The Music Speaks Autism Story ...
Editor's Note: Violinist Laura Nadine, also featured in our gallery, trained in Suzuki Violin with Michelle. A woman of exceptional talent and skill, she wholeheartedly recommends Music Speaks Autism, and has nothing but praise for this method of teaching violin.
Through music, we were able to accomplish joint attention, eye contact, relationship building...
"From our experience we were able to adapt aspects of ABA, DIR (Floortime) and the Suzuki Method to create an optimal musical learning environment for children on the spectrum. We use PECS to structure the lesson. After each song, bow hold, violin hold, the child takes the magnetic picture off of the white board. PECS is an amazing tool in our studio. It is such a JOY! Not only does musical study foster the development of life/adaptive skills (reciprocity, eye contact, joint attention, etc.), but playing an instrument becomes a way for the child with autism to excel -- an area of giftedness."
A fascinating new area of research!
In her Ph.D. program in Interdisciplinary Autism at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Michelle is studying the brain and how it is impacted by music – an area of research that may have tremendous implications for those with autism. For her dissertation, she hopes to investigate an area of the brain called the corpus callosum -- the area that connects the right and left hemispheres. Michelle notes that fMRI studies show that this area is "over developed,"or has greater volume in instrumental musicians; studies also show this area to be "under developed," or under connected (less volume) in children/adults with autism. "I hope to look at this area of the brain before music lessons and then one or two years after," says Michelle. "What if musical study could 'grow' the corpus collosum in children with autism? Wouldn't that be exciting?"
"It's nice to know these practices have been scientifically proven with multiple studies!" – Michelle Chinn Cannon
Michelle adds another bit of exciting news she recently learned about: The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders has outlined 24 evidence-based practices for working with/teaching children with autism, many of which are incorporated Music Speaks Autism's teaching, including video modeling, PECS, time delay, prompting, reinforcement, peer-mediated instruction and intervention.
Visit the Music Speaks Autism website and
Community Suzuki Music School websites to learn more!
Remember, every child can learn!
