Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Tips for Teaching an Autistic Child the Guitar #1: Learning Style
Are you a teacher of an autistic guitar student? Each student has a unique learning style. Autistic students are no different, which means you need to be flexible when teaching kids on the autistic spectrum. Read more to get tips for teaching an autistic child the guitar.
This post uses music terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
Tips for Teaching an Autistic Child the Guitar #2: The Teaching Strategies Are…
How do you teach an autistic child the guitar? It bears repeating, not all students on the autistic spectrum have the same abilities:
- Some students will learn and communicate much like a typical learner. However, others will have very little vocabulary and need a multisensory approach.
- Moreover, students who communicate well may still struggle with learning music. You can even find students who have profound communication issues but will still have a talent for learning music.
- So, you never really know what you’re going to get until you start working with the student.
You need patience when working with autistic students:
- Celebrate successes and progress even if they don’t seem like big gains to you.
- Use positive reinforcement by giving high fives and appropriate praise. However, your praise must be genuine, or the kids will see right through you.
- Be aware that autistic students may have a tendency toward black and white thinking.
Building a helpful and encouraging lesson environment can boost your student’s self-confidence and desire to learn.
More useful tips:
- Be understanding and patient with any social awkwardness.
- Allow some tangents, but don’t let them get out of hand.
- Also, some kids will need periodic micro-breaks during the lessons to keep them fresh and on task.
For many kids on the spectrum, adapting sheet music using color coding will be a game-changer. For more information:
- How to Color Code Musical Diagrams
- How to Color Code Guitar Tab for LD Achievement
- How to Color Code Music to Get LD Students to Perform Accurate Alternate Picking
- How to Color Code Music Notes for LD & Special Needs Distance Learning
- Color Coding the Fingers for Music Learning Empowers Special Needs and LD Student’s Fingering Accuracy
Tips for Teaching an Autistic Child the Guitar #3: Summary
Here’s some final thoughts on Tips for Teaching an Autistic Child the Guitar. Tailor your teaching to your student’s needs.
- Just as typical learners can vary in how they learn, autistic students will also have varying learning needs.
- While some autistic students will do just fine learning with traditional teaching methods, others will benefit from a multisensory approach.
- Be aware of the social aspects of autism and forgive unintended student gaffes.
- Permit some tangent-questions, but don’t let it get out of control.
- Be aware that some students will need micro-breaks during the lessons in order to focus when you need them to.
- Be sure to give four praise comments to every critical comment.
- You need to remain open-minded and flexible by adjusting your teaching style to meet the needs of your student.
Have fun teaching!
Related Posts:
- What Do You Think of the Chord Buddy for Special Needs Guitarists?
- Is Playing the Piano a Suitable Activity for Autistic People?
- How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes: Part I
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- Color Coded Quarter Note Clapping
- Color Coding Music for Success
- Lego Rhythm Manipulatives
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
How to Use an Extremely Accurate Guitar Strobe Tuner
Does your guitar sound out of tune even when the tuner says you’re in tune? Do you have trouble tuning by ear or want to get a better guitar tone? Not all guitar tuners have been created equal. Read more to learn how to use an extremely accurate guitar strobe tuner to make your guitar sound awesome. Estimated reading time 9 minutes.
Read More
What Exactly Is a Chord and What Does the Term Harmony Mean?
Are you unclear about what harmony is? Do you want to know how it works? Harmony is a major subcategory of music theory that helps musicians to understand how notes should go together. This in turn impacts how they arrange their music. Keep reading “What Exactly Is a Chord and What Does the Term Harmony Mean?” to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More
Special Needs Music Success
Tired of seeing your child or student struggle in music lessons? Have you started to wonder if effective music learning can actually happen? Read more to learn about how to achieve special needs music success. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
What’s the Key Difference Between Countertenor, Baritone, etc?
Do you want to know what voice type you are? All the voice types discussed in this post are from the pool of male singers used in chorus, opera, musical theatre, and pop music. Some of these male vocalists can sing very high, while others can sing very low. However, it’s the quality of his voice that makes a male singer one voice type versus another. Keep reading “What’s the Key Difference Between Countertenor, Baritone, etc?” to learn what makes a singer a countertenor, tenor, baritone, or bass and how to tell them apart. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More