This subject is near and dear to my heart and mind. I have 2 children with ADHD and it has been a struggle as a mother to diagnose and understand the dynamics for our family as we have learned about ADHD. I have learned that music has given them an incredible advantage and perhaps for that I have been guided to work with and be a mother to these amazing spirits.
I have always worked as a piano teacher throughout my child bearing years and therefore the music from the acoustic piano has been in their hearts and ears before they were even born. Each baby was taken to Music Together classes until I myself began to teach these classes through their infancies and toddler years. My kid would always be the one running around, which is the only thing your not allowed to do in those classes, everything else is just fine. I would inevitably have to leave the room and come back in with them if possible. Whenever I taught the classes, my husband would have to attend, but even that was sometimes too difficult and eventually I began both teaching and paying for additional classes where I could be just "mommy" and not the teacher. Each of them began to learn the piano at age 3, but I confess, after my 4th child was born and I increased my work hours, I abandoned piano lessons--the demands being too much at the time. Now we have Sunday piano lessons and I encourage them to practice throughout the week. The one thing that has remained constant in our home has been singing and dancing. All of us, including myself started formal dance classes this year, but I have always enjoyed free dancing around the house with them. I used to swing dance for almost 8 years and as soon as the kids are a little older, I plan to teach them as well. Recently, I realized that I haven't been using music as much as I should to implement routine and structure in the simple, but necessary details of our daily grind--things such as: waking up, brushing their teeth, getting dressed and eating breakfast. I have made a playlist now that has changed our whole morning routine and eliminated the need to both an accountability chart and mom barking in the background. I feel like a fool for not implementing a musical playlist for chores earlier. I also discovered a great list of classical songs that are most commonly used in music therapy that help children with ADHD change the electromagnetic frequencies of the brain to 7.5 cycles per second which is referred to as the "Alpha Mode" or the Schumann Resonance. When in the "Alpha Mode" they concentrate and focus so much better. It takes about twenty minutes of listening to for the brain to fully transition, so you have to start before you'll want to be in a focused state. I'll let you know how it goes, but if you're interested check out this link. https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/music-therapy-for-children-with-adhd/
1 Comment
5/15/2018 12:25:11 am
t is so amazing to know how music can make a life better. I know that as a mother, every day will not be as easy as what others may think most especially with the condition of your children. But you know what, you are blessed beyond what you can imagine. Your kids are gifts from above and I am sure that they feel so blessed upon having you as their mother.
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AuthorHeather Williams is the owner of the Suzuki Piano Academy in El Dorado Hills. Archives
January 2024
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