I have been working with “Andy” for about 2 years now. Andy is in the 1st grade and has Autism, and I just cannot seem to consistently reach out to him and get him to communicate with me.

He will say words, but not sentences. He will speak to me when I prompt him to, but will not initiate conversations with me. On many days, I have to say something twice before he will say it once. Needless to say, I have been starting to question whether or not I am an effective therapist in Andy’s life.

To work on Andy’s social skills I have him bring a friend from his classroom along with him to music therapy. At the beginning of every session, I sing a “Hello Song” to help people transition into the music therapy session and get them ready to make music for the next half hour. One day recently, Andy brought along a peer I had not met. For the “Hello Song” I asked Andy to turn and look at his peer and say “Hi John”. To do this I had to touch Andy’s face to get him to turn and look, and I had to say the phrase, “Hi John” about twice before Andy muttered a very quiet “Hi John.”

Of course, in my mind I was getting down on myself that after 2 years with Andy he still needed that much help to do such a simple task. But then, just when I was feeling like I had let Andy down yet again, “John” in a quiet awe said, “He’s never said my name before!”

Andy and John had been in the same class all year long, and it took until February and one little music therapy session for Andy to say John’s name. John looked so happy that Andy had finally recognized him. I knew at that instant that not only Andy, but John, had been impacted by music therapy that day.

Maybe, just maybe, I was able to start a new friendship that day.