To the Beat of Our Drum

Adam Power

August 28, 2015

Adam PowerModule 9-12

August 28, 2015Cognitive development is an ongoing development throughout the life of a human.

Cognition is any mental activity thinking, remembering and communicating. Everyone becomes

conscious at some point in their life. Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget is accredited to

discovering that a child’s brain not a “miniature model” of an adult brain (Myers 2014, p135).

Children reason different than adults, in “wildly illogical ways about problems whose solutions

are self-evident to adults (Brainerd, 1996). Piaget’s main idea is that the progression of

intelligence is a constant struggle.

The maturing brain builds schemas. A schema describes an organized pattern of thought

or behavior that organizes categories of information and the relationships among them. By

adulthood, there are countless schemas. Dogs or cats, Coke or Pepsi, and even the concept of

love are a few examples of schemata. To adjust schemas incorporate new experiences is to

assimilate. Myers uses the dog example to show assimilation. The schemas are dog ad a toddler

may assimilate all four-legged animals as dogs. Eventually the child will accommodate the

schemas dog and realize that it is a broad category and start to filter it to what a dog is and

different breeds (Myers 2014, p 137).

Autism seems to be one the fastest growing awareness campaigns in America. It’s

estimated that 1 in every 110 children are born on the autism spectrum. Autism spectrum

disorder (ASD) is a disorder that appears in childhood. It can be recognized by deficiencies in

communication and social interaction a, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive behaviors.

I teach band to 5th through 8th graders. I have several kids on the autism spectrum. Music

is a very basic human response, spanning all degrees of ability/disability. “Music therapists are

able to meet clients at their own levels and allow them to grow from there. The malleability of

Adam PowerModule 9-12

August 28, 2015music makes it a medium that can be adapted to meet the needs of each individual. Music is

motivating and enjoyable. Music can promote relatedness, relaxation, learning, and self-

expression. Music therapy addresses multiple developmental issues simultaneously. Music

therapy can provide success oriented opportunities for achievement and mastery. The structure

and sensory input inherent in music help to establish response and role expectations, positive

interactions, and organization” (American Music Therapy Association). Autistic children have

the ability learn and make music as well as any other child. It’s just a matter of finding that niche

and keeping their mind focused on the task and being able to help them socialize and

communicate through, in this case, music.