Since my background is in Nursing and I am fascinated with science and how we learn, I LOVE working with special needs students. Our family also has a few medical diagnoses which has helped me better understand and work with my unique students.  They are accepted the way they are and every accomplishment, big or small, is celebrated!


I have worked with Autistic, Down's Syndrome, Dyslexia, OD, ADHD, ADD, and William's Syndrome students.  


For severe learning challenged students, those with processing issues, or some visual disabilities; I am happy to announce that there is a piano method that has been created for them and has been used with success in Finland and Great Britain.  It is called Figure Notes!  This method helps them to be able to eventual read music written on staves, (or otherwise known as the Grand Staff).  It is is a new methodology  that was created in 2009 in Finland and I love using it in my studio!  It has been so effective that I now implementing with all elementary aged, beginning students.

Your learning challenged student needs to be able to identify the following shapes, circle, square, triangle, and an X.  They also need to be able to recognize the difference between red, brown, grey, blue, yellow, black, and green.  I admit to not having adapted it yet to color blind students but my research show that this too is possible.  :)