Michelle Chinn Canon and her husband, Dale Canon, have made amazing discoveries and experienced tremendous success teaching violin to children on the autism spectrum...
Click image to visit the Music Speaks Autism website.
Michelle and Dale have been teaching Suzuki Violin for 15 years. Parents of three sons, two with autism, they co-direct the Community Suzuki Music School in Chapel Hill, NC, where they specialize in the instruction of children on the spectrum. Their program, Music Speaks Autism, is the nation's first instrumental music education program combining aspects of the Suzuki Method, ABA and DIR. Watch the video below.
"He would stop banging his head into the wall
and screaming ... it was rather miraculous."
"The idea to teach music to children on the spectrum came as we watched how our youngest son, severely autistic, reacted when I practiced," explains Michelle. "It didn't matter how many hours I played, he would stay within about five feet of me. He would stop banging his head into the wall and screaming, would not bite himself, and his repetitive behaviors became less ... it was rather miraculous." We would also listen to recorded music together. He would sit quietly in my lap and cuddle, and not have any of the above-mentioned behaviors. So, we conducted an experiment." ...CLICK HEREto read the exciting story and learn about Michelle's latest research at UNC!
"We took our little violins into the local AU preschool and taught for one year, says Michelle. "It was amazing; many of the children learned just as quickly as our neurotypical students! Those children who rarely allowed others to touch them accepted our touch while we helped them to play the violin. One child danced and smiled -- you had to see the teachers run for their cameras! It brought so much joy to the students, and, through music, we were able to accomplish joint attention, eye contact, relationship building -- all the skills children with autism typically struggle with." Continue...
Michelle Chinn Canon and her husband, Dale Canon, have made amazing discoveries and experienced tremendous success teaching violin to children on the autism spectrum...
