This Memo includes

• Feature Article: Teaching Music to Students With Autism

• Student Hall of Fame

• Practice Tip

• Parents Ask Pam - In the beginning piano program, is it all self-study or does the student ever check in with a teacher?

Feature Article - Teaching Music To Students With Autism

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder seem to thrive and do very well in a musical lesson, and I wanted to showcase some examples in this article. However, in my research, I found very little difference between planning a lesson for a neurotypical child versus a child with any other learning challenge. With any student of any age, you plan a lesson that will motivate and excite the student while using their own learning style. Because every individual is different, teachers tend to use several learning styles when planning a lesson to a group.

What is the best way to teach a student a new concept?

This Memo includes

• Feature Article: Music Theory - Is It Necessary?

• Student Hall of Fame

• Practice Tip

• Parents Ask Pam - I’m concerned because when I read the description for the in person class it made it sound like we didn’t need a piano at home to take the class. I’m finding this seems to not be the case. I’m concerned because we are a low income family and just don’t have access to rentals and a piano. Nothing against you or the class I’m just wondering if this is doable without a piano or keyboard at home?

Feature Article: Music Theory - Is It Necessary?

When I mention the term “music theory”, the words “scary”, “boring”, and “unnecessary” are popular responses. After all, many great artists have been said to know nothing about theory. This is a presumptuous statement. They may never have been trained or went to school for it, but they certainly know what they are doing! Some understand it internally at an early age and others enlist help to achieve this.

Theory isn’t only about reading music and staffing notes on paper. Theory is also about understanding what is going on in music. Hearing how notes are put together in a key signature to create melodies and songs. Recognizing patterns and associating songs that use similar formulas. This can be done without hours of studying or the “boring” stuff you’ll never use. It can be done using the music you’re already listening to and writing!