One-on-One Music therapy offers music as a therapeutic stimulus to achieve non-musical treatment goals. Research supports parallels between speech and singing; rhythm and motor behavior and overall ability of preferred music to enhance mood, attention and behavior to optimize an individual’s ability to learn and interact. Music Therapy has a wide variety of functions with the exceptional child and studies show that autistic children have an interest in and respond positively to music. Music Therapy is particularly effective in the development and remediation of speech. Since autistic children sometimes sing when they may not speak, music therapists and music educators can work systematically on speech through vocal music activities. In the music classroom, songs with simple words, repetitive phrases, and even repetitive nonsense syllables can assist the autistic child’s language. David Mecca, an accomplished music teacher, has been teaching and performing for years. Mecca is currently teaching in Wayne, New Jersey, where he teaches preschool through fifth grade music, as well working with various special needs children using music as a tool for learning, enhancing speech and fine/gross motor skills. In 2007 David was presented with the “Governor’s Teacher Award” for Wayne Teacher of the Year for outstanding work. Call now for information.