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.
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.
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
Has your child or student shown readiness to move on from color coded music notes? The “How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes” series will explain how it works. Read more to learn how to transition from the color coding to the clef mnemonics, empowering students to graduate from the color coded sheet music. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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.
Do you have a hard time sight singing rhythm in time signatures other than 4-4? 2-4 gets used a lot in marches, so you often find it used in patriotic songs, making it worth learning. Read more to learn about singing rhythm syllables in 2-4 time.
Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Are you having a tough time reading piano notes for the left hand? (Or are you a piano teacher who has students that can’t read the left hand notes?) Many piano students quit piano because of the hurdle of reading two different clefs. Color coding can bridge the gap and help piano students master the instrument. Read more to learn about playing piano with color coded left hand notes.
Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you gotten the hang of reading rhythm in 4-4 time and want to get a handle on 3-4 time too? 3-4 has a much different feel than 4-4 and expands the types of music you can perform. Read more to learn about singing rhythm syllables in 3-4 time.
Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you get confused about the different types of solfege? Which is better for sight singing music? Fixed or moveable Do solfege? Read “Singing Chromatic Solfege Using Shapes Notes” for practical suggestions on how to sing music with lots of sharp and flats.
Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Has your student been playing color coded music notes and is ready to graduate? Have you wondered how to get to your student to play a color free score? The “How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes” series will show you how. Read more to understand contour lines and how to use them as the first step toward moving on from the colors.
Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Do you have a hard time reading piano notes? (Or are you a teacher who has students that struggle with note reading?) Many pianists find note reading a challenge, but especially LD, ADD, and special needs musicians. Read more to learn about playing the piano with color coded notes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you learned how to sightread relative minor melodies, but want to be able to sing parallel minor too? We’ve already learned about La based shape note solfege minor melodies. In this post, you’ll learn about Do based shape note solfege as well. Read more to find out about singing shape note parallel minor melodies. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you have a hard time reading rhythm notation? (Or are you a teacher who has students that struggle with rhythm?) This remains a common issue with many musicians, but especially with LD, ADD, and special needs students. Read more to learn color coded quarter note clapping. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.