Epitelo Music Academy

Welcome to our new special needs division, now serving ALL special needs students!

As part of our expansion, we are revamping and improving our special needs division to better serve our population�s needs.  Music education for special needs students is sadly lacking in Columbus, and indeed, throughout this country.  It is a well-documented scientific fact that music helps people learn in many ways, and can be especially beneficial to special needs students; yet most music teachers are not trained to teach students with special needs.  So far, we have focused on serving students with autism, and now we want to open up our music lessons to all special needs students, as the study of music is something that should not be limited to people of a certain lifestyle, intelligence, persuasion, socioeconomic status, or any other criteria.  All students should be able to study music, and should have music lessons that are geared to their situation and needs � whether they have a disability or not.

Please remember that we are not certified music therapists.  We are focusing on adapted music education (and are certified and/or trained in music education).  If your child has always shown an interest in music, and you would like to encourage him or her to learn to sing or play an instrument, we can help.  Students who are non-verbal can sometimes learn to sing (and singing could possibly transfer to speech after awhile, ask us how).  Students with speech apraxia or weak oral muscles can play a woodwind instrument to strengthen the muscles.  Students with fine motor coordination issues can learn piano.  All students can study the patterns that are inherent in both written and sounding music, and in the rhythms that accompany music.  Music lessons can encourage a lot of the �habits� of special needs kids in an appropriate way, and can also produce a calming effect both from listening to it and as a physical outlet.

           If you are uncertain if music lessons are for you, please read through all of our documents and see if we offer any services you are interested in.  Then, please call or email to schedule a meeting with us so that we can discuss your needs and concerns further.  We want to develop a personal relationship with all our students� families so that we can best serve their needs.

Special needs students are especially unique in their approach to learning.  Each one is different, and each one can benefit from music in different ways.  Here are just some of the ways that special needs students can benefit:

*Playing musical games to “feel the beat” can improve gross motor coordination.

*Reading music extends the understanding of numbers, the alphabet, and patterns in a variety of circumstances.

*Music appears in so many different styles and contexts that students can learn to understand similar patterns in new contexts over time

*Music has a calming effect on most people.

*Students have physical control over what they play and perform, reducing frustration and sensitivity to sounds and textures.

*Students learn discipline by getting into a routine with practicing and performing music on a regular basis, which in turn leads to greater musical knowledge.

*Many students have an innate sense for rhythmic patterns or pitch patterns.  We extend this knowledge to all areas of music and outside of music by attaching words or ideas along with the familiar rhythms or pitches (i.e. nonverbal kids can learn to sing, or difficult bits of information become easier to remember).

*Music has been shown to increase performance in other areas, especially math and science, because music combines both.  Early philosophers praised music as highly as math and science as an intellectual discipline.

*Playing a wind instrument strengthens mouth muscles used in speech and eating.

*Most instruments require finger dexterity, which improves fine motor coordination.

*Students feel confident that they are achieving highly in an area that is considered normal, or even extraordinary.

*Music can be easily tailored to any student’s needs, if the student works with a skilled teacher.

The amount and types of services we offer for special needs students are now much extended.  Please feel free to select any services you may need or want.  We understand that not all students will require all services.  Also, some high functioning students may not need our special services at all, and you are welcome to sign up kids not needing extra services for regular lessons.

Initial consult (free) = If you are unsure if music lessons are for you, or your child is uncertain about where to begin/what instrument to play, please call us to set up an initial consultation.  We can answer any questions you may have, allow your child to try out our instruments, and more.

Standard private lessons, 45 ($112.50) or 60 ($150) minutes per month = This is our basic private lesson, where students come to their assigned time and work on an instrument or general music skills with a trained instructor.  Lessons are recommended to be at least 45 minutes to allow for needed breaks, communication difficulties, extra musical activities, etc.  Basic lessons without any add-ons cannot be paid for with waivers or special funding under most circumstances.

Initial ISP assessment/goal setting ($40) = Our instructors will sit down with your child’s ISP and determine how music lessons will help to achieve specific goals, often language goals, attention goals, fine motor goals, and more.  We will create a specific list of musical goals that will achieve the ISP goals, along with a list of musical activities that will aid in meeting those goals.  These will be recorded on the weekly documentation sheets so that we can keep track of your child’s progress.

Extended musical plan ($50) = If you would like a detailed document describing exactly what your child’s musical goals are (both short and long term), exactly what activities we plan to use to achieve these goals, target skills/behavior to look for, etc. we will prepare this for you.  Many students do not need such a detailed document to begin music lessons, but if it is required for documentation or other purposes it is available.

Weekly documentation/progress reports ($20/month) = Students who require documentation services due to using waivers or other special funding sources can now receive it.  We will prepare appropriate recording sheets (or use yours if preferred) with all of our current goals.  Instructors will record the student’s progress towards these goals each week, noting which skills were practiced and which skills have been mastered.  These goal sheets will be copied monthly so that you can keep a set at your location.

In-house team training ($10/hour in-lesson, or $40/hour outside of lessons) = As a part of musical learning, students will be required to practice daily.  For those who have in-home therapy teams, music skills can be incorporated into their therapy and learning sessions.  Most therapists are not trained to teach music, however.  We will train a team of therapists so that music programs can be implemented at home.  If therapists attend the child’s music lesson, we will instruct him/her through observation and commentary in how to use the same activities at home, and what the intended responses and goals are.  If therapists are not available to come to the child’s lesson, we will also allow them to observe other lessons, or to come for informational meetings with the staff only, at a greater cost.

On-location team training ($50/hour) = If a team would like to be trained to implement a music program at home, and is unavailable to come to the studio for training, our staff will come to your location, and both start the child into musical learning and train the staff to implement the programs.  We will come for as many sessions as it takes for your staff to feel comfortable with our various programs and routines.  It is recommended that you also get a comprehensive musical plan with detailed long and short term goals with this approach.  Our staff will check up on the team monthly, examining documentation, observing sessions, and will also continue to work with your child on a weekly basis.  While at-home practice with a trained team is great, only a music professional can truly teach music on an on-going basis.

Team-Approach musical learning ($50/hour) = If you would prefer that your child work with a team of music teachers, rather than only one specific teacher, we can accommodate this.  In some situations, a student may benefit from multiple perspectives on his/her needs and musical learning.  In this situation, we will schedule sessions as necessary – once, twice, or even three times a week – and the child will meet with the same two or three staff members on a rotating basis.  The selected staff will collaborate with you and each other to come up with the best musical approach.  This is recommended for lower-functioning kids, those with advanced musical skills, or general music students who are interested in exploring many different assets of music.

Special service package 1 ($150 initial fee; $165/month) = This combines our basic 60-minute private lessons with our initial ISP consultation, all initially required books, and our weekly documentation services.

Special service package 2 ($175 initial fee; $170/month) = This combines our basic 60-minute private lessons with our initial ISP consultation, detailed music plan, initially required books, weekly documentation services, and extra goal analysis and monthly updates to the music plan.

Special service package 3 ($200 initial fee; $50/hour) = This service package is for families for whom our regular services don’t quite match.  We will provide you with an initial ISP analysis, goals, detailed music plan, and we will work with you to set up a schedule that is functional for you.  We can incorporate special musical activities, we can incorporate multiple sessions per week, we can travel to you for some sessions or go “on location” (i.e. attend a musical event with your child), or whatever else is specifically required.  This plan offers the most flexibility in musical learning and in documentation services.

Why should my child study music?

Please see our “why music lessons?” section to answer this question.  Music can help kids with their verbal skills, fine motor skills, discipline, behavior, and more.  Music is also individualized to every child, and is a “universal language.”

 

Why do you have so many different services?

All special needs children are different.  Some are so high functioning that they really only want to take ordinary music lessons.  Others require more creativity and help in their learning approaches.  Still others pay for lessons using waivers, and require additional documentation in order to use the waivers.  Some children don’t fit into any of our categories and need us to work with their families to create the ideal music-learning situation for them.  We can answer your questions about our services in our initial consult.

 

I’m interested in music lessons and/or other services, how do I sign up?

It is recommended that special needs families come for an initial consult so we can determine if your child is ready for music lessons.  Please call (614) 625-1064 or email kate@katesmusicschool.com to set up a meeting.  From there, please fill out our “lesson application” on the website, stating which services you would like.  After this, if you are looking for ISP analysis or a detailed music plan, we will meet with you again to get this information, prepare a goal sheet and/or music plan, and begin lessons after this time.

 

I notice you offer to train our home therapists to implement music programs.  Do we still need you once they’re trained?

Yes.  Just like you have a BCBA or other consultant come in to keep track of your child’s progress, update goals, and engage your therapists in on-going training, we will function as a “consultant” for your team’s musical program.  The typical therapy team is not trained in music, and while they can implement exercises and activities they are trained to do, they are not able to assess when a child has mastered a skill, which skill he should learn next, or overall how to advance his musical knowledge.  For that reason we require weekly private lessons for as long as your team implements a music program at home (which serves as practice time).  Should you decide to discontinue all music lessons, your team should no longer be using our materials and you will no longer bring your child to see us.

 

Why do I have to pay for documentation services if I use a waiver?

Most waivers require that any service providers keep documentation from every session about how the child is meeting the ISP’s goals with the therapy or lessons they’re getting.  As I/O and level 1 waiver service providers, we are required to comply with the law and complete this documentation weekly.  This documentation generally happens outside of lesson time, as we mark all the goals met during the lesson and take some notes on your child’s behavior.  This also helps us brainstorm new ways to help your child learn in future session.  In general, this requires more time outside of lesson for analysis and planning, and so it costs more than basic lessons.  If you are not using a waiver, or your waiver does not require documentation, you will not have to pay for or use this service.

 

How can I get funding to pay for lessons?

If lessons are too expensive for you to afford out-of-pocket, we can help you obtain funding.  We can take I/O or level 1 waivers.  There are also other funding options available, and if you talk to us privately we can help you obtain them.  We are not currently certified on the ASP, sorry.

 

My child is high functioning and doesn’t need any of this extra stuff.  We also won’t be using a waiver.  Do I have to pay for it anyway because he has special needs?

No.  If your child will be taking only basic private lessons, and does not require documentation or other special services, you will pay the same rates as everyone else in private lessons does.  These extra services are offered for the children who need them.

 

My child has a disability you don’t list on your website.  Can you still help him/her?

Yes, we probably can.  Please contact us privately and set up a meeting to discuss your child’s needs.  There is probably a way we can help.  If necessary, we will read books or attend training sessions to learn more about your child’s disability.  We are aiming to help everyone who wants to study music, regardless of ability or needs.

 

Are you all really qualified to do this?  How do I know my child will be well-served?

The owner holds a bachelor’s in music education, part of a psychology degree, and has been working with special needs kids in music since 2004.  All other staff either holds a music and/or special education degree, has significant experience in music and/or special needs, or has been trained in-house for several months before teaching any students alone.  Please feel free to observe us teaching a lesson if you are uncertain.

 

My child doesn’t like being alone/I distract my child.  Do I have to stay in lessons?  Can I send a therapist?

Whether or not you sit in on lessons is your decision.  Some children are afraid or uncertain in a new place and with new people, and would prefer to have a familiar face, whether that’s mom or dad or a therapist.  We don’t mind at all if anyone wants to sit in (we’d prefer not to have young siblings, though, as they often prove a distraction).  Other children adapt quite quickly, or, once adapted, find mom or any other people to be a distraction.  In that case, it may be best to leave us alone with the children in order to get the most done possible in a session.  It is nice for us to have insight from parents or therapists when we are first getting to know a child, as every child is different.  It is also nice, once we know the child, to be able to work intensely and without distraction.  But, it is up to the individual family.

 

Do I HAVE to send a therapist to lessons?

No.  If your child is in private lessons, you do not need to send a therapist.  We already have a one-on-one situation.  If, however, you are sending your child to a class, and you know your child is likely to get off task in a group situation, we would prefer a therapist attend with him or her.

What if my child starts out needing several services, but “grows out” of this in time?

We re-evaluate children’s needs and goals either monthly or quarterly, depending on the initial services (ALL children, both special needs and typical, are evaluated quarterly).  At evaluation time, if you determine that your child no longer needs certain services, you are free to discontinue them.  You are also free to add new services at this time if needed.

 

My child isn’t practicing.  How can I help?

For many special needs kids, practicing must become part of the routine.  Help your child find a particular time each day – before breakfast, right after school, etc. – when he will practice.  Keep a small “music area” for him where he keeps his instrument, his books, his rhythm sticks, etc.  Remind him to practice at this special time each day, and reward him for doing so.  Musical rewards are best (i.e. “If you practice for 10 minutes each day this month, you will earn a new CD or music book of your choice”).  For children with home therapy teams, incorporating practice into therapy/learning times can also help.  Please ask if you need other help.