Tag Archives: music

Lesson Learned in the Autism Room: Lower Stress

Posted on by

In the Autism Room, each student has certain activities that are calming and sometimes prevent tantrums. For some it’s drawing, for others it’s looking at books based on numbers. Some students like to put magnetic letters in order.

One sweet boy loves to play with sensory rice. We have several clear plastic tubs the size of a shoebox that are partially filled with rice. Some tubs also have sand mixed in. Each tub has an assortment of scoops, spoons, or paintbrushes. There are often small plastic toys or shells in the mix.

My friend loves to stir and scoop the rice back and forth in the tub. Sometimes he’ll bury toys or his hands. Even if he was frustrated and screaming moments before, he quickly calms down when he has access to the sensory tub.

He reminds me that we all need to find what lowers our stress and use it to stay happy and healthy. I just completed a summer conference for teachers. One of the classes focused on calming the raging storms of stress. The presenter (LeAnn Nickelsen) informed us that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it. We need to have a stress toolbox that we can use to manage our stress. Some tools she suggested included exercise, finding your passion, writing, visualization, breathing, and listening to relaxing music. One song in particular that is specifically designed for relaxation (and recommended by neuroscientists) is “Weightless” by Marconi Union. I am listening to it right now, and find it very relaxing. Feel free to check it out.

I’m thankful for the reminder to take time to find something relaxing to lower my stress. Experts agree with you, my little autistic friend. So keep playing with the rice. I will listen to music. And we will both be healthier because of it.

Lessons learned in the Autism Room: There’s Always Something to Sing About

Posted on by

Our Autism Room is brimming with interesting sounds. Many of our students enter our room at three years of age and leave when they are ready for kindergarten. They often start out as nonverbal, so you might assume the room is quiet. Not so.

Most of the time, you hear adult voices modeling words and young voices trying to talk. Each student receives one-on-one personalized training, so with eighteen people, it can get loud. Sometimes you hear screams of frustration (from the kids, not the adults—though our patience is also tested). Occasionally, you hear singing (from the kids AND the adults). Maybe it’s because of my years as a music teacher, but hearing little ones sing brightens my day.

There is one small boy in particular whose singing makes me smile. He hasn’t started talking yet, but that doesn’t stop him from sharing the song in his heart. Sometimes he hums. Other times he uses sounds like “duh-gah duh-gah” to fit the tune. His singing is contagious and I often join in. I’ve found that both of us feel better afterwards.

What does he sing about? I’m not always sure, but sometimes I recognize the song. His favorites include You Are My Sunshine, We Are the Champions, Here I Come to Worship, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I’m guessing many of his tunes are originals that he composed.

He reminds me that there is always a reason to sing. We all have challenges and go through hard times. If we focus on the bad, we can easily become depressed. But if we look for the good, we will find something to sing about. Our grateful attitude will seep out through a song or a smile and spread to others. Why add complaining to a noisy room, when we can be singing?

So keep singing, sweet boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if music opens the door to your vocabulary. Either way, thank you for reminding me (and now others) that there is always something to sing about.

Pump in the Good

Posted on by

pump-in-the-good-song-list-pic

Chain reaction tantrums in the autism classroom can be overwhelming. There are times where one child’s screams can set off even the calmest classmate and it’s hard to regain instructional control. When the tension is mounting, we dim the lights and turn on the music. Soothing melodies mingle with the yelling until eventually the cries diminish and peace is restored.

After being a music teacher and a private piano teacher for many years, I’ve witnessed and experienced the influence of music. But the power of music is also based on fact. Studies show that soothing music helps your body release serotonin (a hormone that increases happiness and a sense of well-being), dopamine (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good), and norepinephrine (a hormone that brings about euphoria).

Here’s the point where we should be careful. Music has grown very diverse. There is a style bound to please everyone. I enjoy a wide variety, and listen to different music for different situations. But have you ever listened to a song that brought you down low? There are some songs that pound in lyrics filled with despair and negative thoughts. I’ve deleted discouraging/degrading songs off my daughters’ sound cloud—losing parenting points from them I’m sure. Why pump in something that will weigh us down and add to depression?

Music isn’t the only thing that has amazing potential if we use good judgment. Books and people have the power to be uplifting (or depressing) as well. I’m thankful that there are self-help books for nearly every problem I could encounter. Non-fiction and fiction can both encourage (or discourage) us. I’m also grateful for all of the positive people in my life who rub off on me. I need to seek them out even more. People with negative attitudes are infectious too, so I strive to avoid absorbing their discontent.

Now it’s time to unwind with some classical music. Maybe it will get the “A is for Apple” song from the autism room out of my head.