Musicians and the Autism Spectrum

Music and autism seem to go together, though the reasons are not completely clear.  In fact, some people surmise that Mozart may have been diagnosable on the autism spectrum.  Quite a few people on the autism spectrum (including our son) have perfect pitch - the ability to identify a tone without any point of reference.  This is a wonderful gift for for any musician!

 

When he was five, Tom got his first music therapy session.  Since he was seven, he's been taking instrumental lessons.  Today, while he's no Benny Goodman, he's a workmanlike clarinet player, capable of playing as part of an ensemble.  Tom's the boy on the right in the plaid shirt; as you can see, he's playing right along with the rest of the band.

I can't say it's been a bed of roses all the way through.  It was tough to find that first teacher.  It's been hard to help Tom learn to read musical notation, attend to the band leader, or count rests and come in with the rest of his section.  But because he has a strong "ear," and can play almost anything he hears, some of it really does come naturally.

Does your child with autism have a musical gift?