to assisting family members to play music/sound art for/with their loved one impacted by a disability. A family member or carer must always be present to supervise and provide necessary treatment to the person.
What COVID Safety precautions do we currently have in place?
We have taken all the necessary steps to protect audience/household members and artists during our performances. This includes sanitising of hands and surfaces, and mask wearing while indoors and as required by each state. Artists will not attend performances if unwell or if they are deemed a close contact of a confirmed or suspected positive case of COVID-19. We are open to and will accommodate any other safety measures as requested by families and carers.
What happens during a performance?
Each artist that is performing can quickly interpret the best kinds of sounds to play depending on the audience’s reactions, drawing on their decades of experience in the field of sound art.
What happens after a performance?
Performances will be followed by a debrief session with parents and carers identifying successes, areas for improvement or further exploration, and answering any questions they may have for developing a regular musical practice with their loved one.
Who are the performers?
Robbie Avenaim is the principle performer and founder of Safe in Sound. He specialises in percussion and sound effects. He will be joined by various experienced sound artists in Melbourne and Sydney, to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis. More information about these artists is available on the Artists page.
Can care or treatment be administered during a concert?
Yes. We understand that some conditions require frequent/constant treatment and care, whilst others are more intermittent or responsive. For this reason, our concerts are very relaxed and we ask that any care required be administered as usual. We are happy to stop or keep going with the performance as per the wishes of care givers or the person being treated.