Success Music Studio

ASD

 

How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes - Part I – girl with guitar.jpg

 

ASD

What is ASD?

ASD stands for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It acknowledges that there is a great range for people with autism, thus the word spectrum.

 

People on the autistic spectrum can be as varied as typical leaners. I specialize in students with ASD, LD, ADHD, and special needs. A few examples from my students will give you an idea of how extreme the ends of the spectrum can be.

 

Examples of ASD from My Students

One of my students is gifted. He learned to read words as he followed along as his grandparents read him stories when he was a toddler. His sight reading is excellent. He is in college now but does two one-hour lessons online per week just because he loves it.

 

He is currently learning a piano masterwork composition and also is learning how to comp chords from lead sheets. He’s not even a music major. His biggest challenges are organizing his schedule, socializing, and sticking to tasks.

 

I had another student who studied four instruments with me (piano, guitar, trumpet, and bass guitar) and earned the George Revelas Award for Music Excellence. He did not have learning issues except that anxiety would inhibit his ability to learn.

 

Another ASD student has about a 100-word vocabulary. Yet, he can play intermediate level piano. He needs a lot of color coding though.

 

Likewise, another student with a limited vocabulary also needs a ton of color coding. In addition, I do more hand-over-hand work with him than I do for most students. (If you do hand-over-hand work, make sure you ask if it’s okay before touching the student.) For him, I have to custom write his songs.

 

Most kids and adults with ASD fall somewhere in between, so it’s all about getting to know the student.

 

ASD and Learning

Not all students with ASD have issues with learning. However, if your child or student struggles with reading music, try these links:

 

See the posts below for full descriptions.

 

– Geoffrey Keith

 

© 2022 Geoffrey Keith

 

Back to the Successful Music Student Blogs page

 

The Special Needs and Learning Disability Label Dilemma - Label

The Special Needs and Learning Disability Label Dilemma

Do you feel uncomfortable with special needs labels? Do you like one label but hate another? Terms like special needs and learning disabilities are critical for gaining access to support services. However, they can come with some big downsides. Click to learn about the special needs and learning disability label dilemma. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

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10 Best Calm Relaxing Music Selections for ADHD Kids

Do you need to find music that will help your student relax and calm down? Do you want to find compositions that will help focus your child’s attention so that homework can get done? Music can be a tremendous help for ADHD children, but not all styles work equally well. Click to find out what genres get the job done and to learn the 10 best calm relaxing music selections for ADHD kids. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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How to Use Kinesthetic Learning in Music Lessons - Music Students

How to Use Kinesthetic Learning in Music Lessons

Do you need to know what kinesthetic learning is? Do you want to be able to integrate it into your music lessons? Kinesthetic learning uses physical activity to improve the learning experience. When done right, it’ll make your lessons more fun, engaging, and effective. Click to learn how to use kinesthetic learning in music lessons. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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What’s Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Its Impact on Music - Kids Exploring Percussion

What’s Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Its Impact on Music?

Do you need to know what pervasive developmental disorder is? Do you need advice on how to best teach your students? On one hand, PDD can affect how someone interacts with music. On the other hand, it can be a wonderful resource for boosting morale and generally enhancing your students’ lives. Click to answer the question, “What’s pervasive developmental disorder and its impact on music?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

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How to Use a Hello Song in Music Lessons - Waving Figurine

How to Use a Hello Song in Music Lessons

Do you want to know how a hello song can help you in music lessons? These are used a lot by music therapists and classroom teachers. However, they can also be useful for private music lesson teachers as well, especially if you work with young children or special needs children. Click “How to Use a Hello Song in Music Lessons” to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.

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How to Set Up a Music Teacher’s Percussion Bag - Percussion Box

How to Set Up a Music Teacher’s Percussion Bag

Have you been thinking about keeping percussion instruments on hand for your music lessons? Do you want an idea of what should go into your bag? A percussion bag or box is useful for any music instructor. It can make the difference between happy, engaged students and pandemonium. Click “How to Set Up a Music Teacher’s Percussion Bag” for some tips to get you started. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

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What Precisely Is Asperger’s and Its Effect on Learning Music?

Do you need to know what Asperger’s is? Do you want to know how it impacts learning music? Asperger syndrome is characterized by difficulties with social situations, because interpreting non-verbal communication is challenging for them. However, people with Asperger’s will otherwise have good facility with language and good cognitive abilities. Keep reading “What Precisely Is Asperger’s and Its Effect on Learning Music?” to find out more about what it is and how it interacts with music lessons. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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How to Teach Music Students with Dyscalculia - Numbers

How to Teach Music Students with Dyscalculia

Does your child or student have dyscalculia? Do you need help getting them to play rhythm accurately? Children with dyscalculia have struggles with math, and math and music have a lot in common. So, it makes sense that students with dyscalculia can have problems learning music. However, this post is stuffed with teaching tips that will help students learn. Keep reading “How to Teach Music Students with Dyscalculia” to learn multisensory strategies that will help kids of all abilities have fun playing and singing. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.

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What’re Critical Fine Motor Skills for Special Needs Music - Girl with Ukulele

What’re Critical Fine Motor Skills for Special Needs Music

Do you want to know what fine motor skills are and how they impact special needs music lessons? Fine motor skills are small, precise movements and therefore are a critical component of musical instrument lessons. Gross motor skills are also important in music. However, most instruments require a high level of finger precision, which is why in today’s post we’ll mostly focus on activities to develop finger dexterity. Keep reading “What’re Critical Fine Motor Skills for Special Needs Music” to learn how to increase finger dexterity in your special needs students. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.

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