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xazar
Emu Egg
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject: Teaching guitar to 10 year old with AS |
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Hello
I am new to this forum and I have just been hired as a guitar teacher for a 10 year old boy with AS. What do I need to understand in order to best do my job in light of AS. I am extremely patient and compassionate, and I would just like to do a good job for this boy, any ideas?
Danny |
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BeeBee
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 01, 2005
Posts: 2257
Location: Upper Midwest, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'm trying to think what might be helpful for my son if he were to want to learn guiter. I don't know how universal these are but...
...don't touch without asking first. A tap on the back is actually painful. Try to show how to hold the hands rather than moving his about.
...don't assume he isn't listening and understanding if he doesn't look you in the eye. Don't expect eye contact.
...ask if an instruction is clear. know my son would say yes to please you so if you were teaching him, I'd ask you to ask him to repete back the instructions in his own words.
...I assume guiter is his choice? If not, it will be a hard sell. Don't take it personally.
BeeBee |
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nayashi
Deinonychus
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: 329
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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A lot of aspies (not me) are very musically talented. I enjoy listening to music and I go nuts if my battery in my CD player dies or whatnot.
But anyway, we're just like anyone else. You may need to help him focus a little more than the average student, but it shouldn't be too much harder (it also depends on the degree of AS).
Just treat him like any other student and you should both get along!
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instincts are misleading/you shouldn't think what you're feeling |
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BeeBee
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 01, 2005
Posts: 2257
Location: Upper Midwest, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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What Nayashi said it true...if you've met one Aspie, you've met one Aspie! Each is different.
Other things that popped into my mind....
...post this in the music forum. Maybe someone there will have direct experience they can share with you.
...Try to stay away from common NT phases like ..."it will be a hard sell."  Adults understand from experience what it means. A child may not. No need to confuse him unnecessarily.
BeeBee |
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Sophist
Professor of Pedantry
Joined: Apr 24, 2005
Posts: 6170
Location: St. Louie
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject: ... |
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Sincerely hope guitar was his choice. As BeeBee said, don't feel responsible if he ends up being disinterested in it.
If it is his choice, all the better! And ditto on most everything else already posted.
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Autism Speaks: The Walmart of the 501c's.
GESTALT: An Autism and Psychology Discussion Forum
http://asdgestalt.com
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spacemonkey
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: 622
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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I am self diagnosed, so take this for what it's worth.
I learned to play guitar through sheer perseverence (playing along with the radio mostly).
I took guitar lessons twice for very short periods and hated it.
The first guy was giving me lessons from a Roy Clark book that I found utterly boring and useless. This along with the added social pressure just took the fun out of it.
The second time, my teacher was very knowledgeable, but he was teaching me lead guitar and I think I am more of a rythym person. I loved all of the printed out scales and stuff that he gave me, because it satisfied my technical curiosity, and I would play around with them at home.
I hated it when he would play a rythym part and encourage me to improvise over it. I was just to uncomfortable with the new environment and person to really get into the music. For me it would have been helpful if he had given me a tape or CD to practice playing with, then changed the music each time to get me into different scales and such.
I would suggest that you simply keep in mind that the whole scenario and interpersonal aspect can be more of an obstacle than
actually learning to play. So giving lots of homework options at first might be a good idea in getting started. |
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stlf
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 668
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Teach him some repetitive exercises and arpeggios, and don't hesitate to explain theoretical concepts such as chord structures and progressions, if he is anything like me, he wil learn better if he is able to learn the "why" as he is learning the "how".
Be sure to keep us updated as to how it goes. |
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vetivert
gagged, but never silent
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 5768
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:47 am Post subject: |
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hi, danny, and welcome to WP.
it's fantastic that you are interested/care enough to want to learn about AS. i teach kids/students with AS, and have it myself.
one thing - it'll probably be best to write things down rather than relying on audio only (i.e., you telling him stuff). and ask HIM what he wants - 10 years old is old enough to know a bit about yourself.
if you're interested, i have an article i wrote for the university where i teach, which might come in handy (although it might be a bit irrelevant) - PM me if you'd like me to send it to you.
if you really want to get into it, anything by rita jordan is fantastic - i received training in teaching kids with AS about 9 years ago, and she was absolutely rivetting and knowledgable. |
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Fogman
Econo-class Iconoclast
Joined: Jun 20, 2005
Age: 41
Posts: 1997
Location: SC, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: |
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As far as touch is concerned, If the kid is hypersensitive, you might want to ground their teaching in the Chord charts, and make sure they know them well before moving on to better things.
I don't know what trype of guitar the kid is playing, but if it's an acoustic, or Light Guage strings are probably the best to start off with for building up their fingertips, especially if the guitar that they're using has a high action.--I assume you know that this will also diminish the output volume of the guitar as well. especially if the strings are made for Electric.
Hopefully the kid that you are teaching will understand that it can take a few months of playing before their fingertips are desensitised to the guitar strings.
For what it's worth, I started playing on a really awful guitar ( Harmony Archtop) that had a really high action, and phosphor bronze strings. I switched the strings out to Lighter weight strings and my fingers were relieved.
If the kid in question is playing Electric, try and start them off with either .010, or .009 guage strings. That being said, what is the scale length of the guitar this kid is playing? The reason why I'm asking is that younger kids with smaller fingers can benefit from learning on a 3/4 scale instrument .
Last edited by Fogman on Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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rumio
Toucan
Joined: May 23, 2005
Posts: 257
Location: uk
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:25 am Post subject: |
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a couple of years ago I was teaching guitar to a guy who had autism as one of his many diagnoses, along with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and personality disorder and anything else one of his many consultants could think of
he's a lovely guy (an adult) but I'm afraid he found it very difficult: his manual dexterity is very low, coupled with attention span that I'm not convinced allowed him to process even the simplest instructions. I know he appreciated the social interaction but we let the guitar lessons drift after a while as it really wasn't going anywhere
he's definitely a savant though, at least as far as rote learning goes. He knows the names and dates of all the kings and queens of England, same for prime ministers and he remembers the birthday of everyone he's ever met.
my own approach to learning guitar was pretty anarchic and individualistic ie I taught myself according to what I liked the sound of and had no patience with trying to follow lessons and learning technical stuff. never did me any harm I've been playing guitar for nearly 30 years now and still can't read music
definitely worth getting the best guitar you can afford though even for a complete beginner, it makes a big difference to the quality of the experience if you're playing something that at least is trying to help your efforts rather than cutting your fingers to bits (which is inevitable anyway to some extent)
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Long afloat on shipless oceans,
I did all my best to smile...
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Civet
The Practical Cat
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 1342
Location: In my head
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:34 am Post subject: |
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I think the most important thing would be clarity, here. As Bee Bee said, make sure your student understands what you're saying, have him repeat it back to you. He may even think he understood you and have interpretted what you've said not in the way you've meant it (I've done this myself many times). Just be precise when you're speaking.
Another thing I have trouble with (may just be me) is mimicking another person. I don't know what your style of teaching is, but if you tend to show students where to place their fingers by showing them your own hand positions, I suggest you get your own guitar and sit beside your student so that it is easier for him to see it from the correct perspective, and he can have a consistent reference point.
I took guitar lessons for a little while, I did not like my teacher very much because rather than teaching me any of the conceptual stuff about how to play, she merely taught me how to read notes. Obviously, everyone wants to learn in a different way, so try asking your student which he'd prefer. Knowing the meaning behind it may make it easier for him to connect what he's doing with his hands with what is coming out of the guitar, though.
Anyway, good luck. If you would like me to move this to the music section, just let me know, and I'll do so.
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"I am I." -Ayanami Rei |
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DeepThought
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 574
Location: A chair in the USA.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Teaching guitar to 10 year old with AS |
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| xazar wrote: | Hello
I am new to this forum and I have just been hired as a guitar teacher for a 10 year old boy with AS. What do I need to understand in order to best do my job in light of AS. I am extremely patient and compassionate, and I would just like to do a good job for this boy, any ideas?
Danny |
I have played music for over 30 years (various instruments, including guitar and piano). I was never able to (how do I phrase this in English?), uhhh benefit from lessons. The standard lessons that are given were far too slow, monotonous and boring. The instructors need to learn how to observe more carefully and pick up on specific areas of skills that they can focus on when teaching. I suggest just getting to know him, learning his likes and dislikes and what is is able to do now. Look for clues as to how he "picks things up." Is he able to mimic what he hears, or sees? Throw the rules you use to teach other children away for this boy, they probably will not work. Meet him on his terms. Show him what he is interested in knowing and don't bore him with things that may turn him away from lessons, or the guitar. Find ways to skip some of the more mundane things that may prove frustrating, as in: don't send him home with only a few arpeggios to practice, give him something to do that challenges him, but is also easy for him to relate to. Discover WHY he wants to learn. Does he just want to be able to play his favorite songs? If so, focus on that. It will take more time and discovery on your part to find the best way to teach him. If he gives up the lessons, don't take it personally, if you have done your best.
_________________
The Rhymin' Red Rover, that's what they called me,
Too old for a sailin', too young for the sea;
Set sail for the sunset, to a land that is free,
I'm the Rhymin' Red Rover, and that's where I'll be. |
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xazar
Emu Egg
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:42 pm Post subject: Thanks so much for all the replies |
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I spoke with the boy's Mom a little while ago and told her that after some research I have come to the conclusion that the best way to proceed is to:
1- Have her, the boy's mother, explain to me her son's particular strengths, 'weaknesses' and special 'characteristics' and how she thinks I will be best able to teach him.
2- Spend some non-teaching time with her and her son.
3- Have her sit in on the first lesson if her son is comfortable with that.
She said the most important thing is that his teacher not interpret his behaviour as negative, more to look for his strengths and understand that his 'strange' behaviours have roots in AS and the accompanying frustration and self esteem issues.
I feel much better prepared thanks to this forum and I look forward to the challenge of this bright new student. BTW, the guitar is his own desire, not his Mom's. I never teach kids against their will and I ALWAYS teach them just what they want to know. If they need to work on something seemingly unrelated to the hit song they asked to learn, I always make it clear that this is something they need in order to do that hit song.
Thanks again people and I'll keep you posted. |
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tallgirl
Deinonychus
Joined: Dec 15, 2004
Posts: 310
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Teach him some repetitive exercises and arpeggios, and don't hesitate to explain theoretical concepts such as chord structures and progressions, if he is anything like me, he wil learn better if he is able to learn the "why" as he is learning the "how". |
I fully agree with the above statement. Arpeggios are a great confidence builder. Also, I found improvisation to be very hard, for when one is an Aspie, one is ritualistic and routine oriented by nature. Make sure lessons start and end the same, b/c that provides security. After I was able to trust my teacher, and know that he would not make fun of me, or think me stupid, I started to improvise (I played alto-sax in both bee-bop and jazz genres).
If you find that your student is talented musically, then go for the challenges, like sight-reading, but realize that frustration may come easily. Also, if you find your student getting frustrated easily on a particular day, it might have nothing to do with you, but may have to with a host of other issues from his/her day. We Aspies have a different way of processing emotion, so we often transfer and displace our emotions onto other people or situations.
Oh, and finally, sorry this is so long, realize that part of AS is hyper-focus, so we don't transition between tasks easily and can get annoyed when a person distracts us when we are in the middle of something. So, if your student is in the middle of an arpeggio, for example, and you would like them to correct their hand position, wait until they are done with the arpeggio, instruct them and correct them and then have them do it over again...in other words don't interrupt while the student is playing...it really makes us angry!
Good luck, I think you will find that teaching an Aspie, who loves music and wants to play can be rewarding, as we are hard workers, can get very obsessed and therefore advance quickly and we are sponges for information and like learning new things.
Tallgirl.
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Edited one time for irrelevant content. |
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DeepThought
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 574
Location: A chair in the USA.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, true.
I was speaking from my experience, but I have also been told that with many people with Savant Syndrome the method have to be changed and that's why the traditional ones didn't work with me. I sometimes forget that not every person on the spectrum that is interested in playing music is a savant.
_________________
The Rhymin' Red Rover, that's what they called me,
Too old for a sailin', too young for the sea;
Set sail for the sunset, to a land that is free,
I'm the Rhymin' Red Rover, and that's where I'll be. |
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