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Writer's pictureDiverse minds

Neurodiversity and Music

I dreamed a dream in time gone by, when hope was high and life worth living” sang Susan Boyle, astonishing the judges and audience of Britain’s Got Talent with her stunning voice and deservingly receiving a standing ovation. As one of the bestselling British female artists, Susan is a shining example of a successful autistic musician.

By Boushra Bathish, PhD

 

Neurodiverse traits can impact musical perceptions and abilities positively or negatively. The heightened sensory stimulation experienced by autistic people can enrich their musical experiences and make it highly rewarding, thereby motivating them to listen and/or practice more. Studies show that many children with autism have enhanced musical abilities and superior performance of musical tasks compared to their neurotypical counterparts. While in this case, neurodiversity may benefit autistic people, the motivation to focus and practice consistently might be a challenging aspect of learning to play a musical instrument for individuals who have ADHD. Reading musical notes and translating the symbols into precise, controlled movements might also be difficult for individuals who have dyslexia, dyspraxia, or Tourettes. 

“People would talk as if my songs, my achievements, my career etc. had been achieved despite things like my dyslexia. But I was thinking, might it not be because of those things?”

Florence Welch 

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