Success Music Studio

Multisensory

 

multisensory teaching in music

 

The archive contains posts about teaching music using multisensory teaching methods.

 

A Brief Account of Multisensory Teaching

Do you want to know what multisensory teaching is and where it came from? Multisensory teaching became popular in the 1980s with Howard Gardener’s book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Originally written to discuss how the brain works, it instantly had an impact on the public-school teaching community.

 

The main idea? People come in different brain types:

  • Musical-rhythmic and harmonic
  • Bodily-kinesthetic
  • Visual-spatial
  • Verbal-linguistic
  • Logical-mathematical
  • Interpersonal
  • Intrapersonal.

 

Each brain type learns best through a different sense. (Other intelligences got added later.)

 

According to Gardener, a person may have more than one intelligence, but only one comes to the foreground. Prior to Frames of Mind, public school teachers focused on verbal teaching. However, the book opened a floodgate of ground-breaking teaching tactics.

 

Other theories exist of how the brain works, such as Linda K. Silverman’s visual-spatial versus verbal-sequential learners. There are also other multisensory teaching methods such as Orton and Gillingham and Ronald Davis.

 

However, all of the methods remain focused on teaching using more than one sense. Teaching via sight, touch, sound, and kinesthetic senses helps support the range of learning styles within a typical class room.

 

In my lessons, I have used manipulatives (such as a raised staff and plush toys) to convey musical ideas using the sense of touch. Likewise, color coding links into the sense of sight. Sound models (and not just for establishing the mental pitch template) for the sense hearing. Finally, clapping and movement games for the kinesthetic sense. (So far, I have not found a music application for the sense of smell or taste.)

 

Multisensory teaching methods make the difference between success and failure for special needs, LD, and ADD students.

 

Back to The Successful Music Student blogs.

 

© 2021 Geoffrey Keith 

 

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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What’s Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on Music - Sheet Music and Yellow Flower

What’s Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on Music?

Are you a music teacher with a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Do you need advice on teaching your students? For people with autism spectrum disorder, music can be comforting after a hard day interacting with people, allowing an outlet for pent up emotions. However, does ASD have an impact on playing music? Click “What’s Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on Music?” to find out. Estimated reading time 5 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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