Arts for Healing is now offering alternative style piano instruction for children and adults living with communication disorders.

This ground-breaking process is taken from Book One of "Crossing the Improvisation Bridge" developed and written by Karen Nisenson, M.M., M.A., MT-BC, teaches the keyboard, the basics of rhythm, and working with finger coordination to both typical learners and the developmentally challenged.

All minds accept and process information differently. For mainstream learners, the differences still fall within a range of developmental processes that are sufficiently similar to allow for fairly standardized teaching methods and learning expectations. Reaching children with processing issues requires the isolation of different sensory stimuli. Visual processing, physical development and auditory training must be separated into their individual components and taught as individual tracks prior to being integrated. When the child is no longer over-stimulated by one sensory element, another sensory element can be introduced and, ultimately integrated. This process continues until all sensory elements and motor skills necessary for playing the piano begin to work together and the child begins incorporating a simultaneous learning process.

"Crossing the Improvisation Bridge" gives all children the possibility of "playing" the piano and experiencing music making before they actually have learned how to play the piano or read music. The structured improvisations in Book One take black and white note patterns that easily fit into simple chord progressions to make any combination of sounds "work." This open ended form of expression creates a student-teacher bond that encourages trust and establishes motivation for learning.

To schedule an appointment or get further information please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 203-972-2982.