Published on 13 Oct 2025
Conference "Music and Neurodiversity" - as part of the Scontrino Festival
Speaker: Anna Nicotra, PhD Candidate, Siena Jazz - National Jazz Academy
Date and duration: 25-26 September, 2025
Venue: 'Anronio Scontrino' Conservatory in Trapani
Taking place on 25 and 26 September 2025, the event was held at the Library of the 'Antonio Scontrino' Conservatory in Trapani as part of the Scontrino Festival. The aim of the two-day event was to build bridges between music, education and inclusion, with a particular focus on neurodiversity and accessibility in higher music education. This initiative was supported by national associations including UICI (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired), AID (Italian Dyslexia Association) and AIFA APS (Italian ADHD Families Association).
Speaker: Anna Nicotra, PhD Candidate, Siena Jazz - National Jazz Academy
Date and duration: 25-26 September, 2025
Venue: 'Anronio Scontrino' Conservatory in Trapani
Taking place on 25 and 26 September 2025, the event was held at the Library of the 'Antonio Scontrino' Conservatory in Trapani as part of the Scontrino Festival. The aim of the two-day event was to build bridges between music, education and inclusion, with a particular focus on neurodiversity and accessibility in higher music education. This initiative was supported by national associations including UICI (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired), AID (Italian Dyslexia Association) and AIFA APS (Italian ADHD Families Association).
The meeting was divided into two days:
- 25 September: 'Neurodiversity and Music Education' - There were presentations on inclusive methodologies for students with dyslexia (DSA), ADHD, and special educational needs (BES), with contributions from pedagogists, speech therapists, and psychologists. The focus was on the importance of early diagnosis, personalised planning and the role of networks involving institutions, families and associations.
- 26 September: 'Music Without Barriers' - Focusing on inclusive approaches to studying, performing and enjoying music. Tools and good practices were presented, including a contribution from Anna Nicotra who introduced the MUVIE project.
Anna Nicotra's intervention played a particularly important role on the second day. She provided first-hand accounts of the challenges blind individuals encounter when reading and accessing music scores. She highlighted the existing barriers: the fragmentation of resources, the lack of shared standards, the poor availability of materials, and the complexity of conversion tools. She emphasised the need for accessible, integrated digital music libraries that can overcome the current fragmentation of materials. In this regard, Nicotra presented the MUVIE Project, which aims to:
- create a digital music library of Braille scores equipped with a voice interface and audio feedback;
- provide innovative tools for independent use by blind or visually impaired musicians;
- build an international network to share resources, good practices and technological tools.
The preparatory document of the MuVie Project collected the user needs of blind people in the field of music. Several key requirements emerged:
- Centralised access to Braille music resources, which are currently scattered across archives and libraries.
- Ease of use of digital tools with intuitive voice interfaces.
- Compatibility between different formats and software to prevent technological isolation.
- The quick retrieval of scores is needed to overcome the long waiting times for manual transcription.
To address these needs, MuVie is developing a single digital platform to gather and make accessible existing Braille scores across Europe, containing:
- an advanced search system with voice commands;
- an interactive audio feedback engine to support the reading and study of scores;
- automatic conversion tools to facilitate the production and distribution of new materials.
The Trapani event confirmed the value of music as a tool for inclusion and active citizenship, and emphasised the important role of new technologies in overcoming sensory barriers. Anna Nicotra's intervention gave international visibility to the MUVIE Project, demonstrating how research, technology and the direct experiences of blind people can converge to create concrete, innovative solutions.
Materials and documentation of the event:
Materials and documentation of the event: