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promoting social and economic inclusion through music and the creative arts


Inclusively designed Instruments

Joy Of Sound uses inclusively designed and made instruments to help individuals, who might otherwise be excluded from the creative arts, to make music. We work closely with the individual co-learner, their families and key-workers, and designers to build acoustic instruments that draw on the individual’s abilities, talents and tastes.

JOS is always looking for ways to improve our instruments' accessibility and usability whilst striving for the highest possible sound quality. JOS believes that it is currently the only organisation working in this way.

Joanne’s tuned percussion stand
Jamie Linwood and Dan Knight designers

Joanne is a sensitive and welcoming woman with a great sense of humour. She has most control in the movement of her legs. The stand, one of JOS’s first projects, suited Joanne’s mobility by employing swivel levers attached to tuned percussion instruments. Joanne has since been involved in a project using an electronic ‘sound beam’ instrument that she can play with very small movements. Joanne’s next, improved instrument will combine the best of both systems.


Anne-Marie’s ladybird lapharp
Ina De Smet designer

Anne-Marie is a shy and tender young lady. Her favourite creatures are Ladybirds and her favourite colour is red. This lap-harp, built from carbon fibre for strength and durability, works well for Anne-Marie as she can cuddle it close to her for playing, and she prizes it as her personalised instrument.

Mark’s marimba
Jamie Linwood and Dan Knight designers

Mark is an intelligent and humorous man who likes to playfully challenge authority.

This Marimba works well for Mark as it is wheelchair friendly, allowing him to get close enough to his instrument to play all the notes comfortably and with increased accuracy.


Derek’s guitar with vibrating acoustic panel
Godefroy Maruejouls and Juliane Bozzolini designers

Derek is a strong young man who loves to play and is pitch perfect. His guitar is designed to be durable yet functional and features a reinforced neck. It also incorporates an amplification panel on the back that allows Derek to feel musical vibrations through his body when he’s playing it.


Two-way zither
Ian Gill designer

This zither is wheelchair presentable and has two stringed areas. It has been useful in introducing shy participants to group music making as they can duet with a friend or carer, and for people who prefer to use two arms or move their whole bodies when playing.

Cello on a stand
JOS has found that traditional instruments can be made more inclusive by securing them on a variety of stands. This allows the instrument to be brought closer to a person using a wheelchair, for instance, so they can play, hear and feel the instruments more readily. Using appropriate stands also facilitates individuals to concentrate on playing rather than having concerns about negotiating large, heavy or bulky instruments.

To learn more about inclusive design, our portfolio of instruments and new equipment being designed and developed please contact instruments@joyofsound.net