Dr Anthea Skinner

Dr Anthea Skinner is musicologist, researcher, and academic with lived experience of disability who works at the University of Melbourne in Australia. As a child growing up with disability, the school band was a place where Anthea could compete on a level playing field with her non-disabled peers and make like-minded friends.

 

Despite her musical success, Anthea was often the only disabled student in any band or orchestra she played in. It was clear that her disabled peers did not have the same access to music education that she enjoyed.

 

Today, Anthea’s work at the University of Melbourne aims to help those with disabilities access the benefits of music education. Her latest research project, the Adaptive Music Bridging Program, is connecting disabled students with the latest in adaptive music technologies so they can enjoy the art of learning a musical instrument, regardless of disabililty.