Should You Tell Your Child’s Music Teacher About Their Learning Disability?

As a parent, you’re probably used to advocating for your child in school settings but what about in music lessons?

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is this:

“Should I tell the music teacher about my child’s learning difficulty or diagnosis?”

Whether your child has ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or is working through a possible diagnosis, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about whether to share this information with their music teacher.

As a teacher and director at Music Makers Academy, I want to offer a simple answer:

👉 Yes, it’s worth sharing and it can make a huge difference.

Let me explain why.

Why Parents Sometimes Hesitate

First, I completely understand why some parents hesitate.

It can feel uncomfortable sharing personal information with someone you’ve just met. You might wonder:

• “Will the teacher judge my child?”

• “Will they lower their expectations?”

• “Will this change how my child is treated?”

• “Does it even matter in a music lesson?”

These are valid concerns, especially if you’ve had negative experiences in the past with teachers or tutors who weren’t supportive.

But in my experience, when a teacher is informed, they are better equipped to teach your child in a way that actually works and that’s what we all want.

3 Reasons to Share Learning Differences With Your Music Teacher

1. We Can Tailor the Teaching Approach

Every child learns differently. Sharing a diagnosis or learning difficulty allows us to adjust our teaching to support your child more effectively.

For example:

• A child with dyslexia might benefit from less sheet music and more visual or hands-on learning.

• A child with ADHD might need shorter tasks, built-in movement breaks, or a more varied lesson structure.

This doesn’t mean your child will be treated with pity or lowered expectations. It just means we’ll teach in a way that meets them where they are.

2. It Builds Empathy and Patience

When teachers don’t know the context behind certain behaviours (like forgetfulness, fidgeting, or zoning out), we can easily misinterpret them.

We might assume a student isn’t trying, isn’t listening, or doesn’t care when in reality, they’re doing the best they can with the way their brain works.

Knowing the why behind a behaviour helps us stay calm, empathetic, and flexible.

3. It Strengthens Communication With You

When we understand how your child learns, we can share better insights with you not just about how lessons are going, but also how to support home practice in a way that actually works for your child.

We’re all on the same team. Open communication leads to better outcomes.

What Happens When Parents Don’t Share? (Real Stories)

Let me share two real examples from my own teaching experience.

Story 1: Dyslexia and Reading Challenges

One of my students, who was around 9 years old at the time, really struggled with reading music, much more than other kids his age. He also had a hard time recognising note names, finger numbers, and following visual instructions.

No one had mentioned anything about dyslexia, but based on his spelling and number reversals, I eventually suspected it. Once I shifted to a more rote-based teaching approach, he began to flourish. He memorised pieces quickly and played beautifully, he just needed a different pathway.

If I had known from the start, I could have tailored his learning from the beginning instead of both of us struggling for months.

Story 2: Attention Challenges and Movement Needs

Another student of mine, a 9-year-old girl, couldn’t sit still for more than a minute. She was constantly distracted, jumping between tasks, picking up whiteboard markers or getting sidetracked mid-lesson.

At first, I found it frustrating, I felt like she wasn’t listening or respecting the lesson. But after some reflection (and observation), I realised she may have ADD or ADHD.

I didn’t have confirmation from her parents, but once I adapted my approach, building in lots of movement breaks and short, focused bursts of activity. Everything changed. She responded better, I felt less drained, and our lessons became much more positive.

Your Child Deserves to Be Understood

Sharing your child’s learning difference isn’t about labelling them, it’s about helping the teacher teach better. It gives your child a chance to learn in a way that feels empowering, supportive, and achievable.

We don’t need every diagnosis or detail, just a bit of context and a few suggestions go a long way.

How to Talk to Your Child’s Music Teacher About It

Not sure what to say? Here’s a simple script you can use:

“Hi! I just wanted to let you know that my child has been diagnosed with [ADHD/autism/dyslexia], or we’re currently exploring a diagnosis. I thought it might be helpful to share what tends to work best for them when learning something new.”

You might also want to include:

• “They do better with one instruction at a time.”

• “They need movement breaks to stay focused.”

• “They get anxious if they can’t get it right straight away.”

• “They respond well to visual aids or hands-on activities.”

Keep the conversation focused on what helps your child succeed. Most teachers will be grateful for the insight.

Final Thoughts: It's Not About Lowering Expectations

As a teacher, I don’t lower my expectations when I learn a student has a learning difference, I just adjust how we get there.

Progress might be slower at times, but it’s still progress. In fact, many of the students I’ve worked with who have additional learning needs are some of the most motivated, musical, and expressive kids I’ve ever taught.

When we understand your child’s needs, we can help them thrive.

Remember This:

🎵 Sharing this information is an act of advocacy.
🎵 It’s a gift to the teacher — so we can teach more effectively.
🎵 It’s a gift to your child — so they feel understood, supported, and successful.

So if you’ve been unsure about whether to bring it up, consider this blog a gentle nudge.

We’re here to support your child — exactly as they are.

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Until next time,
Eliza