Developing compositional strategies based on the auraldiversity of Neurodivergent musicians

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Neurodivergent people have always contributed to human cultures. Yet neurominorities such as Autistic people have long been the subject of discrimination, from microaggressions to a systematic questioning of their right to exist.In this medicalised view of neurodivergence, characteristics that make a mind different from socially accepted norms are seen as negative attributes that need to be "cured". It is therefore unsurprising that limited literature on Neurodivergent culture exists, despite the fact Neurodivergent individuals represent 15-20% of the population. Research on the musical experiences of Neurodivergent people is meagre, and emphasis is placed on therapeutic uses of music. The focus of such research is often decided without involving Neurodivergent communities, and as a result it fails to address areas that are of interest to these communities.This project on the other hand approaches the relationship between neurodivergence and music from the perspective of Neurodivergent artists, expanding our understanding of Neurodivergent culture. It addresses three questions: how does the auraldiversity (the diversity of hearing) of Neurodivergent musicians influence their creative process? How can we develop compositional strategies that valorise this diversity? And how can these strategies be used to work towards a paradigm shift in the music world, promoting neuro- and auraldiversity?An expected outcome of this project is the advancement of our understanding of Neurodivergent musical culture. The project will involve Neurodivergent performers and composers, actively developing performance opportunities for these stigmatised minorities. Over the long term, it is expected that the knowledge and networks developed through this project will lead to the creation of a Neurodivergent Music Centre, promoting neurodiversity.The study I am conducting has a particular value to music education, as was evidenced by an action research project I conducted in 2022. Results indicated a clear need for strategies to enable Neurodivergent musicians to understand and express the embodied ways they think about sound, giving them tools to develop a creative practice that valorises their diversity. By expanding on these findings, my research will directly contribute to creating more equitable and inclusive environments for Neurodivergent musicians.