Adapting music teaching methods for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders

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dc.contributor.advisorDe Villiers, A. M. F.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorGriessel, D.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNell, Nadiaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-14T14:02:43Z
dc.date.available2023-09-14T14:02:43Z
dc.date.issued2019en_ZA
dc.descriptionDissertation (M.Mus. (Music))--University of the Free State, 2019en_ZA
dc.description.abstractTeaching piano to an autistic learner requires a piano teacher who understands autism and can adapt teaching material according to the individual’s learning strengths. Literature revealed little information about practical and structural piano teaching methods that can be applied in a private lesson for autistic learners. This dissertation explored the practical adaptation of piano teaching methods to tutor autistic learners in a one-on-one music environment. A qualitative research method was applied and a practical action research strategy was used to teach 12 autistic learners to play the piano. Participants were selected using purposeful, stratified sampling. Journal writings and observations were kept, evaluating each participant’s progress at the piano over a period of six months, while secondary information was gathered through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were completed by parents and schoolteachers. The data were analysed thematically and themes as well as subthemes emerged that were synthesised with existing literature. The findings indicate that piano lessons should be taught by using visual adaptation as well as considering the learners’ physical development and comorbidities. Piano lessons also had a positive effect on autistic learners’ daily activities and progress was noticed in physical improvement, communication and social interaction, and academic improvement as well as emotional development. The results showed that 10 of the 12 participants could play easy piano pieces with confidence after six months of weekly lessons. The conclusion of this study could be valuable for teachers interested in teaching autistic learners piano, providing practical guidance how teachers could adapt the teaching methods and the environment as well as the inclusion of physical activities in the lessons. The lessons also fit into the theoretical scheme of the Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Interventions (NDBI), allowing parents to practise and apply concepts learned in class at home and in daily activities, strengthening the child’s motivation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11660/12196
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Free Stateen_ZA
dc.subjectPiano teaching methodsen_ZA
dc.subjectpiano lessons and autismen_ZA
dc.subjecteffect of music lessons on autistic learnersen_ZA
dc.subjectmusic and autismen_ZA
dc.subjectpiano lessons as an interventionen_ZA
dc.titleAdapting music teaching methods for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disordersen_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA
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