Here is a must read testimony to show the amazing power of our Music4Me program!

My 5-year-old son with autism began the Early Childhood Music’s Special Needs class a year ago.  The progress I have seen has been amazing!  After 3 months in this class, he was able to move from the Special Needs class into a class with typical children.  I was worried about the transition at first because the new class did not follow the same schedule, and he is very dependent on routine.  His sensory problems caused him to become upset and cover his ears when there was applause, and there was a lot of clapping in the new class.  In the first few weeks of the new class, I was often disappointed or frustrated when he would not play or sing solos like the other children.  I was embarrassed when he would become upset by the clapping.  Denie was so positive, encouraging, and patient…even when I was ready to give up!  She continued to encourage him to participate, without forcing him; and she asked the other children and parents to give him “thumbs up” after his performances instead of applause.  Within 4 months, what seemed impossible happened and he was on stage in a large UAH auditorium performing at the recital with all of his other classmates.  Many of the classmates’ parents told me how well he was doing, and said they appreciated the opportunity for their children to learn to interact with children who are different from them. 

One month later, Denie suggested promoting him to a Pre-Keys-n-Kids class, and I said, “Do you think he could do it?”  Denie said, “I’m not going to say what he can and cannot do.”  Denie’s response has changed my attitude and I remind myself of it almost daily in other areas of life besides music class.  He moved to the new class three months ago, and he is doing so well.  He transitioned to the new people, new curriculum, and change in routine so easily this time.  He loves to play and sing solos, and even likes for people to clap for him now.  This progress has even transferred to other areas of our lives.  Prior to this, he could not tolerate being in the Sanctuary for Worship Services at church.  All of the people, the clapping, and the sound system just seemed to be sensory overload for him.  He now sits in the service week after week, and sometimes even claps or sings along to the music.  We recently were even able to take a trip to Disney World—a definite sensory overload setting.  He did so well throughout the day.  He rode several rides, watched two shows, waited in long lines, and walked through extreme crowds.  He loved every minute of it, and has been asking to go again. 

We have reached such an exciting time in his music education now.  He loves the classes and cannot wait to get there.  He enjoys singing the songs with the CD.   Throughout the week, he wants us to ask him how many counts each note gets and talk about music terms he has learned.  His Kindergarten teachers say he even talks about it at school.  He likes to make up tunes using the Solfege, like Denie,  and then wants us to “Follow Me” and sing them back to him.  He often sits down at the piano and plays the songs all by himself, and when he gets home from school, he says “I want to practice the piano.”  When a family is dealing with autism, the progress is often too slow as you face the many battles of each day.  To see him make such progress, feel successful, and enjoy something so much has been a great blessing to our family!