Music with Children with Autism Hey, everyone.
Welcome back to The Rhythm Tree.
My name is Ryan Judd here to give you more tips and tricks on how to use music to help
children with special needs.
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on how to use music to help children with special needs.
In this video clip today, I am working with my client with Autism and we are, once again,
using the cabasa.
I love this instrument and it is so much fun to use.
I highlighted this a couple of weeks ago in a blog post and I mentioned how it can also
be used as part of a brushing program for sensory input, part of a sensory diet, and
this clip illustrates that beautifully.
You’ll see my client not only brushing himself but I’m using it to brush him with.
This video also illustrates the motivational power of music and how you can use that to
work on requesting with an AAC device, sign language or verbally.
In this particular case, it’s using the AAC device.
I also show you this cool little slap-clap pattern which if you’re singing to a child,
want to spice things up, and make it more engaging and rhythmic, that’s just such
a great way to do it.
You’ll notice that the melody I’m using is a Mulberry Bush melody…
“So, this is the way we brush our hands, brush our hands, brush our hands.”
The Mulberry Bush melody is a great one to put your own words to, to encourage your child
to do something, maybe some therapy of the goal they’re working on.
So, that’s a fun one to mess with.
This segways to a different video clip, same child, same cabasa, and you’ll even see
him using the cabasa on his mouth, which I thought was really interesting because it
showed his craving for sensory input.
Then, you’ll see me play the guitar and reflecting his play by the dynamics on the
guitar.
Now, that’s a little more advanced but you could even do it with the slap-clap pattern.
If a child started stomping around the room real fast, you could speed it up or if they’re
being very quiet, you could be quiet – always being respectful and reflecting the energy
and intensity that the child has with whatever they may be doing.
I hope you found this helpful and I look forward to seeing you in the future.
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