The Power of Music Lessons for Children on the Spectrum
Music and Autism
As both a developmentalist and the owner of Garrett Music Academy, I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe firsthand how music education can profoundly impact children on the autism spectrum. Through my extensive work in teaching music to all ages and years of working with neurodivergent students, I’ve seen how the structured yet creative nature of music lessons can support crucial developmental areas in ways that traditional approaches sometimes cannot.
Understanding the Developmental Benefits
From a developmental perspective, music engages multiple growth areas simultaneously. When we work with students on the spectrum, we’re not just teaching music – we’re creating opportunities for integrated development across social, emotional, and cognitive domains. My research has focused on how musical engagement affects developmental progression in neurodivergent children, and I’ve incorporated these findings into our music intervention program at the Garrett Music Academy.
Social and Communication Development
As a developmentalist, one of the most fascinating aspects I’ve observed is how music naturally facilitates social communication. In our one-on-one lessons, we create structured opportunities for reciprocal interaction that feel natural and motivating to the student. Unlike traditional social skills training, music provides immediate auditory feedback and clear, predictable patterns of interaction that many of our students find both comfortable and engaging.
Sensory Integration Through Musical Experience
My teaching space has been carefully designed with developmental stages and sensory processing differences in mind. Drawing from current research in child development, I have tried to create an environment that can be adjusted to each student’s unique sensory profile. The multisensory nature of music learning – incorporating tactile, auditory, and visual inputs – provides rich opportunities for integrated development in a controlled, supportive setting. My classroom is spacious with multiple resources to address attention span while looking at sensory activation and triggers based on pitch and tone and personal interests.
Emotional Regulation and Expression
Throughout my career in child development, I’ve often encountered children who struggle to identify and express their emotions with words that have been normalized as descriptors. Music offers an alternative pathway for emotional expression and regulation and it is important to observe students to recognize signs of overwhelm and help students develop coping strategies through musical activities. This could mean shifting to different activities or instruments, stopping to do diaphragm breathing or having a movement break as a transition. Each child is different and it is important to treat them as the individual that they are.
Our Approach to Getting Started
Our experienced staff works closely with families to find the perfect instrument match for each student. We offer trial lessons with different instruments, taking into account sensory preferences, physical coordination, and natural interests. We maintain a variety of adaptive instruments and equipment to ensure every student can participate comfortably.
In my developmental observations, drum instruction has proven particularly beneficial for children on the spectrum. The rhythmic, bilateral nature of drumming supports multiple areas of development simultaneously. Research has demonstrated how rhythmic activities can enhance executive functioning and attention regulation – benefits we see regularly in our drum students.
Our developmental observations at Garrett Music Academy show that drum lessons help children develop:
- Enhanced bilateral coordination and motor planning
- Improved executive functioning through rhythmic exercises
- Increased emotional regulation through structured percussion activities
- Strengthened attention systems and focus
- Advanced social awareness through group rhythmic activities
Setting Up for Success
We begin each student’s journey with a personalized assessment to determine the optimal lesson length and approach. Our typical starting point is 15-30 minute sessions, which can be gradually extended as the student becomes more comfortable.In addition, we combine evidence-based musical instruction with deep understanding of child development. As a developmentalist, I’ve ensured that our approach integrates current research in developmental science with effective music education techniques.
I invite you to schedule a consultation where we can discuss your child’s specific needs and develop a personalized musical education plan. Call us at (410) 286-5505 to learn more about our specialized programs.
