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Greetings everyone! My name is Josh and I'm from England and I study Music!

I am diagnosed with Autism and Aspergers and I'm confused whether it's worth alerting my college tutors about it or not?

Currently, I'm doing a music performance (Level 2) course that is painfully easy and I'm having a few problems with it in general. I find myself getting angry because people are not as interested or as talented as I am when it comes to practicing the stuff, seriously I'm just being truthful here. I've been always told by people from family to professionals that I'm very talented with my music but I was never sure about the theory side of things. I feel I need to challenged but I find I'm the person on the course whose motivated about doing the very best, not even the tutors seemed that bothered about it which bothers me exceedingly. I feel I'm wasting my talent on this course. I'm hoping to see if I can skip the level 3 and go straight to Professional Diploma (level 4). I've got the approval of the other students, I've even been asked to come into some of the lessons.

In regards to the practical side of the course, I've scared people who are doing professional diploma but I'm angry at myself because I know I could be doing so much better than the current course. The people are unmotivated, lazy and just generally waste my time, nice people, but not exactly professional. My tutors are being stubborn about me not changing groups because it causes them hassle apparently, there's too much paperwork involved. My health had also taken a massive downturn because I was getting that badly stressed out with it all.
On the theory side of things, I find myself struggling to concentrate because I don't actually see how any of this has any practical use to me. I can grasp the merit of it and applying it but I can't concentrate on it.

Can anyone please give me some advice on what to do? Particularly anyone who teaches here? It'd be most appreciated!

Hi Josh,

I'm not a teacher, but I am a fellow student, and I can appreciate some of the points you make in your post.

The unfortunate thing about most education is that it's a "one-size-fits-all" affair. Everyone has to play the same system by the same rules, regardless of our individuality. But you ought to be better supported in your studies if you let the college know about your diagnosis.

Many things you said I can empathise with. The fact that there is one element of the course that is too easy and that you feel like you're wasting your time. The fact that there is another element that you feel has no practical application, and that you can't be bothered with. The frustration toward fellow students for their lack of a serious attitude.

In one sense these are all things that aspies have to adapt to in order to be able to complete their studies. But if you are getting support, then this should be easier, especially in areas where you're not much motivated at present.

I don't know what the structure is on your course, but I know in what I'm studying (psychotherapy) that even though a lot of what I learned on earlier stages seemed incredibly easy, the theoretical grounding it gave me enables me to tackle more difficult stages a lot easier than I otherwise could have done. So there may be some advantage in persevering, even if some of it seems way too easy.

Don't know if that helps, but hope it all goes well for you.

My College have no idea at all! Imagine the impression they've gotten.

I did find a practical solution in the end, I can either move away and do a scholarship course or if that doesn't work, I can do the next course up and dominate it.
Thanks for your help!