Leaders in Music, Disability & Technology
Drake Music is a UK-based charity and a global leader at the intersection of music, disability, and technology. For over 20 years, this disabled-led organization has been “pioneering the use of accessible music technology” to break down barriers in music-making. They believe that “everyone has the right to express themselves creatively through music”, using innovative tech and ideas to open access for all.
In practice, this philosophy means disabled musicians are at the heart of everything Drake Music does, guided by the Social Model of Disability — a model focused on removing societal barriers. The result is a vision of equal opportunities: a world where disabled and non-disabled musicians can work together as creative equals.
Inclusive Projects and Accessible Instruments
A core part of Drake Music’s work is developing and supporting inclusive instruments and music technology. Through their DMLab program, they “bring Disabled musicians and technologists together to dream up new ways to make music”. This co-design approach has led to breakthrough projects like the Kellycaster, a custom accessible guitar for John Kelly. Featuring a shortened neck and one-handed chord system, it empowers him to play full chords using a small keyboard.
John strums the guitar with one hand, and then changes the chords on keyboard with his other hand.
Drake Music’s innovation doesn’t stop there. From a head-mounted digital baton to a breath-controlled synth, their inclusive tools push the boundaries of accessible creativity. They’ve even launched a national Accessible Musical Instrument Collection — a growing archive of cutting-edge and DIY instruments that demonstrate how tech can remove barriers and unlock expression for disabled artists.
Aligned with the Music Accessibility SIG Goals
The MIDI Association’s Music Accessibility Standard SIG exists to make music tech — including MIDI standards — more usable and inclusive. Drake Music is a living example of this mission in action.
Both the SIG and Drake Music embrace inclusive design from the start, not as an afterthought. Their shared commitment to involving disabled musicians in the creation and testing of tools exemplifies the kind of co-design the SIG promotes in its workshops and documentation.
Drake’s practical insights help guide broader MIDI accessibility efforts. Their work reveals common gaps in digital tools, while also offering imaginative solutions — like visual-to-audio converters and alternative input methods — that MIDI developers can learn from. As the MIDI Association works to unify scattered accessibility efforts, Drake’s community-driven approach offers a clear and proven path forward.
Driving Collaboration and Industry Change
Drake Music’s collaborations with major players like Sony show how advocacy can transform industries. Their recent Sony Assistive Musical Instrument Hackathon, co-hosted with Paraorchestra, brought together charities, developers, and musicians to co-create tools like:
- A transcription tool for blind musicians
- An accessible arpeggiator for chord creation without a keyboard
Events like these help move accessibility from concept to implementation, bringing fresh ideas to music technology and ensuring that disabled creators are directly involved in the process.
As Athan Billias of The MIDI Association, said: “When you make your product more accessible, you actually make it better and easier to use for everybody.”
Building an Inclusive Musical Future
From the Kellycaster to national collections and hackathons, Drake Music proves that inclusive music-making is both possible and powerful. Their alignment with the Music Accessibility SIG is more than philosophical — it’s practical, systemic, and inspiring.
The MIDI community has much to learn from Drake’s ethos and methods.
As they continue to serve as “innovators, educators, curators and advocates”, Drake Music is helping to shape a world where every musician — regardless of ability — can participate, create, and thrive.