De Villiers, A. M. F.Griessel, D.Nell, Nadia2023-09-142023-09-142019http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12196Dissertation (M.Mus. (Music))--University of the Free State, 2019Teaching 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.enPiano teaching methodspiano lessons and autismeffect of music lessons on autistic learnersmusic and autismpiano lessons as an interventionDissertationUniversity of the Free State