Accommodations for music class

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DS6 is in kindergarten, and I had the chance to observe his music class yesterday. It was a rare priviledge, usually the teacher doesn't allow parents. She seemed like a fun music teacher for NT kids, lots of songs with movement, instruments, and chances to star as the leader.

For poor DS, though, there's just no way he can succeed. The class started with 3-4 movement songs, and with his slow processing speed and motor planning issues, there is no way he could keep up. For instance, they sang "When the Saints Come Marching In", and one of the lines was "when you hear that trumpet sound", and the kids were supposed to place a hand to their ear on "hear", and then play an imaginary trumpet. DS stared at his fingers trying to figure out how to make them wiggle, and by the time he worked it out the song was on to the next line. I told him after the class that he could pick one motion like the marching and just do that, but he replied,"No, that shows that I'm not listening."

The teacher had an assistant who talked about and demonstrated a trumpet, and DS sat with his hand up for what seemed like 10 minutes before questions were finally allowed. DS has a hard time sitting in circle time anyway, and his gen ed teacher allows him to walk around and do tasks like straighten desks. I'm not sure how he normally manages music class, since he wanted to sit on my lap the whole time.

The nature of the class is inherently noisy, and there is no where to escape to if DS gets overwhelmed. The classroom opens to the parking lot, so the staff is hyper concerned about safety. The special ed aid just sat through the class like a bump on a log. He's obviously just there to monitor and call for backup if DS loses it.

Does anyone know of suggested accommodations for music class that I could pass along?

Is it possible for him to have the aide work through the motions just one on one while class is occurring? Perhaps the aide can help break down the steps and show your DS? Your DS's track for learning the song/movement can be slightly slower than that of his peers at first, but with the one on one teaching he will probably catch up by the time they complete the lesson with the song. The aide should be doing more than just sitting there - even going through the words of the song with him is more worthwhile than just having your DS feel helpless at the sidelines.

If the music teacher could help give you the songs or lesson plan early, you could practice with your DS at home. The music teacher at our school used to create CDs for the students of the music he was planning to use.

My DD (who is now 9) has HFA, but she also has ADHD. Most children who are on the spectrum have executive function issues, which means they have an inability to plan, process, and complete tasks as quickly as their NT peers. Unfortunately, at her school, there was not an aide available during the music class, and our local school takes music very seriously (big productions; the students have to show a proficiency with reading music and counting time). Frankly, it became too complicated for my DD and in first grade, she stopped participating in music at school altogether. It wasn't that she didn't like music, but she found that it was too frustrating to be in the room when everyone else seemed to "get it", but she couldn't. Since I couldn't be there for music all the time (and again, no aides), we felt it was better for her affect to allow her to read or draw in a "study hall" during music time. And DD didn't want to participate in musicals either, so for her, the process to get to the end result of all the music class (the music production) wasn't worth it for her .

Ask your son if he really wants to participate in music - if he truly enjoys it, he will continue want to apply himself with the accommodations you and the music teacher make, hopefully with good results. In our situation, our DD just wasn't that into it, so we decided to pursue her creative energy elsewhere (she's a fantastic artist and now takes art as part of her homeschool curriculum, instead of music). It's easier to have a child focus and concentrate in a subject they love.

Well jeeze, he's kindergardener...I would think you could just explain to the teacher that his processing speed is slower so its hard for him to keep up with the motions and singing......but that its ok. I mean I think there are more important life skills then keeping up with a group of kids singing and making motions with the singing so I just don't see much reason to focus on something so insignificant he struggles with. Does he not want to participate due to this issue? Or is the teacher that has an issue with him not keeping up?

I remember one time when I was about 5 or 6 we were practicing singing songs for one of those programs they have for parents and relatives to come and see the students sing. Well I had difficulties like that to and so when time when I was trying my hardest to keep up with the singing I couldn't so one of the teachers roughly grabbed me by the arm and made me sit in time out for the rest of the class for 'not paying attention.' So hopefully he does not have to endure that sort of treatment. Also at least he has a mom who is aware of his issues......my mom had no real idea what exactly was different about me.

We got permission for DS to wear his baseball cap in school and music class is one of the times I encourage him to wear it. The cap acts a little like a place to escape or maybe just reduces the sensory input a little bit, helping him to stay calmer. He also likes the feeling of the cap around his head, he will tighten the strap as much as he can in order to get that sensory input. Obviously, that aspect will not be appealing to some kids.