Strategies for Successfully Teaching Students with ADD or ADHD in Instrumental Lessons

Abstract

Teachers can easily encounter students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the instrumental lesson setting. Applicable to instrumental lesson settings in the public or private schools, private studios, or college studios, this article focuses on specific strategies ranging from the organization of the teaching studio to the instructional delivery that can help students with ADD and ADHD achieve their highest musical potential. By making small changes in studio arrangement/decoration, maintaining open lines of communication with parents, and understanding some key elements that can affect students’ ability to most efficiently learn, instrumental lesson teachers can improve the learning not only of students with ADD or ADHD, but of all students.