![Do People with ADHD Have Difficulty Playing from Sheet Music - Girl with Violin - Prodigy Meaning: Examples of Special Talent in Music [Video] - 50 Essential Music Symbols Explained in Less Than 5 Minutes](https://successmusicstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Do-People-with-ADHD-Have-Difficulty-Playing-from-Sheet-Music-Girl-with-Violin-682x1024.jpg)
Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you a parent or a music teacher of an ADHD student who struggles with reading music? Though many people with ADHD have a hard time reading music, multisensory teaching methods can help! Read more to answer the question, “Do people with ADHD have difficulty playing from sheet music?”
Yes, People with ADHD Can Have Difficulty Playing from Sheet Music
“Do people with ADHD have difficulty playing from sheet from music?” According to Sara Raviotta*, 85% of students with ADHD also have mild dyslexia.
- In addition, she quoted the International Dyslexia Association that “20% of [the] population has dyslexia,” and the CDC that, “up to 13% has ADHD.”
- This means that at least 1 in 5 kids that music instructors will see will have learning and/or attention issues. However, she goes on to say, “Among musicians [it] may be closer to 50% [that] have dyslexia.”
If this is true, why do so many people with dyslexia and ADHD gravitate to music? Because music lends itself well to their visual-spatial styles of learning. For more information:
How Do We Help People with ADHD Read Sheet Music?
“Do people with ADHD have difficulty playing from sheet music?” Many students with ADHD will have problems with reading music. However, some students with ADHD have no problems at all with playing from a score.
If your student struggles with reading music, I suggest you color code the score:
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
- How to Color Code Guitar Tab to Empower LD Achievement
- Color Coded Quarter Note Clapping
If you find these helpful, check out the rest of the color coding posts in the ADD post archive. Every other post deals with color coding:
Final Thoughts to “Do People with ADHD Have Difficulty Playing from Sheet Music?”
“Do people with ADHD have difficulty playing from sheet music?” While not all students have issues with reading, parents and music teachers should keep an eye out for it just in case.
If your student needs help, color coding the music is a scientifically proven multisensory teaching method that works for ADHD, LD, ASD, and other special needs students.
Related Content
- Color Coding Music for Success
- How to Color Code Music Notes for LD & Special Needs Distance Learning
- Color Coded Eighth Note Clapping
*At her presentation in 2022 at the ABLE Assembly (a special needs arts conference).
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
How to Tune Your Incredibly Cool Microtonal Keyboard
Do you want to know how to tune your microtonal keyboard so that your chords sound incredibly cool? The term microtonal covers a lot of different types of tuning systems. Some which will sound like a cappella music, and others which will sound exotic and otherworldly. Keep reading “How to Tune Your Incredibly Cool Microtonal Keyboard” to learn how to have beautiful sounding harmonies. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
Geoff will be an Exhibitor at LexSEPTA’s Special Needs Resource Fair
I‘ll have a table at the LexSEPTA Special Needs Resource Fair this Saturday. I will have my Perception Presentation with me, which shows what it’s like to have a learning disability, such as dyslexia or language-based learning disability. See you there! Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
An Easy How to Guide to Understanding Triads
“Can somebody please help me understand these stupid triads?” Triads are one of the foundations of Western music theory (along with melody, rhythm, counterpoint, and orchestration). Understanding them will unlock your ability to both appreciate and write music. Keep reading “An Easy How to Guide to Understanding Triads” to learn how they work. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Read More
How to Best Use Family Chords
Do you need to know what family chords are and how they work? It doesn’t matter if you’re writing songs, or playing piano, guitar, or accordion, understanding how harmonies relate to each other within a key is your first step toward unlocking the secret of how music works. Click to learn how to best use family chords to expand your mastery of music. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More