Introduction

The topic of ableism in music academicism is gargantuan. In this chapter I highlight at least some of the problems facing disabled people within academic musical environments. Most of my focus is geared towards issues with the conservatoire/music college environment, as I have had most direct interaction with this form of institution in higher education. However, the issues within these institutions relate to all professionals in the music industry, as performers and composers have to interact with this on some level. All musicologists started as musicians, even if only enthusiastic amateurs, meaning all experiences of performing music are directly influencing the musicological environment – even if the means of discourse has changed. What must be considered also is that the field of musicology is an observation of the professional music world, meaning that if the professional world is devoid of disabled people, musicologists will not have any disabled musicians/artists to observe either. There are four key problems within the academic and professional environment that need to be addressed for disabled musicians, composers or musicologists to begin striving for some sense of real equality (McKay, 2013; Kivijärvi, 2012; Cain, 2010; Meekosha, 2000). They are as follows:

• lack of representation;

• lack of historic figures to draw upon;

• lack of aesthetics that encourage disabled creatives;

• lack of general awareness within the musicological environment.

Lack of representation

From a promotional perspective, the lack of representation is symptomatic of a constant rolling problem starting with the question: ‘Why are there few disabled musicologists/professional artists?’ This then leads onto the question: ‘If they are not numerous, why then give a platform specifically for disabled people?’ Or conversely, the assumption arises that: ‘If there was a more present community, there would be platform.’

In reality, however, disabled people cannot develop their career without support and so disabled musicians just are not heard. This particular loop is a rather troublesome one to tackle, mostly because it is symptomatic of academia and the professional sphere in general. Realistically, this comes from strong, well-celebrated ideas leading the direction academic discourse should take.