Hearts in Harmony String Instrument Program
for Children with Autism and related developmental disabilities and their families
"Hearts in Harmony" is a new string instrument program for families with autism, in which children learn to play the violin, viola or cello in group lessons.
Group lessons are once a week for six to eight weeks, and are taught by renowned bay area music teachers. San Francisco classes are held at Pomeroy Center, 207 Skyline Boulevard, SF, CA. We may open a location in the Peninsula or South Bay if there is sufficient interest. Classes are open to any child on the autism spectrum or related disability, and also to parents to learn how to practice with their kiddo and also learn the instrument basics along with the child. Teacher-studio ratio is about 2:1. A recent brain study produced results that may show that music lessons can be good for children with autism (see below). Plus, they are fun for the kids, and the whole family! |
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LOGISTICS Next Session: Mondays, January 28 to March 18, 2019 (8 weeks) 6:00 to 7:00pm Pomeroy Center 207 Skyline Boulevard San Francisco We may offer new beginner's lessons in the Peninsula next year if there is sufficient interest, and funds. Please email us if you are interested in either location info.autismfunbayarea@gmail.com COST In April to June 2018, the families were requested to contribute $25 per session for each class (payment one session at a time. Prior sessions were six weeks long). Parents learn with their child for free, and instrument rentals were around $30 per month. Some scholarships are made available for families in need, and a few instruments have been acquired by AFBA to loan to families for free. AFBA subsidized the cost of the program to the extent possible, and families are requested to help pay for the teachers, and to rent (or buy) their own instruments. We are currently fundraising to try to bring the cost of the program down for families, and to purchase instruments to able to loan the families for free or at a discounted rate. You're invited to donate here! Testimonials
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Interested?
New session starts in San Francisco for Jan 28 to March 18 2019. We may expand to start a session in Peninsula next year if there is sufficient interest, and funds. If you are interested please email us: info.autismfunbayarea@gmail.com Music Lessons Can be Good for the Autistic Child!
The Neuroimaging Laboratory (Italy) performed MRI imaging that showed that integrative activities that incorporate movement, sight, touch, or sound are often more effective than training or therapy directed to one modality at a time. That is to say, activities where the child can practice working with two or more of the things on this list, is more effective than just working on one of them at a time. So music lessons can be really good for kids with autism because they get to practice ALL of these - movement, sight, touch and sound -- at the same time! |