FINDING HARMONY
Written by: Belinda McKnoulty - Autism Music Australia
“How One Exhausted Mum Found Relief, Joy, and a Breakthrough for Her Child—Without Leaving the House or Spending Thousands on Therapy”
Caring for a child with additional needs is more than a full-time job—it’s a 24/7 responsibility. For one extraordinary mother, it’s a reality she lives every single day... times four.
With four children between the ages of 10 and 26, each navigating their own unique challenges—autism, ADHD, ODD, Tourette’s, mental health conditions, and genetic disorders—her life is a constant whirlwind of appointments, therapies, and care.
Recently, during an assessment, her carer fatigue was officially recorded at a critical level. She wasn't just exhausted—she was burning out. But like so many carers, she had no choice but to keep going. There were no breaks. No days off. And traditional support options were either unavailable or didn’t fit into the complex rhythm of her family life.
Then, one day, she stumbled upon the Australian Music School for Autism and Special Interest Learning.
🎵 An Unexpected Solution: Music Without Barriers
At first, she was sceptical.
Could an online music program truly engage her daughter—who loved music but had learning difficulties? Would it hold her attention? Would she actually enjoy it?
But with NDIS funding stretched thin and in-person lessons completely out of the question (logistically and financially), she decided to take a chance.
And that one decision changed everything.
Her daughter didn’t just participate—she thrived. She explored all three of our learning streams (Guitar, Piano, and Rhythm/Drums), practising for over an hour a day—not because she had to, but because she wanted to.
She started recording her music. She felt proud of her progress. She owned her learning.
And Thursday? Well, that became her favourite day of the week.
Because Thursday means Jam Session Day—a live, interactive online music jam with new friends from all across Australia. She sets up her disco lights and carves out a little “dance space” to play her heart out.
Her confidence? Through the roof. For a child who once struggled with self-belief, this was nothing short of transformational.
Thanks to our colour-coded music system, she could learn without needing to read traditional notation. Her learning differences weren’t a barrier—they became a doorway to success.
🌱 A Space to Breathe: The Gift for Mum
But here’s the most powerful part of the story:
It didn’t just change her daughter’s life. It changed hers.
For the first time in years, this incredible mum had a small—but meaningful—window of time to herself.
While her daughter engaged deeply with music, she could breathe. She could take a shower uninterrupted. She could make dinner without burning it. She could just be.
That 60 minutes of calm may not sound like much to some, but for a carer on the edge of collapse, it was life-giving.
🎶 More Than Just Music—A Lifeline for Families
This story is just one of many we hear every week.
At Autism Music Australia, we’re not just here to teach music. We’re here to:
Build confidence Create accessibility Support parents and carers Offer flexibility that traditional lessons simply can’t.
For this family, the program wasn’t just an online alternative.
It was a gateway to joy. A shift in energy. A moment of relief in a life that had become overwhelmingly full.
In those quiet moments—when her daughter is proudly playing the guitar or drumming with her whole heart—a mother sits nearby, breathing deeper. Smiling. Finally feeling like something works.
Are You a Parent or Carer Looking for Support?
If you’re a parent or carer who:
✅ Wants your child to experience the joy of music
✅ Needs a program that works around your life
✅ Is looking for something fun, flexible, and effective
✅ Craves just a little more breathing space in your day
Then the Australian Music School for Autism and Special Interest Learning might be exactly what you’ve been searching for.
🎶 Join us. Let’s make music work for your family, too.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Talk one-on-one with one of our friendly team members to have your questions answered and find out how we can help create the perfect music-learning journey for your child.
A NEW WAY TO PLAY MUSIC
A Unique Colour Coded System
Our revolutionary colour-coded system adds a whole new dimension to music learning and gives kids a powerful advantage as they begin their music learning journey.
Think of our colour-coded system as training wheels on a bike. Without them, many people would never learn to ride.
This colour-coded system provides a whole new visual trigger designed to speed up the development of the fine motor skills necessary to play music easily and correctly on their chosen instrument.
Every Achievement is Celebrated
We believe every achievement is a HUGE SUCCESS to be CELEBRATED!
Although learning music is what it is all about, for us, it comes second to making your child feel like they are able to achieve anything in this life.
It could be the simpler things like hitting their hand on a drum for two beats in a row or being able to confidently find the middle C on a piano.
Or more tricky things, such as playing Fur Elise by Beethoven, the guitar solo of Sweet Child o Mine, or the latest Tailor Swift or Ed Sheeran song, it is all celebrated equally by our teachers.
We consistently focus on building exceptional confidence and having stupid amounts of fun throughout our time together.
Breaking Definitions Whilst Providing Positive Affirmations
Once you join any of our programs, you will no longer hear definitions such as Autistic, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexic, etc.
You will hear phrases such as uniquely gifted, incredibly talented, you are such a quick learner, you did that so quickly, I love how you interpreted that and did it in your way, etc.
All delivered with excitement, positivity, presence and confidence, creating a special, safe, trustable space that is fun and exciting.
Here, anything is possible.
Specialised music programs for uniquely gifted children & adults
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