Michelle Lazar, MA, MT-BC
Autism Specialist/Music Therapist

Michelle Lazar is co-director of San Diego-based Coast Music Therapy, a consulting agency providing staff development and individualized services in school districts throughout Southern California. Michelle has a bachelor degree in music therapy and masters degree in special education from San Diego State University with a specialization in autism and applied behavior analysis. Michelle and her husband, Jeremy Jensen, MM, MT-BC formed their publishing company, Tuned In to Learning in 2004 in order to reach out to professionals on a national level. In conjunction with their services to special needs providers and students, Tuned In to Learning offers a wealth of tools for staff to infuse into their daily programming. Tuned In to Learning’s 9-volume curriculum spans 90 IEP skill areas and includes music recordings and full color visual supports.

Contact: mlazar@coastmusictherapy.com

Click the white triangle to watch a ten-minute video of TIL Volume 1 in Action! Get the Flash Player to see this player.		Click on each book cover for more information: Volume 1: Social Skills Pragmatics Book/Music CD Greetings Emotions Conversation Turn Taking Body Language
Volume 2: Basic Language Concepts Book/Music CD Colors Shapes Prepositions Action Verbs Categories	Volume 3: Daily Living Skills & Self-Regulation Book/CD Transitions Relaxation Safety Hygiene Toileting	Volume 4: "WH" Questions Book/CD The Five “wh” Functions Personal Info Describing Sequencing
Volume 5: Academics Book/Music CD Money Numbers Letters Calendar Time Telling	Volume 6: Discrete Trial Teaching & Learning Readiness CD/CD-ROM Body Parts Imitation Object ID 1-Set Instructions Matching	Volume 7: Emerging Speech  & Oral Motor Skills Music CD & CD-ROM Lip Closure Sound Imitation Word Imitation Requesting Labeling
Volume 8: Skill Building for Students with Multiple Disabilities Music CD Cause & Effect Visual Tracking Use Of A Switch Functional Hand Use Instrument Play	Volume 9: Adapted Dance & Movement Music CD Motor Planning Crossing Midline Bilateral Integration Balance & Posture Directional Concepts	Learn-Along Books Full Color Visuals Lesson Plans IEP Objectives Adaptations Instructor’s Guide Music CDs Each CD has 10 Song Icons and bonus Adapt-a-Song tracks to bring students to the next level. Sample Music for Each Volume CD ROMs Song Icons Data Sheets Flashcards Worksheets And More!

Tips for using Tuned In to Learning Curriculum can be found on Downloads Page.

Tuned In to Learning is a comprehensive music-assisted learning curriculum for special education, designed to help children and teens with autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, brain injury, learning disabilities, speech disorders, orthopedic impairments, and other learning needs.

Music not only captures students’ attention but is a powerful memory aid and effective way to help organize communication and movement. Watch your students shine as they role play and practice each skill with the added benefit of extended response time, simplified song lyrics, and slower paced instructions!

Features of the Tuned In to Learning curriculum include

Music CDs, Books with vibrant full color photographs, CD-ROMs with printable content, and downloads.

• Inventive songs targeting common IEP objectives in areas such as social skills, language, academic learning, speech & oral motor development, motor skills, behavior, and daily living tasks.
  
  
• Tools to help with generalization and comprehension including flashcards, worksheets, data sheets, icons for visual schedules, and photo pages.
  
  
• Adaptations and activity ideas for students who are pre-verbal or have physical challenges.
  
  
• Integration of evidence-based techniques including music mnemonics, photographic cues, textual cues, scripts, task analyses, and prompt-fading procedures.
  
  
• Alignments with the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are provided to guide you in song selection when targeting objectives from these assessment tools.
  
  
• Alignments with the ABLLS-R, HELP, CAPA (for California), and Brigance are provided to guide you in song selection when targeting objectives from these assessment tools.
  
  
• Because Tuned In to Learning highlights a variety of educational goal areas, the program is versatile for learners at a wide range of ages and diagnoses and can be used in both one to one teaching or group learning environments.

Music is an engaging multi-dimensional approach that is accessible to students of all ages and abilities. Because so many individuals with special needs have talents and interests in music, we as educators and parents can capitalize on this strength to help our students grow and learn.

In fact, research tells us that individuals with specific diagnoses such as autism, Williams syndrome, and Rett syndrome may have elevated preference or heightened responses to music when compared to typically developing peers.

Some of the benefits of music-assisted learning include

• Music is an effective task motivator for many students, decreasing non-compliant behavior during initial instruction and providing a means for increased attention and duration of on-task participation.
  
  
• Music functions as a mnemonic aid, assisting students in foundational learning and retention of academic facts, social & communication scripts, and task sequences.
  
  
• Similar to the use of visual supports, music cuing provides a means to structure auditory stimuli and speech output for students with cognitive or language delays.
  
  
• Music provides concurrent auditory and kinesthetic learning opportunities for students with multiple disabilities, severe orthopedic impairments, or students with visual impairments.
  
  
• Music is a successful inclusion tool, engaging special learners and typical peers together in an environment that is meaningful to all participants.

Schools can make the most of their music time!

• Assuring “music time” is focused on functional educational outcomes.
  
  
• Providing appropriate accommodations to meet student needs when using music including extended response time, visual supports, and simplified instructions.
  
  
• Helping teachers access their students’ strengths, interests, and preferences in an educationally-relevant way.
  
  
• Integrating evidence-based techniques including the use of music mnemonics, scripts, photographic & textual cues, and prompt-fading procedures.