The ADHD Musician

Do you have ADHD? Do you find it difficult to land on just one or two songs to practice? Do you bounce around the tabs, not really mastering even one? If so, you’re not alone. I read a FB post about a lady with ADHD who was trying to learn to play the piano. She couldn’t afford a piano teacher, so was trying by herself to become proficient enough to play at church … and felt she was getting nowhere fast.

Several piano teachers were quick to post encouraging words, some who were ADHD themselves. Almost all said that the only pressure that could really get them to work efficiently learning a repertoire was to have a performing occasion on the horizon. When there was a goal with a deadline, they found it easier to focus.

What they didn’t mention was that music strengthens the areas of the brain that are weak in the person with ADHD. Music builds and strengthens the auditory, visual/spatial, and motor cortices of the brain. These areas are tied to speech and language, reading, reading comprehension, math, problem solving, brain organization, focusing, concentration, and attention issues. Studies indicate that when a person with ADHD learns to play a musical instrument, their attention, concentration, impulse control, social functioning, self-esteem, self-expression, motivation, and memory improve. Some studies show that children who have difficulty focusing on their school work when there is background noise are especially helped by music lessons.

ADHD friendly instruments have been identified as the string bass and drums. Well, I think the mountain dulcimer with only 3 or 4 strings like the string bass could be included in this list. But if it’s your child or grandchild who is ADHD, and the little darling decides he/she wants to learn to play the drums, buy EARPLUGS!

If you have ADHD and have trouble staying on point when practicing, here are some suggestions.

• Choose an instrument you enjoy playing. Of course all of us will agree, it has to be the dulcimer.
  
  
• Schedule a regular practice time, so you consistently pick up your instrument … or hammers.
  
  
• Play music you enjoy. Don’t force yourself to spend time on tabs that don’t tickle your heart strings, just because you feel you “ought to.”
  
  
• Move on to new music if (when) you start to get bored. My own piano teacher insisted that I had to be able to play something perfectly before I could move on to a new piece. That strategy doesn’t usually work for the ADHD learner.
  
  
• Use a metronome to guide your rhythm. It doesn’t make you feel like a rock star, but it will keep your playing disciplined. I have downloaded one on my very Smart iPhone.
  
  
• Figure out what motivates you and then set goals. The piano teacher comments in the FB post strongly encouraged ADHD pianists to prepare a short concert for a nearby nursing home. I think that objective would work well for us as well.

There’s no one right way of learning to play an instrument. We are all different and need varying approaches. But I think the suggestions above would be helpful for all of us, even for those who do not battle ADHD distractions. Find the path that works best for yourself, so you will practice in a way that supports your goals.

Happy dulcimering,
Linda