Special Needs & Learning Differences
Incentives and Prizes
Wondering what your philosophy is regarding the use of incentives/prizes and if any of you use incentive systems for your students. If so, what they are? For example, weekly rewards/points/stickers for certain things (what do they need to show/accomplish?) and/or a bigger reward down the…
Working with Various Levels in Class
Has anyone had students in the same class, in the same foundation level, but doing different variations, arrangements, etc? I am just thinking that no matter how equally you relate the information, some students (in the same class) will want something extra. Does anyone do…
Every Other Week Lessons?
Does anyone offer every other week lessons? I am a new SM teacher and in the process of switching my traditional students over to SM but one of my students parents is asking if they could do every other week because of the expense. I…
Talking to moms about behavior issues
I am trying to figure out how to better handle this issue in the future. I do shared lessons with 2 kids at a time. One kid has been with me for 1.5 years. He was with his brother, and his behavior was so poor…
Setting Rates-Private and Group
I’m newly licensed and I will be holding my first FIS tomorrow. The father of a five-year-old autistic boy contacted me yesterday. Someone at his school recommended SM to him. I’ve been debating, in general, what to charge (and will obviously have to finalize this…
Four Year Old with Hearing Impairment
I would like some advice regarding a potential student. A mother rang me recently, – she had seen my advertisement locally and had been advised by her four year-old son’s occupational therapist to try piano lessons for him. He has had hearing impairment from a…
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
I have a new student beginning private lessons who has been diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). I have only had two students in the past who had CAPD and their disorders were so mild that I never noticed anything other than they were…
My First Student with Aspergers
I started my first child with Aspergers syndrome last week. We have had two lessons. He is a very sweet young boy who is seven and he has a twin sister. At our lesson he all of a sudden starts to cry. Tears just streaming…
Apology from Special Needs Student
I want to send out a note of encouragement to everyone in our Simply Music family… This morning I had a really challenging exchange with a student that I teach 1:1 with Asperger’s. He often wants to claim territory (as does his younger sister who…
More on Autism and Aspergers
I have had an opportunity to teach a boy with Autism who has had much success so far in Simply Music (with about five weeks of lessons). He loves the music and loves practicing. I originally taught Bradley traditional lessons which of course did not…