PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, READ THIS. NOT SPECIAL NEEDS FRIENDLY. PARENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. :-)
I have a child with very mild special needs and excellent musical skills. This place swore they could accommodate him. Out of all their teachers and locations they only had one that they say teaches special needs (Nick, that one teacher, was excellent by the way), who we had to drive 40 minutes to have lessons with him. There is a location 3 blocks from my home, so this was not at all preferred.
The director (wife of the owner) pushed for us to sign up for a very pricey summer camp, swearing my son would be accommodated and able to participate. The camp aim was to perform at Musikfest.
There was no accommodation, and they encouraged him to just wander around or do something else instead of learn his songs. Two of the teachers said outright that they felt he shouldn't be with other kids who were normal. Yes, they said it, about a child who is in regular education all day and has a slew of "normal" friends.
On the third day I was told they were kicking him out because they felt he also was incapable of playing at Musikfest. They also tried telling me he tried to take off his clothes (which upset him terribly) saying, "Mom, I would not do that. Why did they say that?" They shamed him and made him cry.
When I protested their treatment of him and wanted to be refunded for the 2 week camp, the director, Lori, called me crazy, among other things, and informed me that my son was not welcome at his regular lessons either. Again attacking a child for no reason. He did not want to play drums anymore, that's the effect The Lesson Center owner and director had on him. I was told by other parents and teachers there that the director often curses, name calls and behaves poorly, so there's that too. Who needs that in their or their kids's lives. Life's too short.
I called around and found The Community Music School in Allentown and we've never looked back. His teacher adores him, saw how advanced and talented he already was coming to them...and guess what, he played at Musikfest this summer, in a band, and rocked it.. A pretty complicated ska song too (if you know what it is, you know the drum beat is an off beat and difficult). No one at Community Music School ever thought or treated him like a problem or incapable.
Another place I recommend is Saucon Valley Music in Hellertown. They are amazing there too. My son took some lessons there too in the interim. read more