I taught in people’s homes back then and observed a lot of what their mom, Phyllis, did to help them. She strongly believes in the importance of music for people on the autism spectrum because she has seen the benefits with her two Asperger’s kids and her autistic brother.

The benefits are many. I recently wrote article about it called “Autism Symptoms & Music – 5 Ways Music Can Make a Difference With Autism”. In it I discuss ways that music can help autistic people have a better quality of live physically, mentally, and socially.

You can read get the full article by clicking the “articles” tab above. You can also get there by clicking
www.ourmusicalhome.com/blog/articles/ or www.articlesbydeborah.com

I hope it helps. I’d love to hear your thoughts. The comment area is open 24/7.

Until next time,
Deborah

P.S. My friend, Phyllis, has written a book titled “Nurturing Your Asperger’s Child”. If you are caring for someone with Asperger’s or even PDD-NOS it’s worth checking out. Just go to www.myautisminfo.com

One of the most fascinating discussions was with a scientist by the name of Dr. Gregory Simpson. We spent several hours discussing how both music and science apply to all of life.

He started thinking about this connection when he observed some students he was tutoring in science. He saw that the kids who had studied music were able to understand the scientific process extremely quickly.

It doesn’t surprise me. I’ve known for a long time that majoring in music is one of the best things you can do if you want to go to medical school. Actually, 66% of music majors who apply to medical school are accepted–more than any other group. The second group is biochemistry majors at 44%.

Other countries see the importance, too…

The world’s top academic countries place a high value on music education. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have strong commitment to music education. All three countries have required music training at the elementary and middle school levels, both instrumental and vocal, for several decades. The centrality of music education to learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States’ focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology. –http://www.amc-music.com/research_briefs.htm

This is one of the many reasons I know music is not just a pastime, it is an important part of being human. It is essential to who we are physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Deborah

P.S. Gregory and I are joining together to write more about the science and music connection–so stay tuned.

I’m a big NASCAR fan. I remember someone commenting that racing was boring because it was just a bunch of cars going around in circles.  If that was what it was about, it would be boring.

What I understood that he didn’t is that NASCAR has a system in place and it is a beautiful one. It is a team sport with drivers, pit crew, mechanics, owners, sponsors and more.  There is strategy that goes on with each team during the race. To win, the right decisions have to be made at the right time. 

The same is true with music. It is also a team sport. (Even soloists usually have some kind of accompaniment.) They may be playing one piece, but there are multiple things going on during that piece. Just slow down a minute to listen to one part that is being played or sung in an ensemble. Once you hear one instrument or voice, it’s easier to hear the others.

My family was listening to Dvorak on a recent trip and I got lost in hearing all of the parts. It could see each part dancing in my head. Part of that is Dvorak’s great writing, and part of it is the listening skills I developed over the years. I can enjoy the whole and the parts.

It’s also because I understand the elements of music. Some people think learning these things makes you more critical, but I have found just the opposite. It has opened up the world to me.

I was listening to Susan Schaeffer MacCauley, daughter of Christian teacher Francis Schaeffer, discuss ways to open a child’s understanding of music. She said to choose one composer and listen to only their works for 30 days.  Don’t necessarily make a lesson plan out of it, just ask the children things about how the music makes them feel and what kinds of things do they hear. 

What this does is help a child create a relationship with the composer and their music. The deeper learning about the composer’s life, the structure of the music and the history of the work will grow from there because children are naturally curious. It works great for adults, too. Although, it may take a little longer if life has had a quenching effect on that natural curiosity.

A friend of mine often talks about building a relationship with an album. She was talking about Country music, but these truths transcend style. If you want to have a deeper experience with music, you’ve got to spend time with it.

It helps to expand outside your comfort zone sometimes. It builds musical maturity. Otherwise you can stay in the “it has a good beat and you can dance to it” mode of musical understanding. Which is alright if that’s what you want, but it could be something more.

Being bored either musically or in general is a common problem today.  One of my seminary professors, Dr. Richard Winter, has written an interesting book titled Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment. It doesn’t come from having nothing to do, it comes, in part, from the crazy sensory overload in our culture.

We have sounds and images attacking our senses constantly.  That’s why it’s all the more important to learn how to slow down and take time to listen and experience life. I know I don’t do it enough.  Dr. Winter offers some advice on how to move away from boredom…

1. Remember the big picture
2. Delight in the simple and ordinary
3. Cultivate wonder
4. Develop strong interests
5. Actively engage instead of passively expecting others to initiate

All of these can be applied to how we approach music and find our enjoyment in it.  The jack rabbit lives we lead are wearing us down. Slowing down and connecting with some good music is good therapy for the soul and can lead to other riches of a slower, more thoughtful life.

Deborah