Autistic kids and music - need ideas!

Subject: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: wilco
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 03:21 PM

I have a small acoustic music store in Eart Tennessee. I also have eight kids and six grand children. I've done a lot of work with disabled kids, but not in music.
I have several teachers for fiddle, guitar, banjo, mando, upright bases, dulcimer, etc. Are there different learning strategies or types of instruments for these kids?
   For most other beginners, I try to get them in autharps or dobros. However, I've sold several of these families (with Asperger Syndrome diagnosed kids) hammer dulcimers and lap dulcimers.

Any ideas??

Thanks!!!!

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:04 PM

I know one very good folk musician with high-functioning autism. He's good because music is his obsession. I think you have to accept that some autistic people will simply have incompatible obsessions (like, say, car engines or postal codes) and you will never get them the least bit interested.

But for those that do, it might be an idea to look at instruments that have a different relationship to the body than just plucked or hammered string ones. Some people might relate better to making music by blowing into something, others might get into the oral harmonics of a jews harp or the lip actions of a brass instrument, others might be taken by the throbbing of a drum membrane or the stroking action of a fiddle, others might like to sing or step dance. Atarah Ben-Tovim's "The Right Instrument for Your Child" is good on that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:29 PM

I wish there was one answer for all autistic children. But my guess is that you will need to look at each one as an individual.Many autistic kids have very sensitive hearing. Not only to volume but to specific frequencies and tones.

Are you planning on individual lessons or teaching them in a group situation? I would think you would have better results with one on one lessons. Keep us posted.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:45 PM

I'm Asperger's myself. Keeping in mind, of course, that autism and Asperger's include a wide spectrum of abilities, learning music did wonders for me socially. I started on dulcimer, which is sort of an instant-gratification instrument since it can be learned relatively quickly even if you can't read music and doesn't carry the expectation of fast or intricate playing (as might a fiddle or mandolin). Not that autistic kids can't learn intricate things, but it's encouraging for beginners, especially if they feel like they're already struggling in general.

Second that one-on-one, at least initially, would probably be better. Many of us are very sensitive to peripheral noises and have an extremely hard time focusing on our own instruments if other people are playing at the same time.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Rumncoke
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 05:09 PM

Although simply excentric - at least that is my excuse, I could never learn to play anything with reeds because of the excruciating harmonics which no one but me seemed to hear - I have extremely good hearing in the higher frequencies.

I have been reduced to hysterics when unable to get out of a crowded room with someone overblowing a large accordion.

As I have aged my hearing has grown less sensitive - but I can still, for instance hear bats squeeking.

I think adults, teachers in particular should be aware that for some people just being in a room where someone is - for instance 'shrieking' a descant recorder is like being punched, and is a very unpleasant experience, more than enough to make someone with sensitive hearing not want to repeat the experience, ever.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 05:13 PM

I worked for a short while in a school for autistic kids.

I could give you an account of a lesson (or sequence of lessons) I did with a group of 12 year olds that seemed to work.

However I'm not sure if that's the sort of thing you want. Basically what I did was get them to focus on a piece of music (Mr Froggy went a courtin'), and we all made our own contribution towards the presentation of it.

Also as I remember we wrote 'raps' about what we had done that day to the sound of a drum machine. This proved to be good for children who had developed ways of avoiding communicating.

I'm no expert as you can probably tell. best of luck!

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 07:06 PM

I agree with all of the above. My son has Asperger's and used to run from the room with his hands over his ears if I sang a sad or emotional song or if music with too much emotion was on the stereo. Now (at almost 21!) he composes amazingly intricate music on the computer, using Noteworthy Composer and the arrow keys! It's music for video games, and he already has some game writers on the internet interested in him!

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 04:20 AM

I have taught music to an autistis boy and have an aspergers child - not an expert but african djembe drum + buffalo drum ( or other deep drum were the favourites for the autistic child I teach but he had to play with a beater rather than his hands)

I play the appalachian dulcimer and that was also a hit when on his knee and I played - he liked the vibration but couldnt co-ordinate hadns - he absolutely adored creating his own music on a computer using black cat ( he's 8) and we had a music session with the local music school and trombone and clarinet were a hit too

My own aspergers son doesnt like intruments to play but is really into rap music - hope this helps

Sue

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 10:09 AM

If my memory serves me well, the New Zealand singer-songwriter Paul Metsers used to have an interest in this. I'm sure I remember him running an advertisement in "Folk Roots" [ as it was in the 1980s ] asking about songs about autism. He certainly wrote 1 song to do with that very subject. I've no idea how you would contact him these days, but it may well be worth your while asking him. In any case, good luck with your work.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: DoctorJug
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:20 PM

My son Scott, an Aspie, likes to analyse and compare different versions, and spotting samples in mixes. Kraftwerk is his favourite band. He doesn't wish to play, but there are other ways of being involved in music, eg. running the PA system.
But yes, the social side can be a boon if it's managed right.

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:31 PM

Animaterra - interesting that your child ran from the room. I have a friend who teaches autistic children, and she found that a tape she took into school, for her own enjoyment, of my singing, had a calming effect on the children. These were fairly slow and atmospheric songs.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: Kaleea
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:42 PM

wilco,
As above, you must look at the individual needs of the person. I like to observe, or at least speak to the teachers/parents about what the person has experienced Musicially, as well as what must be avoided. In the beginning with the younger children, I have used Orff instruments, my Mtn. Dulcimer, & my Guitar tuned to a key, and then letting them strum & pluck as they can so that there are no wrong notes & the Music is pleasing. I generally try to give different Music experiences over time, such as lower, higher, various instrument groups, wind, brass, whatever. The kids usually like to experience my small percussion/rythm instruments, many of which I made or found. Look in the kids section of the Mudcat for some examples. One which was terrific with many different spec ed kids was a long, dried seed pod I picked up from under a tree. It was stiff, but had rounded bumps where the seeds were, could be easily held, and could be played by shaking softly or strongly, or even bopping it against a hand or ear.
I think the most important things are to have a successful Music experience, and to experience different things--sounds, meters, styles, softer, a little louder, higher & lower, etc., & moving/dancing/playing/listening to Music, and most of all--to have FUN!

Subject: RE: Autistic kids and music - need ideas!
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 05:10 AM

at a guess, I would have thought gamelan music might be helpful for autistic children. Ihave always found it very relaxing. whether you could get autistic children to participate in it, I am not sure,. campinology and maypole dancing are other possibilities, i may be completely wrong, just putting forward suggestions.