Music Reading for Students with Learning Disabilities
Thursday 22nd February 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
There are music students in private studios and school classrooms who are not readily learning to read music through standard instruction. Research into dyslexia gives us insight and guidance to how students with learning disabilities can be taught in a way that effectively builds the neural pathways for literacy. Using the style of teaching first created by the dyslexia researchers Stillman and Gillingham, Multisensory Structured Language (MSL), we can redesign our approach to teaching music reading that follows a strict, logical and effective order to build the neural pathways that are necessary for students with learning disabilities to learn.
Music reading is most often taught as a secondary skill to performing skills, and therefore does not follow its own logical, systematic approach. This negatively effects students who are not neurologically wired to learn through our traditional standard instruction. Applying the principles of MSL instruction to music reading instruction reorganises the steps to learning in surprising and effective ways. Adapting this scientifically researched approach to music reading makes it possible for struggling students to have access to music literacy.
This course will review the research surrounding certain learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD, and the research-based solutions that have been found to work successfully. We will examine current methods of music reading pedagogy, and then compare that to systems specifically designed to accommodate students with learning disabilities.
Dr Elizabeth Morrow
Dr Elizabeth Morrow, Professor Emerita, was awarded the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello Performance from the University of Southern California. As a recitalist, she has concertized extensively in Europe and North America. An award-winning pedagogue, Dr Morrow has been an active presenter for the American String Teachers Association and Texas Music Educators Conference.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Wednesday 15th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
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Dr David Juncos
In recent years, an alternative model for treating MPA has shown great promise among practitioners - training music teachers to use interventions from evidence-based coaching models aimed to treat MPA, rather than continually referring students with MPA to receive psychotherapy like CBT.
Thursday 16th April 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity
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Discover the essential role that nutrition and exercise play in enhancing vocal health and ensuring a long-lasting singing career in our upcoming seminar, "Nutrition and Exercise for Singers – The Missing Link in Vocal Health and Longevity."
Monday 20th April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Tuesday 21st April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday 23rd April 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Acting Approaches for Singing Teachers
Louisa Morgan
Are you a singing teacher looking to elevate your students’ performance? This 4-part course is perfect for those who want to help their singers connect deeply with the character and the story behind the song. Many singing teachers have lots of brilliant ideas about coaching vocal performance but often don’t have a background in acting. Learning more about acting techniques can build structure into your performance-focused lessons and add depth to the song. Gain practical tools and techniques that you can apply to your teaching.