The Joy of the Breakthrough: Celebrating Musical Milestones

By Dr. Logan Chopyk

Teaching music is one of the greatest honors of my life. There is no feeling quite like guiding a student toward a breakthrough and watching them achieve something they once thought impossible. Recently, several of my students reached incredible milestones. These moments aren't just sudden flashes of success; they are the beautiful culmination of weeks—sometimes months—of patience, trust-building, and connecting through a supportive relationship.

Here are just a few of the joyful moments we've celebrated in the studio this week:

✨ From Hesitation to "I've Got This!"

When one of my very young autistic students first arrived at my studio, he would hardly touch the piano. Fast forward to today, and his entire demeanor screams, “I’ve got this!” He now sings spontaneously and openly. He has gained an enormous amount of fine motor control at the keys and is even initiating his own musical challenges. Seeing him exhibit such excellent rhythm, deep musical connection, and sustained focus makes me incredibly proud of the little guy!

✨ Finding the Right Note Through Connection

Another very young student on the autism spectrum historically hasn't enjoyed any of the classes his parents have signed him up for. But after just a month of piano lessons, we’ve built a solid, trusting relationship, and he actually looks forward to learning piano every week. His impulse control improves with every session, and he’s making massive gains in fine motor skills, focus duration, and rhythm. It amazes me how such profound changes can happen in the span of a single month when a child feels safe and understood.

✨ Embracing the Challenge with Laughter

I also have a young student who initially avoided using her left hand at the piano because it felt uncoordinated and shaky. Today, she is confidently playing with both hands! She has improved tremendously, stays engaged for large chunks of time, and keeps me laughing with fun banter for the entire hour. She loves the little games we incorporate into her lessons—like making "phone calls" to her left hand to make sure it's included—and the weekly surprises and running jokes we share together.

✨ Conquering the Tremor

Teaching isn't just about early foundational skills; it's also about helping experienced musicians overcome deeply rooted physical and mental hurdles. An adult student came to me struggling with a frustrating tremor in his brass playing. Over seven or eight sessions, we worked together to rebuild his foundation and deconstruct the unconscious movements and thought patterns causing the tremor. In our latest session, we finally put it all together and it clicked. He played completely tremor-free, producing a sound more beautiful than ever before. Witnessing him emerge victorious from such a painful journey brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful thing to witness and be a part of.

I am endlessly grateful to experience these achievements alongside my students. Whether it’s conquering a physical tremor, mastering a new fine motor skill, or simply finding joy in a class for the very first time, my students overcome their unique challenges with immense courage. This is exactly why I teach.