Top Tips: Autism-Friendly Singing

Incorporating tips from Sutton Music Trust

Creating welcoming musical spaces for young people with autism

Music has a power to connect, inspire, and bring joy - and for many autistic young people, singing can provide a safe space where they can express themselves authentically. Drawing from real-world experience developing and running successful autism-friendly choirs, these practical tips will help music organisations and schools create welcoming singing opportunities specifically designed with autistic participants in mind.

These tips incorporate advice from our conversation with Emily Murphy and Natalie Vesty from Sutton Music Trust. Find out more about their autistic youth choir in our case study.

Be Brave and Fill the Gap

Identify where young people with autism are missing from your current provision and take action. As Emily Murphy, Senior Vocal Curriculum Leader at Sutton Music Trust, says: "If you see that there's a gap in your provision and you want to do something about it, then have no fear, just do it." Many young people with autism are excluded from mainstream music opportunities not because they can't participate, but because programs aren't designed with their needs in mind. You don't need to be an autism expert to start - you need courage to begin and commitment to learn.

Build your Team

Find colleagues who share your vision and are willing to learn alongside you. As Emily emphasizes: "Make sure that you've got the staff that are willing to go on that journey with you and to take that leap of faith, regardless of their experience." Look for team members who are patient, adaptable, and genuinely excited about creating something new. Their willingness to problem-solve and try different approaches will be immensely valuable.

Start With Listening and Learning

Before designing your program, spend time understanding the autistic young people you want to serve. Every autistic person is unique, with different sensory needs, communication styles, and interests. Connect with local autism services, speak with families, and research what brings joy and comfort to your potential participants. This groundwork will shape everything from your song choices to your room setup.

Partner With Autism Specialists

Connect with local autism teams, special schools, or autism charities who can provide expertise and credibility to your project. Sutton Music Trust's success came partly from their partnership with the Autism Team at Cognus Limited, who provided training, attended early sessions, and helped navigate challenges. These partnerships can offer specialist knowledge, refer participants, and give families confidence in your program.

Create Predictable, Consistent Structure

Autistic participants thrive with routine and predictability. Establish a clear session structure and stick to it religiously. Sutton Music Trust uses visual schedules showing exactly what will happen and for how long, with different participants taking turns reading the schedule aloud. As Nat Vesty explains: "They know the structure of the session and it doesn't change... I don't suddenly decide they've got to get ready for this concert, I'm gonna push them and throw everything out the window." Consistency builds trust and reduces anxiety.

Design Your Space Thoughtfully

Consider sensory needs when setting up your rehearsal space. Provide quiet break-out areas, fidget toys, and sensory objects for those who need them. However, remember that singing itself can provide sensory input - some participants may seek the vibrations of piano playing or the physical sensation of vocal sounds. Lighting should be comfortable, acoustics manageable, and the space should feel calm and welcoming.

Embrace Different Ways of Participating

Not everyone will engage in traditional singing, and that's perfectly fine. Some participants may prefer humming, others might contribute through movement or playing simple instruments alongside the choir. Some may join in for certain songs but not others. As Sutton Music Trust's choir leader Natalie Vesty discovered: "There would be a child that didn't want to take part in the session at all and would spend the session at the back of the room interacting with the sensory toys... But then over many weeks, I saw all of them start to engage more." Some may join in for certain songs but not others, and some might gain sensory feedback from playing piano or using fidget toys. Celebrate every form of musical engagement and be patient - genuine participation often develops slowly over weeks or months.

Train Your Wider Team

Ensure that all staff, volunteers, and regular participants understand autism and feel confident supporting autistic group members. This isn't just about the leader - creating an autism-friendly environment requires everyone to understand communication differences, sensory needs, and individual approaches to participation. Provide basic autism awareness training, discuss specific strategies for your group, and make sure everyone knows how to respond supportively to different behaviors or needs. A well-informed team creates the welcoming culture.

Remember: Every Individual is Unique

As Natalie Vesty wisely notes: "When you've met an autistic child, you've met one autistic child." What works perfectly for one participant might not suit another. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them - each challenge teaches you something valuable. Stay reflective and regularly ask yourself: "Is everything working? What needs to change?" Work with the individuals in front of you, not the group you imagined you'd have.

Keep Groups Small and Manageable

Small groups (around 6 participants) allow for individual attention and reduce overwhelming social dynamics. In larger groups, autistic participants might trigger each other - for example, one person's stimming might distract another who needs quiet to concentrate. Smaller numbers mean you can better manage individual needs and provide the right support when needed.

Choose Empowering Music

Select songs with positive, affirming messages that resonate with autistic young people's experiences. Nat has found that "stuff about self-belief, stuff about being proud of yourself... seems to resonate really well" with their choir. Keep repertoire "quite positive, upbeat, about believing in yourself, about being the best you can be." Also be flexible - if participants suggest favourite songs (Disney, video game music, current hits), find ways to incorporate them as these familiar pieces can be calming and engaging.

Focus on Joy, Not Performance

Celebrate participation over perfection. Success might look like someone staying for a full session, humming along quietly, or making eye contact with another participant. Keep any performances very informal and pressure-free. As Emily explains, if someone doesn't want to participate in a performance, "they don't have to be - there's no pressure there." The goal is building confidence, creating community, and fostering love of music.

Build Trust Through Patience

Trust develops slowly with autistic participants. Some may take weeks to fully engage, moving gradually from observing to participating. As Nat discovered, participants "learn to trust you and they learn to feel safe in that space and they know the drill and you're not going to let them down by betraying what they know." Consistency, patience, and genuine care are the foundations of successful autism-friendly singing programs.

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It's all about just being really open-minded. It's being very reflective and just going, 'Is everything working in these sessions? Is there anything that we need to change?' Because if there is you can then adapt it. It's working to the group that's in front of you, not the group that you imagined that you would have.
Nat Vesty, Supernova Singers Conductor, Sutton Music Trust

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Your First Steps:

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Research

Connect with local autism services and understand your community Reach out to autism teams in schools, local authorities, or charities who can provide insights into your local autistic community's needs and preferences

Partner

Find autism specialists and committed team members Look for partners who have autism expertise and staff members who are patient, adaptable, and willing to learn alongside you - experience matters less than attitude.

Prepare

Create sensory-friendly spaces and consistent routines Think lighting, acoustics, quiet break-out areas, and visual schedules. Remember: predictable structure is key to helping autistic participants feel safe and engaged.

Launch Small

Start with 4-6 participants and focus on building trust Small groups allow for individual attention and reduce overwhelming social dynamics. Be patient - engagement often takes weeks to develop.