[Harp-L] Learning disability & the harmonica

[David Priestley <drmidnight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

I am doing research into folks with Data Processing Disorders (DPD) for 
a film I'm making. DPD  includes dyslexia, dysgraphia, in short any 
condition that scrambles data going into or out of the brain. Now my 
research so far has shown an interesting correlation between these 
areas of disability and a 'natural' talent for music.

I have taught all sorts of folk and found that the harp was a good 
gateway instrument, even for folks with sever physical impairment.

Have you any experience of working with DPD type folks?

 If you teach could you say if you noticed if your 'learning impaired' 
students were quicker to pick up harp tuition than your 'normal' 
students?

Do you suffer with any learning impairment?  and if so how do you feel 
it informs your ability to learn and play the harp?

I suffer with dysgraphia but found that whilst I can't hand write text 
so it could be read, my music writing is fine, the only problem that I 
get is sometimes writing "Dit Dah" when I mean "Dah Dit".

The Dyslexia Inst. say that according to their testing in this area DPD 
folk score well on pitch related things but poorly on phrase copying 
and rhythm. This doesn't match my findings at all. Of course the 
Dyslexia Inst. didn't do their testing with harmonicas but I think the 
fact that we make our rhythms with our tongues does make all the 
difference. I can speak rhythm patens on the harp that I couldn't  clap 
to save my life.

I am finding that impairment in one area tends to go hand in hand with 
extra gifts in other areas and for folk who have trouble with text 
music appears to be the most commonly gifted area.

Thinking back over 30 years of harp teaching I would say that mostly 
those that I taught who had DPD all had better tone, were more 
expressive and inventive that 'normal' students. One of these that I'm 
thinking of won the Jnr Blues section in the World Harmonica 
Championships, after he had been learning for just a couple of short 
years. Not that I would embarrass him by I.D.'ing him. Whilst he had 
fab tone and invention he real trouble with writing and school work in 
general. I'm sure that Norman Ives could back me up here.

So I'd be glad of your thoughts and experiences concerning the above.

If you want to take this off list I'm at drmidnight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ATB
Dr Midnight AKA David Priestley