My presentation is part of the research I am conducting as part of my doctoral dissertation in Music Education at the European University of Cyprus. As emerges from the literature review, research on teaching polyphonic instruments to students with dyslexia is very limited. Also, there are no studies that have specifically examined the teaching of classical guitar to these students, nor are there studies that explore the views and concerns of teachers on this issue. However, Kristin L. Chinnici completed her research in 2016, which focused on teaching the violin to students with dyslexia and was based on UDL as well as the Suzuki method.

My aim is to thoroughly examine any references and descriptions of the phenomenon of dyslexia and how it affects the ability to learn classical guitar. Additionally, to highlight the challenges faced by teachers regarding social conditions and to what extent these affect their teaching of a student with dyslexia.

Additionally, to examine what we currently know about what happens when children with dyslexia meet music. According to Hallam (2005), music can help children with dyslexia. Her research indicates that engaging with music plays a significant role in the development of perceptual processing systems that facilitate the encoding and recognition of sounds and speech patterns. Hallam specifically mentions that the earlier a child engages with music actively, and the longer the duration of this engagement, the more immediate the result. The transfer of these skills is automatic and contributes not only to language development but also to literacy. (Hallam, 2007)

The studies conducted so far can offer useful knowledge to educators who are currently teaching or will teach classical guitar lessons to students with dyslexia in the future, helping them to anticipate any problems and organize their teaching more effectively regarding dyslexia.

In the end, suggestions will be made on how teachers can be informed about dyslexia and to what extent learning classical guitar can help a person with dyslexia at any age.

 

• Music in special education

PhD student at “European University of Cyprus”  

Music teacher in primary education

Master’s degree in the Department of Music Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 2022

Music Pedagogy Education at the European Suzuki Association with distinction and a teaching license for the Suzuki method on the classical guitar 2014

Master’s degree in Performance at the σπουδών Conservatoire de Strasbourg with Duo Melis (Susana Pietro and Alexis Muzurakis)  2013

Classical guitar diploma (Michalis Kontaxakis) 2012

Graduate of the Department of Music Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 2010

Diploma in Music Harmony (Aliki Makrygiorgou )2008.

Degree in classical guitar (Aliki Makrygiorgou) 2006

Seminars: Marcin Dylla, Eliot Fisk,Carlo Marchione, Adigoni Goni, Carlo Domenikoni, David Russell,Roberto Aussel, Oscar Ghilglia,