Exploring Neurodivergent Musicians’ and Audiences’ Experiences in Live Music: Considerations of Atypical Auditory Processing, Motivations and Engagement, and Reasonable Adjustments.

Many neurodivergent individuals share a significant trait that may result in preferred absence from society: auditory processing challenges. However, management of those challenges can sometimes pose an issue when engaging with society.

Through an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award with Drake Music Scotland, Alex (they/he) seeks to understand how neurodivergent musicians and audiences manage their atypical auditory processing experiences in society and live music settings. Through inclusive community practice and policy collation, experimentation of device testing and management strategies will aim to reduce their discomfort within live music environments. The development and outcomes of the project will provide possible future strategies to Drake Music Scotland which may be used to reduce auditory processing challenges for neurodivergent musicians and audiences within their practice and execution.