The Siblings in Music: routines

So, the analysis of the need for routine in my brother and sister clients this week has been a total theme. It is a well-known fact that children and other individuals with ASDs do better when there is a predictable routine for them to follow, or when things are consistent, repetitive or there is sameness. The reason for this seems to be an anxiety related to trying new things, an inability to process new sensations, new ideas or new experiences in a way that feels 'safe' to an autistic system. I think that has been the general consensus among professionals too, maybe there is something I could cite here, but I wanted to talk more about the music than I did about autism (I tend to get on tangents when I start talking about autism and my theories!)

So, both of the siblings have a tendency to create their own routines. They will continuously play instruments a certain way, and only that way. It's interesting because it is entirely their own creation. The repetition clearly comforts them (more so her than him), and the fact that they know this, and create this environment of repetitive sound/motion and routine, shows that they clearly know what they desire and what they need to feel comfortable. As her aide put it 'she knows exactly what she wants, but she just can't tell us'. I think that's a great insight. She absolutely does know what she wants, and her rigidity in thinking about what she wants is probably the first place I'd like to start in targeting her anxiety. 

I would ideally like her to develop a completely new way of playing (if it becomes a routine eventually, that is actually okay with me, as long we we work together to create it). Basically, this is the same thing as anyone writing a song and then practicing it over and over or finding a favorite song and listening to it over and over. Widely accepted right?

repetition happens in art quite often. And what is music but repetition of rhythms, melodies, sounds etc.?

So, I'm thinking, there has to be a way to make that work for them!

So, I'm going to try to keep working with them with a specific schedule. I want to encourage them to play the same instruments in music each time and to learn that they CAN create new routines that make musical sense and can also be comforting for them. I know that statement specifically may not express how they will understand what I want to teach them, but they will show me with their actions, like always!