24 June 2025
From 24th to 26th June 2025, Musician and music educator Edwin Nathaniel, conducted a hands-on workshop on the Rhythm Interactive Special Needs Enabler, or R.I.S.E Music Programme, in partnership with International Music House (IMH), KAA and LSEG Foundation.
The R.I.S.E. Music programme is designed to share the therapeutic benefits of music with special needs children via the use of percussion instruments such as drums, djembes, triangles, maracas, shakers, tamborines and wooden sticks. The programme has been shown to foster growth and development for individuals with special needs, in a fun and supportive environment.
The R.I.S.E. Music programme was first introduced to teachers and students at Kuching Autistic Association (KAA) by Edwin Nathaniel and his team in May 2024. Since then, about 170 students with autism have benefitted from regular R.I.S.E music sessions at KAA. At the Centre, children aged 3 to 18 years old, as well as young adults with autism, enjoy learning to play in time to the beat, following different rhythms, and playing in a more coordinated manner. It is amazing how the students are able to focus, following instructions and music rhythms quickly and confidently within a short time, under the R.I.S.E programme. Their teachers have noticed that many students are now more confident when playing the different percussion instruments. Last November, KAA’s Percussion Band won the “Best Popularity Award” at a Special Needs Got Talent Competition organized by the Lions Club of Kuching Host.
We are excited to see parents of children with autism, special education teachers, kindergarten teachers attending this year’s R.I.S.E Music programme. The workshop participants have the opportunity to come alongside KAA students, playing percussion instruments together and learning more about autism, in a natural and fun way. KAA looks forward to hosting more R.I.S.E Music Programmes in future.
