Do Guitar lessons work for autistic kids, handicapped kids or adults?

Won’t know unless you try

Can autistic or handicapped kids learn guitar? In my experience, yes. I can’t say 100% across the board that all can learn. There is no 100% success rate of any student even without special needs becoming 100% successful at guitar. If someone doesn’t practice they will not improve. At this point of being a music teacher I have had ample time to develop methods teaching special needs. I’d like to share to a couple long time students stories and how I evolved teaching these guitar lessons in Metairie, La.

My personal experience teaching special need

 Story 1.I have no special academic training teaching special needs kids. But one of my longtime adults students wife owns an Autism clinic and he was mentoring an autistic teen. They were going to move out of state to open a second clinic. He asked me to teach this teen guitar lessons. My first thought was that I’m not qualified. He told me he was going to pay me in advance for six months of lessons and that he knew there was no doubt in his mind that I could do it.

It was amazing to take on this boy and then see him featured a couple years later a music show where he was featured. The director called me asked me how was I able to teach him the song. I always say that I’ve probably learned more from these kids than they learned from me. 

Story 2. This student actually came from the mom of the first student. I found out very quickly that every autistic student is completely different. He really couldn’t communicate well. He would answer yes a lot to whatever question I ask and would verbally be running movie dialogue as we’re doing the lesson. For several months, he would have a meltdown in the middle of the lesson and scream.

I learned how to pace the lesson better. He’s my guitar student for over 5 years now. Almost out of his teens. His cognitive ability has grown over the years. He plays at every recital. I believe these kids are not special needs but just very special people who deserve our love and guidance in whatever they do. 

Why guitar for special needs

I believe guitar lessons are great for special needs kids in developing cognitive skills, social skills motor skills.  You can buy a guitar very personal to the color they like or the shape. There are cool looking guitar straps. One of my students always has very cool looking guitar t shirts. The guitar kind of hugs your body. You really wearing the guitar. It was awesome to go back and rethink these kid’s stories. What a blessing!

Conclusion