Our twice exceptional kids are always surprising me with what they’re capable of executing in our music studio. Music is a passion and life long pursuit that I'm honored to share with our incredible students. The small class sizes at Lang allow for individualized instruction to best serve kids across all grade levels. The opportunity for collaboration and mentorship between community members of all ages and abilities is another unique feature of our program.
Music education supports learning across all subject areas for any demographic of students, but the skills developed while playing and improvising have specific benefits for our neurodiverse population.
Playing an instrument requires extended moments of focus often on repetitive tasks, which supports executive functioning and organizational thinking. I’ve observed that the instruments themselves also provide sensory input that many students find regulating. Additionally, working through challenging patterns or passages empowers students' to persevere through feelings of frustration.
Musical improvisation is a collaborative nonverbal activity that requires participants to understand how they can best contribute to an ensemble. Social thinking and perspective taking are essential to making music in a group. The shared goal of performance helps to build peer relationships and individual confidence. The studio work we do provides additional opportunities for growth through the recording process. Working on recording projects provides students with a lens for self reflection. It gets them thinking about what kind of music they would like to make, and how every sound they make impacts their composition. Listening back to what we make encourages critical thinking and an orientation to revision so that the student can continue to refine their work.
I am lucky to spend my days with such talented, supportive and driven young musicians. We have an exceptional musical community that I’m proud to be part of. Music is more than just an art form—it’s a powerful tool for growth, connection, and self-discovery. Through our program, our twice-exceptional students are not only developing technical skills but also building confidence, resilience, and meaningful relationships. Through focused practice, improvisation, and collaboration, they are learning to navigate challenges, embrace their unique strengths, and express themselves in ways words cannot capture. I am continually inspired by their creativity and determination, and I invite you to experience the incredible work they are doing. Whether through a live performance or a recorded track, their music speaks volumes about what’s possible when students are truly seen, supported, and encouraged to thrive.
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