Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine April 2022 | Page 18

for use with children with autism . They are exciting programs and easy to obtain . To introduce your late elementary or older child to the orchestra ’ s instruments and timbres , I recommend :
Khan Academy Music Unit : Instruments of the Orchestra . This will allow your child to emotionally connect to each of the instruments and the whole orchestra , and the child will gradually learn to express the emotions that a piece of music represents .
Chrome Music Lab , Easy Music iOS or Easy Music Android are ideal for young children with autism because several apps on this site allow the child to explore music by the musical element without the music becoming overwhelming . The child can experiment by adding elements a little at a time , as tolerated , allowing them to learn at their own pace and grow .
For an older child , Yousician and Flowkey are great places online where your child can have interactive music lessons . Children with autism may be able to express themselves through their instrument , even when they cannot speak the words they want to say .
From my experiences , I have discovered that although many children with autism may struggle to find the words to express how they feel , music can help them understand and experience emotions , while giving them an outlet to express themselves . I wish you success on your journey of discovery with your students and children with autism , as well .
This article was first published on The Conversation . Read the original article Disclosure Statement : The author , Dawn R . Mitchell White is affiliated with the University of South Florida as a doctoral student in Music Education .