RNCM Research Forum: Disability, Access, and Inclusion in Music
- Spoken Word
When
Wed 25 Nov 2026, 4.15pm
Price
Free
Where
RNCM Studio 8
Promoter
RNCM
Speakers
Prof. Maria Witek, University of Birmingham
About
In this presentation, we take a participatory approach to the study of Disabled DJs’ experiences of navigating dance music culture. In collaboration with Drake Music – a leading UK charity on disability, music, and technology – we report on empirical research conducted with Disabled DJs, including media diaries and interviews, and consider our results in relation to dance music and disability scholarship. We show that being Disabled can both enrich and pose barriers to DJing, including experiences of hyperempathy for the dancefloor, conflicted feelings about dancing, and destabilising notions of DJ authenticity. DJing offers a role through which Disabled people can participate in the social and creative practices afforded by dance music culture, away from the crowd and through the music. In this way, this research challenges key essentialisms in dance music scholarship and disability research, including the centrality of dance and body movement and the social deficits of neurodivergence.
Biography
Maria Witek is Professor of Music Psychology at the Department of Music, University of Birmingham, UK. Before taking on this post, she worked at the Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University and the Royal Academy of Music, Denmark. She holds a DPhil in Music from the University of Oxford, an MA in Music Psychology from the University of Sheffield, and a BA in Musicology from the University of Oslo. Professor Witek’s main interest is in researching the psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive philosophy of musical experience, with a focus on rhythm, timing, emotion, and body-movement. Much of her work is centred on trying to understand how dance music experiences and practices emerge from interactions between embodied, neural, musical, and social processes. To date, she has focused primarily on the study of groove – the pleasurable experience of wanting to move to music. More recently, she is studying the cognitive mechanisms underlying rhythmic skill in DJing as well as the social and embodied experiences of disabled and neurodivergent DJs. She uses research methods from across experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, qualitative social psychology, participatory research, digital music analysis, and phenomenology.
Part of the The Sir John Manduell Research Forum Series Series
Hear presentations from academics, performers, and composers, and engage in the exchange of ideas that follows
RNCM Research
The RNCM provides a unique research environment in which musical creativity and experimentation can flourish by continually forging new connections between teaching, research, and performance.
Things to know before your visit
About Studio 8
Venue
Studio 8 is a flexible performance and event space that offers an intimate setting for concerts, workshops, talks, and creative projects. Home to the UK’s first Meyer Constellation acoustic system in higher education, it provides a unique and immersive listening experience for both performers and audiences.
Access
Studio 8 is located on the ground floor and is fully accessible, providing step-free access for audience members and participants.
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How to Get Here
Bus
There are frequent bus services from Manchester City Centre (Piccadilly Gardens) to Oxford Road and Booth Street West.
These bus stops are all within a five-minute walk to the RNCM:
Aquatics Centre (Southbound):
Bus Numbers 15, 18, 41 CrossCity, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 111, 142, 142N, 143, 147, 191, 197, V1 Vantage, V2 Vantage, V4
Cavendish Street (Northbound), Higher Cambridge St/Boundary St West (Southbound):
Bus Numbers 101, 102, 103
Royal Northern College of Music (both directions):
Bus Numbers 53 Orbits, 85, 85A, 86, 250, 263 Sapphire
University Shopping (Northbound):
Bus Numbers 15, 18, 41 CrossCity, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 111, 142, 142N, 143, 147, 191, 197, V1 Vantage, V2 Vantage, V4
Tram
The nearest tram stop is St Peter’s Square (0.8 miles). From there you can walk to the RNCM in 15 minutes or catch a southbound bus down Oxford Road.
Bike
A public bike rack can be found in the RNCM surface car park located on Rosamond Street West, next to the entrance doors – don’t forget to bring your bike lock!
There is also a Bee Network docking station on the corner of Rosamond Street West and Oxford Road, next to the RNCM.
Please note that e-bikes are not permitted at the RNCM.
Train
The nearest train station is Manchester Oxford Road (0.5 miles). From there you can walk to the RNCM in 13 minutes or catch a southbound bus down Oxford Road.
Other train stations include:
Manchester Piccadilly (0.8 miles/20 minute walk)
Deansgate (0.9 miles/21 minute walk)
Manchester Victoria (1.5 miles/33 minute walk)
Car and Parking Information
If you are travelling by car we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey. Please note that general traffic along Oxford Road is no longer permitted to use the route between 6am and 9pm, seven days a week. Visitors driving into and across the city centre will need to use alternative routes, such as Upper Brook Street and Princess Street, rather than Oxford Road.
Parking
Please note that there is no public car parking available at the RNCM on weekdays and Saturdays before 5pm. Daytime visitors are advised to use nearby public car parks.
We have limited blue badge spaces within our surface car park that can be pre-booked by customers at [email protected] (these are subject to availability). There is also limited on street provision for disabled parking on Rosamond Street West, adjacent to the main car park entrance.
Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence Underground Car Park (evenings and all day on Sundays) Off Rosamond Street West
On weekdays and Saturdays between 5 – 11.30pm, and on Sundays between 6am – 11.30pm, visitor parking is available in the RNCM secure underground car park, located next to the College in the basement of Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence. This is a cashless car park.
The current charge per visit is £5 per car, payable by contactless or chip and pin only.*
Please note that the underground car park entrance/exit is 2.1 metres high and 2.3 metres wide. Customers who own larger vehicles may wish to consider using alternative car parks in order to reduce the risk of damage to vehicles.
Overnight parking in the Sir Charles Groves Hall car park is prohibited, and is subject to a fine of £50 per night.
The two closest public car parks to the RNCM are:
University of Manchester Booth Street West Car Park
Booth Street West
M15 6AR (access via Higher Cambridge Street)
Further information
Manchester Aquatics Centre Car Park (NCP)
Booth Street East
M13 9SS
Further information
Please note that travel and parking information has been given as a guide only, and may be subject to change. Car parks 2 and 3 are not managed by the RNCM. Visitors are advised to check travel plans ahead of your journey.
Air
Our nearest airport is Manchester Airport, located about 10 miles south of the city centre. There are regular train, bus and taxi connections to the city.
For more information please visit the Manchester Airport website.
Where to eat
Our fully accessible RNCM Café Bar serves freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches, and evening meals, as well as takeaway salads, sandwiches, wraps, cakes, and snacks. All our selections include vegan options, and we operate our service in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way.