A kid says “guitar” for the first time. Another student nearly drops the instrument because he is so excited he can finally play along with a favorite song. Those are not small wins, they are doors opening, and they are why Good Neighbor Podcast host Bob Blaisses at down with Shana Pastilli, Founder & CEO of Robato School of Music in Media, the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Not long into the episode, we discover that “Robato” is a musical concept that points to playing at your own pace, then we hear what that looks like and can mean in real life for students with autism, Down syndrome and other special needs. Shaina explains how she adapts instruction to the individual learner, essentially building a private lesson plan that functions like an Individualized Education Program or Plan (IEP), with patience, creativity and reasonable expectations. Bob and Shana also talk about the push for inclusion in education, why the arts can be a uniquely safe place to practice it, and how group music-making can help everyone speak the same language through rhythm and shared songs.

In this episode, you'll hear the practical side too: a color-coded notation system paired with a color-coded piano, plus scaffolding that gradually removes supports as skills grow. And you will hear the human side, including parents sitting in lessons after years of hearing “no,” and a story about a sibling learning “Lean on Me” on guitar just to finally connect at home.

If you care about inclusive music education, music lessons for persons with Down syndrome or neurodivergent learning concepts or styles that affect reading and language processing, spatial awareness or sensory processing disorders affecting fine motor skills and coordination, listen and learn how challenges are orchestrated within a melody of learning at theRobato School of Music.

Robato School of Music
RubatoSchoolOfMusic.com
facebook.com/rubatoschoolofmusicpa
215-840-5706
[email protected]

--- About The Show---Good Neighbor Podcast is a spotlight on local businesses in and around Delaware County, PA (“Delco” ) and Beyond... The executive producer and host, Bob Blaisse, is a community sponsorship advocate, business branding specialist, and publisher of several hometown magazines, including: Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, Marple Friends & Neighbors and Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors, mailed monthly to more than 12,000 homes in Western Delaware County, PA, and also available for reading online.