Drake Music Scotland

What Drake Music Scotland does

Drake Music Scotland is a Scottish registered charity (SC026908) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Edinburgh, UK, that operates two principal programmes: CREATE, a disabled artist-led programme supporting composers, music creators, and ensembles through partnerships with mainstream arts organisations, and LEARN, a music education programme delivered in special schools and local authorities throughout Scotland. The organisation has approximately 25 employees and is led by Chief Executive Thursa Sanderson. Its core technology offerings include Figurenotes, an accessible music notation system using colour and shape to represent notes, as well as a Digital Orchestra programme that integrates disabled musicians using accessible technology alongside traditional instruments.

The organisation develops and deploys accessible music technology, including custom instruments and digital tools specifically designed for disabled artists and learners. Its flagship educational offering is an Accredited Music Technology Course co-delivered with Edinburgh College, teaching students to use music software, edit MIDI and audio, and develop production skills. The Digital Orchestra and Digital Orchestra Youth programmes enable disabled musicians to perform in professional orchestral settings, with recent collaborations including Merchant Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and London Philharmonic Orchestra. International engagement includes knowledge exchange with Sweden's Share Music & Performing Arts.

As a non-profit, Drake Music Scotland is funded primarily through institutional grants from foundations including Creative Scotland, Scottish Power Foundation, RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, Baillie Gifford, The Gannochy Trust, William Grant Foundation, Greggs Foundation, and PRS Foundation, supplemented by individual donations via JustGiving. Programs are offered free to beneficiaries. The organisation was accredited as a Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation in May 2026, joining over 16,000 UK businesses in providing fair wages. Distribution occurs through direct programme delivery in schools, educational institution partnerships, and arts organisation collaborations, all operating within a single-country (Scotland/UK) geographic scope.

Name

Drake Music Scotland

Legal name

Drake Music Scotland

Website

https://drakemusicscotland.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drake Music Scotland is a Scottish charity that empowers disabled artists and young disabled learners through accessible music technology, notation systems like Figurenotes, and programmes including Digital Orchestra and a co-delivered Music Technology Course with Edinburgh College.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Music Education Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA), Music Notation & Scoring Software (MPAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Accessible music education
• Disability music programs
• Inclusive arts charity
• Music technology training
• Disabled artist development

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue from institutional grants and funding from foundations including Creative Scotland, Scottish Power Foundation, RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, Baillie Gifford, The Gannochy Trust, William Grant Foundation, and Greggs Foundation
2. Donations: Individual donations received through Justgiving platform and direct support

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Drake Music Scotland is a Scottish registered charity that empowers disabled artists and musicians through two main programmes — CREATE (artist development, Digital Orchestra, MusicSPACE, accredited Music Technology Course) and LEARN (music education in special schools via Digital Orchestra Youth, Figurenotes, All Join In, and Skills and Leadership). It develops and uses accessible music notation (Figurenotes) and inclusive technology, and partners with mainstream orchestras and Edinburgh College to deliver public performances and accredited training.

Product overview

Drake Music Scotland operates as a unified charity organization offering two main programmatic areas: CREATE (disabled artist-led programme for artists, composers, music creators, and ensembles to develop creative work) and LEARN (music education programmes in special schools and local authorities). The organization also delivers an Accredited Music Technology Course in partnership with Edinburgh College, and operates specialized offerings including Digital Orchestra, Figurenotes (accessible music notation), MusicSPACE, and Skills and Leadership development programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CREATE Disabled artist-led programme working with composers, music creators, ensembles, and performers to develop creative work in partnership with mainstream arts organisations, leading to public performances.
• LEARN Music education programme delivered in special schools and local authorities throughout Scotland, introducing young people to playing musical instruments and developing skills in attention, concentration, coordination, confidence, and self-esteem.
• Digital Orchestra Programme combining disabled and non-disabled musicians with accessible technology, enabling disabled artists to perform in orchestral settings alongside traditional instruments.
• Figurenotes Accessible music notation system that uses colour and shape to represent musical notes, enabling disabled learners to develop skills for self-expression through music.
• MusicSPACE Programme focused on creating inclusive music-making spaces for disabled artists to develop creative practice.
• Accredited Music Technology Course Certified music technology course co-delivered with Edinburgh College, teaching students to use music software to create new sounds, edit MIDI and audio tracks, and develop music production skills.
• Artist Development Support programme that helps disabled artists develop their artistic careers and musical ambitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students receive accredited qualifications through co-delivered Music Technology Course with Edinburgh College
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Edinburgh CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivery partner for the Accredited Music Technology Course, providing educational certification and facilities
• Merchant SinfoniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional orchestra collaborating on orchestral performances with Digital Orchestra, performing new works combining technology and traditional instrumentation
• Scottish Chamber OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Tapestry concert celebrating creativity of Craigmillar alongside Digital Orchestra Edinburgh musicians
• Hebrides EnsembleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership on the two-year Unbroken Thread project culminating in Cumnock Tryst performance
• London Philharmonic OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Composer Ben Lunn curated and conducted More Than Meets the Eye concert with LPO musicians
• Share Music & Performing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration; composer Joe Stollery visited their Elefantöra ensemble in Sweden to learn about music technology

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Music for Youth: UK charity supporting young people's music-making through festivals, workshops, and inclusive programmes. Comparable UK music-education charity serving young people, including those with additional needs.
• Sistema Scotland: Scotland-based music education charity delivering ensemble-based learning in disadvantaged communities. Comparable as a Scottish music-education charity, though focused on social deprivation rather than disability inclusion.

Direct peers

• OHMI Trust: One-Handed Musical Instrument Trust, a UK charity that designs, adapts, and provides instruments for physically disabled musicians. Directly comparable niche focus on musical accessibility and assistive musical instrument development.
• Live Music Now: UK charity that trains and books musicians to perform in care, health, and special education settings. Comparable mission of bringing music to disabled and excluded communities, with a performer-development pathway.
• Drake Music: England-based parent charity of the same Drake Music network, delivering nearly identical accessible music technology, Figurenotes, and Digital Orchestra programmes for disabled musicians. The closest direct peer, operating the same model in a different UK nation.
• Nordoff Robbins: UK charity delivering music therapy and music education for disabled and vulnerable people. Comparable therapeutic/developmental music-education mission with similar grant-funded charity model.
• Open Up Music: UK charity pioneering the National Open Youth Orchestra, enabling disabled young musicians to perform in inclusive ensembles. Highly comparable mission, target beneficiaries (young disabled musicians), and orchestral-plus-technology approach.

Others

• AbilityNet: UK charity providing advice and technology solutions for disabled people across digital access. Comparable as a disability-tech adjacent organisation, though focused on broader digital accessibility rather than music specifically.

Broad incumbents

• Youth Music: UK national charity funding and supporting music-making projects for children and young people, including those with disabilities. Comparable as a funder and ecosystem-builder in inclusive youth music education.

Emerging players

• Soundabout: UK charity delivering music-making and music therapy for children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Comparable specialist niche in disability-music education, smaller scale than Drake Music Scotland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drakemusicscot
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DrakeMusicScotland
• Facebookfacebook.com/drakemusicscotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drake-music-scotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/drakemusicscotland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drake Music Scotland