Summary: <br> Sometimes all it takes for a student to be successful in their piano lessons is for the teacher to reframe what success means. Not every student is going to be able to play Beethoven sonatas…which is why Susan Bessette is measuring success in smiles.<br> <br> After Susan retired from teaching in the prison system, she couldn’t resist the challenge of taking on a piano student with autism. As she took on more students with special needs, she searched around the web for resources for her students. She didn’t find anything and so she started making her own.<br> Susan has learned a lot from teaching students with autism, down syndrome and traumatic brain injury. She’s got some great tips to share today that will make your teaching of students with special needs more effective.<br> Transcript<br> Please find a full transcript of this episode at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, click below to download a PDF. If you are an <a href="https://members.timtopham.com/inner-circle/join-the-community/">Inner Circle Member</a>, you can find the full video and transcript in the <a href="https://members.timtopham.com/podcasts/">Member Resources Area</a>. Not a member? See below for how you can get $50 off your membership today. <br> In this episode, you’ll learn<br> <br> * What prompted Susan to make her own curriculum for piano students with special needs<br> * How her curriculum is set-up and who it’s for<br> * Why you should stop talking so much and start demonstrating more<br> * How Susan has learned control the volume of her voice for students with autism<br> * Some surprising things that could distract students<br> * How a kazoo saved one of Susan’s students from frustration<br> * Why you might need to work away from the piano more often<br> * How students can be unlocked by the simplest activity<br> <br> Links Mentioned<br> <br> * <a href="http://www.pianoforspecialneeds.com/my-method.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Susan’s Method for Student’s with Special Needs</a><br> * <a href="http://www.kapokpress.com/i-can-do-it-piano-book/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I Can Do It Piano Book</a><br> <br> Podcast Video<br> <br> This month’s sponsor<br> This month’s sponsor is <a href="https://www.noviscore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noviscore</a>, your new online sheet music resource.<br> <a href="https://www.noviscore.com/"></a><br> <a href="https://www.noviscore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noviscore</a>‘s comprehensive music library has:<br> <br> * Up to 4 different skill levels for each song<br> * Wide selection of music genres<br> * Piano solo, piano accompaniment, 4 hands, arranger keyboard, solo instrument<br> * Reading aids and fingering<br> <br> You can:<br> <br> * View on any device (computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone)<br> * Print from any computer or laptop<br> * Rest assured that all music is 100% copyright legal<br> <br> Special OFFER: 30% off all our piano sheet music for Tim Topham members during September!!<br> Please enter code TTSEPT at payment stage.<br> Get $50 off Inner Circle Membership<br> As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $50 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member.<br> Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box: TTTVPODCAST.<br> Thank you for Tuning In!<br> There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine.<br> Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So,
