(Newswire.net — April 4, 2015) — Life Prep Academy partnered with Music Wizard with their accelerated music video game software system, while Bertrand’s Music contributed 10 midi keyboards for a pilot program to impact 10 special needs families positively through music. Within weeks of the “Music Is For Everyone” in home training program, the results proved very impactful in a wide range of challenged individuals, including Tanner, age 15, a non verbal autistic child, who by playing the amazingly simple music video game, was able to articulate individual finger movement for the first time in his life. Meanwhile Conner, age 7, also with autism, completed the first 10 songs in Academy Book 1 on all 4 levels with 90-100% accuracy. Paivi Lappalainen’s specialized warm up exercises in conjunction with the program allowed even Linda with cerebral palsy to finally curl her fingers as she passionately learns to play through the game.
Piano Wizard is a simple music video game system that allows users to play real songs in minutes using a revolutionary patented 4-step approach. The Academy package adds videos lessons and songbooks that coordinate with the software. Its open ended MIDI system allows the user to import from thousands of songs online, which are then rendered in game format.
Paivi Lappalainen, Founder of the Life Prep Academy was especially impressed the story of Jed, a boy with such severe mental challenges he could barely speak, and could not even ask for a glass of water at 7 years old. Yet the color coded simplicity and ease of the program enabled Jed to be able to complete the entire 100-lesson curriculum, in a little over 2 years, with him now playing and reading complex sheet music like Bach and Beethoven at the piano. “Through the use of Piano Wizard Academy, we believe Jed was able to experience the neuorplasticity effects on his brain development that scientists confirm can be derived through playing music, especially piano. Dozens of new studies indicate that it is music that has most likely stretched his brain and abilities so dramatically and positively.”
When asked about what makes Piano Wizard Academy so unique compared to other music learning solutions, Mr. Salter responded, “Where Piano Wizard Academy fits in is it allows virtually anyone to now enjoy the benefits of music education and music therapy that were once too hard, too expensive, to difficult to achieve or enjoy. Piano Wizard Academy’s simplicity allows music to be a birthright for all of us, and Jed’s example shows just how easy and fun the game is, and yet how potentially transformational music’s benefits can be.”
In addition, Music Wizard celebrates their second year as a proud affiliate with the Autism Hope Alliance, a non-profit foundation that embodies hope for families facing the diagnosis of Autism through education, financial support and volunteerism.
A.H.A. has pioneered the Autism Approved® program, which is designed to highlight numerous products, materials, clothing, toys and other goods that meet a strict criteria to be deemed Autism community friendly. In 2013, Piano Wizard Academy was awarded the Autism Approved seal.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 68 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Autism spectrum disorders are almost five times more common among boys than girls – with 1 in 42 boys, including A.H.A founder Kristin Selby Gonzalez’s own son Jaxson. “Music therapy and integration should be a part of any family’s options, and the Piano Wizard Academy makes that possible in a comprehensive, fun and affordable way. Music is very bonding, and we can all use a little more joy in our lives. When a child is engaged and excited, all things are possible.”
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Contact Information:
Paivi Lappalainen Founder Life Prep Academy
http://www.LifePrepA.org
Paivi(at)lifeprepA(dot)org
Chris Salter, Founder and CEO Music Wizard Next Gen
http://www.PianoWizardAcademy.com
Chris(at)musicwizard(dot)com | 813-505-2995
Autism Hope Alliance
Contact: Dez Martinez
http://www.autismhopealliance.org
Dez(at)autismhopealliance(dot)org | (800) 891-9077
For an excellent summary of some of the latest research on music and the brain, go to http://bit.ly/MusicBrainOverview