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Simply Music Gateway: Who It’s ForProfiles & Informational
Narratives for Specific Populations Using the Simply Music Gateway
Program
© Simply Music. All rights reserved.simplymusicgateway.com
Karen Nisenson, MM, MA, BCMT& Neil Moore, Founder of Simply
Music
www.simplymusic.com
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Contents
Teachers
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Page 3
Parents
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Page 5
Autism
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Page 7
Processing Disorders & Cognitive Delays
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Alzheimer’s & Dementia
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Page 11
Karen Nisenson, MM, MA, BCMT & Neil Moore, Founder of Simply
Music
Serving those with Special Needs (Autism Spectrum, Developmental
& Processing Disorders, Cognitive Delay, Traumatic Brain
Injury, ADD, ADHD)
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Teachers
It is not uncommon for piano teachers to feel somewhat
‘unqualified’ to teach students with special needs. This is
completely understandable but easily remedied. The most important
quality is simply a desire to understand and authentically connect
with the student regardless of their circumstance. This is truly an
opportunity to engage in a positive, life-changing experience.
1. What is the Simply Music Gateway program?
The Simply Music Gateway Program (SMG) is designed to be taught
by Licensed Simply Music Piano teachers. The SMG methodology has
been specifically developed for those students who need strategies
that have been modified and adapted to suit processing disorders,
sensory integration dysfunction, cognitive disabilities, ADHD,
Autism Spectrum Disorder, or dementia-related disorders.
2. How does it work for you?
Unlike the more ‘typical’ learner who can easily and quickly
understand the concepts, abstractions, approaches and learning
strategies of the Simply Music Piano curriculum, children with
special needs require a different approach. Information needs to be
far more concrete, broken into significantly smaller steps, and
made as easy as possible to absorb. Fine motor issues are often
prevalent and need to always be taken into account. Visual symbols
can be difficult to decode, shapes and patterns are not easily
recognized, and eye/hand coordination is weak or even non-existent.
As such, the symbols, diagrams, concepts, abstractions, as well as
many of the learning strategies that are used in the Simply Music
Piano curriculum, are not used in the SMG Program. It is a unique,
stand-alone curriculum that utilizes an entirely different
approach.
The SMG curriculum is structured so that it can unfold over a
12-month period; however, a student may take longer or shorter than
that, depending on their skills, level of capability and other
factors. After completing the first level of the SMG Program, some
students will be happy to continue on with the program and its
specialized approach, whereas others may be ready to transition
over to the Simply Music Piano program.
3. What music is used in the Simply Music Gateway program?
The SMG Program uses a selection of great-sounding pieces of
music, covering a variety of genres and styles, taken directly from
the Simply Music Piano program. Initially, the pieces are explored
as improvisatory experiences and, as skills develop, are then
learned and acquired as part of the students’ playing
repertoire.
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4. What is your role as a teacher in the Simply Music Gateway
program?
The SMG Program offers a structured curriculum that is easy to
follow and implement. You will need to set aside any typical
expectations and simply meet the students where they are. Getting
to know the student – personality, likes and dislikes, behavior
patterns, motor issues, communication modality, etc. – along with
the training and guidance provided in the Teacher Training
Materials, will help you determine how to appropriately deliver the
curriculum.
5. Why is music important for any child?
The SMG program provides a unique pathway that gives students
the opportunity to appreciate and experience their musicianship, as
well as benefit from a program that contributes to their
socialization, family, communication and life skills. This music
program enables the child to become more aware of their own
creative potential and ultimately discover new possibilities within
themselves.
Teachers (cont.)
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Parents
Parents of children with special needs have much in common. They
are often working 24/7 to make sure their children receive adequate
health care, education and love. They face consistent demands that
are often more complex than those of the average parent, and spend
more time alone and isolated from typical mainstream community
life. Parents learn to appreciate simple pleasures and get much joy
from their child’s every step towards overcoming challenges and
achieving goals. Introducing the Simply Music Gateway program
to families gives parents an opportunity to work within a
structured musical teaching system that explores creative potential
while enhancing their child’s capacity for learning.
1. What is the Simply Music Gateway program?
The Simply Music Gateway program (SMG) gives children with
learning differences and other special needs the opportunity and
ability to play the piano and experience music making without the
need to acquire the technical, theoretical and physical skills and
attributes typically associated with traditional methods of piano
learning. The SMG curriculum is designed to unfold over a 12-month
period, giving the student the necessary skills and confidence to
continue onward in developing their musicianship or, potentially,
migrating over to continuing with the Simply Music Piano
program.
The SMG Program acknowledges the fact that not all children
learn in the same way. All minds accept and process information
differently. For mainstream learners, the differences fall within a
sufficiently similar range of developmental processes that will
meet with successful results in a chosen program. For children on
the Autism Spectrum, or those with any kind of processing
disorders, there is difficulty in sequencing, outlining or
comprehending the steps needed to learn and assimilate information.
The SMG program addresses these challenges in a unique, step by
step approach that is easily understood.
2. How does it work for you?
This program is able to isolate the different sensory stimuli
within the lessons. Visual processing, fine motor development and
auditory processing are separated within the steps, and only
combined when the student becomes comfortable and familiar with
each track. The use of improvisation makes it possible to try new
skills while not having to learn specific notes or patterns. The
experience of playing music without the burden of cognitive
information makes learning fun and motivates the student to move
forward.
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3. What music is used in the program?
The SMG Program uses a selection of great-sounding pieces of
music, covering a variety of genres and styles, taken directly from
the Simply Music Piano program. As the songs are modified to the
needs of the student, the music will quickly become familiar and be
incorporated in the learning process. The student will then begin
to progress naturally within the SMG program, or even transition
into the Simply Music Piano program at a time when it is
appropriate to their development.
4. What is your role as a parent in the Simply Music Gateway
program?
The SMG Program offers a structured curriculum that is easy to
follow and understand. Helping your child with directions and
guiding them in the exploration of new skills, encourages
independence, creativity, singing and language, and provides a
bonding experience that is both fun and rewarding.
5. Why is music important for any child?
Music stimulates a child’s early brain development and aids the
brain’s neural pathways. It also assists in the development of
language and social skills, especially for children with autism and
other cognitive issues.
See the following related studies:
The Effect of “Developmental Speech-Language Training through
Music” on Speech Production in Children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders:
http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=oa_dissertations
Music May Hold the Key to Enhancing Language for Autistic
Children – 7 Tips for Integration:
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/music-may-hold-the-key-to-enhancing-language-for-autistic-children-7-tips-for-integration/
Effects of Music Training on the Child’s Brain and Cognitive
Development:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1196/annals.1360.015/abstract
Parents (cont.)
http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=oa_dissertationshttps://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/music-may-hold-the-key-to-enhancing-language-for-autistic-children-7-tips-for-integration/https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/music-may-hold-the-key-to-enhancing-language-for-autistic-children-7-tips-for-integration/http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1196/annals.1360.015/abstract
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Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, refers to a broad range of
conditions characterized by challenges with social skills,
repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Each
individual with Autism is unique. Many have exceptional abilities
in visual, music or academic skills, and many have normal to above
average intelligence.
Most children previously diagnosed with autism disorder,
Asperger’s disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS), or childhood disintegrative disorder are now
diagnosed under the single title of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
To receive an ASD diagnosis, a child must also present with these
symptoms during early childhood, and the symptoms must impair
everyday function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United
States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.
1. What is the Simply Music Gateway program?
The Simply Music Gateway Program (SMG) allows children with
autism and learning differences to “play” the piano and experience
music making without the need to acquire the technical, theoretical
and physical skills and attributes typically associated with
traditional methods of piano learning.
All minds accept and process information differently. For
mainstream learners, the differences fall within a sufficiently
similar range of developmental processes that will meet with
successful results in a chosen program. For children on the Autism
Spectrum, or those with learning differences, sequencing, outlining
or comprehending the steps needed to learn and assimilate
information can be very difficult.
The success of the SMG program lies in its ability to isolate
the different sensory systems, such as visual processing, fine
motor development, and auditory training, while incorporating the
actual music used in the Simply Music Piano curriculum. As these
songs are modified for the needs of the individual, students will
quickly become familiar with and incorporate the songs into the
learning process, always making sure each new learning step
reflects the student’s level of understanding.
2. How Does it Work for you?
The SMG program is a unique, adaptive piano curriculum that has
been created in order to give students with special needs and
learning differences the opportunity to have music making be a real
and meaningful part of their lives. Children on the Autism Spectrum
need a creative outlet in which to explore ideas while having fun,
without the cognitive pressure that comes with academic learning.
The SMG program begins by “playing” on the keyboard in an
improvisational approach, allowing the child freedom of movement
and interactive music making, as well as the opportunity to
incorporate the “whole” before learning the “parts”.
Autism
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The next step is learning the letters and location of the keys
through a series of musical, playing-based activities that target
specific fine motor issues. Learning piano has always been thought
of as just that – learning the instrument for the sake of being
able to play for musical enjoyment. However, the skills needed to
play the piano are the same skills needed to perform daily tasks,
such as dressing oneself, eating with a spoon or fork, manipulating
tools, using a computer, drawing, writing, or cutting with
scissors. For children and others who have fine motor difficulties,
learning piano has not been an option in their lives, until
now!
3. What music is used in the Simply Music Gateway program?
The SMG Program uses a selection of great-sounding pieces of
music, covering a variety of genres and styles, taken directly from
the Simply Music Piano program. Initially, the pieces are explored
as improvisatory experiences and, as skills develop, are then
learned and acquired as part of the students’ playing
repertoire.
4. What is the role of the student learning with the Simply
Music Gateway program?
The most important aspect of participating in the Simply Music
Gateway Program is to enjoy the process of learning music, without
pressure or expectation. The student will come to realize that
music establishes a relationship between him/her and the teacher,
as both engage in a creative endeavor, sharing the intangible
essence of music as communication and language.
5. Why is music important for children on the Autism
Spectrum?
Music stimulates a child’s early brain development and aids the
brain’s neural pathways. It also assists in the development of
language and social skills, especially for children with autism and
other cognitive issues.
Autism (cont.)
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A learning disability, or difference in learning style, is a
neurological disorder resulting from a difference in the way a
person’s brain is “wired.” Children with learning disabilities are
as smart as or often smarter than their peers. However, they may
have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling
and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by
themselves, or if taught in conventional ways.
A learning disability is a lifelong issue, and cannot be
“fixed”. However, with the right support and intervention, children
with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to
successful, often distinguished careers later in life. Parents can
help their children achieve success by encouraging their strengths,
knowing their weaknesses, understanding the educational system,
working with professionals and learning about strategies for
dealing with specific difficulties.
1. What is the Simply Music Gateway program?
The Simply Music Gateway Program is a step by step learning
experience that brings music learning to those who process
information differently. Through a creative, improvisational
approach that teaches by using multi-sensory channels, the student
can “play” the piano while processing the basics and developing new
and important skills.
2. How does it work for you?
The program works by recognizing the needs of children with
attention and focus issues, language and sequencing problems, and
possible fine motor eye/hand coordination issues. By teaching
visually at first, and introducing patterns on the whole keyboard,
a child begins to explore the black and white notes through
structured improvisation that lets them play anything and still
sound really good. After reaching a comfort level with the
keyboard, working on auditory and kinesthetic activities, such as
learning letter names and developing finger dexterity, are a
natural next step towards playing songs. The incremental,
step-by-step approach ensures success and motivation to
continue.
3. What music is used in the Simply Music Gateway program?
The SMG Program uses a selection of great-sounding pieces of
music, covering a variety of genres and styles, taken directly from
the Simply Music Piano program. Initially, the pieces are explored
as improvisatory experiences and, as skills develop, are then
learned and acquired as part of the students’ playing
repertoire.
Processing Disorders & Cognitive Delays
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4. What is the role of the student learning with the Simply
Music Gateway program?
The most important aspect of participating in the Simply Music
Gateway Program is to enjoy the process of learning music, without
pressure or expectation. The student will come to realize that
music establishes a relationship between him/her and the teacher,
as both engage in a creative endeavor, sharing the intangible
essence of music as communication and language.
5. Why is music important for children with Processing Disorders
and Cognitive Delays?
Studies have found that music has a unique interaction with the
brain – causing synapses to fire in certain regions – which makes
it highly effective for increasing cognitive development and
overcoming many other physical, social, and emotional problems.
Children who suffer from ADD or ADHD also have shown improvements
in attention, concentration, impulse control, socialization,
memory, self-expression and confidence levels.
Processing Disorders & Cognitive Delays (cont.)
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People in many countries who are more than sixty years of age
are commonly referred to as senior citizens or seniors. There is
really no single definition or description of this population,
which is highly varied in lifestyle, health issues and personal
development. In a report based on various sources of demographic
data, the Census Bureau said that in July 2011 there were 41.4
million people in the USA that were age 65 or older. This number
was a significant increase from 40.3 million in April 2010. The
number of seniors in the USA is projected to
reach 92 million by 2060, with 18.2 million age 85 or older.
There are many seniors still in the workforce, and others who
choose retirement.
As people age, physical and neurological issues emerge, with
Alzheimer’s, being the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is
a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities,
serious enough to interfere with daily life. The disease accounts
for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
1. What is the Gateway Program?
The Simply Music Gateway Program (SMG) is a step by step,
adaptive piano learning experience that brings music learning to
those who are noticing that they are now processing information
differently, or are no longer memorizing information as easily as
they once did. Through a creative, improvisational and systematic
approach that teaches by using multi-sensory channels, the student
can play the piano while processing the basics as well as
potentially reigniting important skills, attributes and
faculties.
2. How does it work for you?
New research published in the International Journal of
Alzheimer’s Disease suggests that playing a musical instrument
during adulthood is significantly associated with reduced risk of
cognitive impairment and dementia. Whether for treating dementia,
stroke symptoms or just to reignite and newly stimulate the brain,
the SMG Program provides students with a framework and systematic
approach that facilitates easier and more rapid learning. Beginning
with structured improvisation this program allows people to engage
in playing and experience their musicianship without the need to
acquire the technical, theoretical and physical skills and
attributes typically associated with traditional methods of piano
learning.
3. What music is used in the program?
The SMG Program uses a selection of great-sounding pieces of
music, covering a variety of genres and styles, taken directly from
the Simply Music Piano program. Initially, the pieces are explored
as improvisatory experiences and, as skills develop, are then
learned and acquired as part of the students’ playing
repertoire.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia
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4. What is the role of the student learning with the Simply
Music Gateway program?
Every student in the Gateway program takes one step at a time.
Being free to experience natural musicianship and learn the piano
with neither expectations nor pressure, contributes to a positive,
lasting and valuable experience.
5. Why is music important for seniors with Alzheimer’s and
Dementia?
Music, as we know, has the power to affect us both emotionally
and physically. Individuals are influenced by the motor center of
the brain that responds directly to auditory rhythmic cues. A
person’s ability to engage in music remains intact late into the
disease process, because these activities do not require cognitive
functioning for success!
Seniors with any form of dementia have lost a sense of control
over their lives. Music participation allows them to feel the
healthy parts of themselves that can come alive during the music
experience. Music promotes speech, movement and a natural
motivation to interact with others. It also engages areas of the
brain involved with attention, making predictions and triggering
memories. Findings also suggest that music can help the brain
organize incoming information. Recent research also indicates that
listening to music releases dopamine (a neurotransmitter) in the
brain sending pleasure signals to the rest of the body.
(Coffman, D. D. 2002 Music and Quality of Life in Older
Adults)
(Nina Kraus, Samira Anderson, “Music Training: An Antidote for
Aging?” Hearing Journal, Vol 66, No. 3, March 2013)
Psychomusicology, 18, 76-88
Alzheimer’s & Dementia (cont.)
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