Dyspraxia as a musician

Dear Reader, forgive me if I do not start this story exactly where I should. You see, one of the quirks of having Dyspraxia is that organising thoughts into neat little packages on the page is not my strong point. My mind likes to wander, thoughts spill out in all directions — it’s like herding cats! But, hey, that’s just how my brain rolls.

Let’s kick things off on stage with my band, WolfNote. We’ve just finished a song, the crowd is clapping and I am feeling the buzz. I go to switch guitars, lifting one over my head to grab another, and WHAM — it smacks me right on the bridge of the nose! Ouch! But, of course, I do what every Dyspraxic person has mastered: pretend it didn't happen. Play it cool, no big deal, just a little self-inflicted guitar smack... happens to the best of us, right?

By now, you have probably guessed: I am a musician. Yep, I am also a piano teacher. A middle-aged one, at that. When I mention this, people usually nod politely or, if they are being honest, ask, “How does that even work?” Well, it works just fine, thanks! Most people know their left from their right — if you are Dyspraxic like me, though, it is a different story. The upside? When playing piano, I have trained my hands to work as one big, happy unit with 10 fingers, so playing with both hands at once feels surprisingly natural. I may never shred through Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, but my empathy more than makes up that as I know what it feels like to be a beginner.

Now, back to the stage. I sing and play guitar in WolfNote, and while Dyspraxia throws its share of challenges at me, one of the coolest things is that creativity can come naturally. I love playing guitar, but here is the catch: I need to see the fretboard. No muscle memory has stuck around in my 20 years of playing, which is pretty frustrating.

Then one day, I saw Joni Mitchell strumming a mountain dulcimer on her lap, with these delicate heart-shaped sound holes, and I was hooked. It looked so light, so graceful — and sounded absolutely magical! I had to have one. In 2016, I finally got my hands on a dulcimer, and the beauty of it was that there weren’t any rigid rules about how to play it. Perfect for a Dyspraxic mind that loves to colour outside the lines. So, I just played. Pop songs, chords — whatever felt right. And for fun, I uploaded a few videos to YouTube. To my surprise, people started asking me how I learned to play and if I could teach them!

Fast forward to today, and I’ve got around 1,600 subscribers! It’s been incredible connecting with people from all corners of the world. I dream of visiting the USA someday to meet other dulcimer players in person, since it’s an American instrument.

The mountain dulcimer is such a great fit for people with Dyspraxia. It is smaller and lighter than a guitar, and because it sits in your lap, you can easily watch your fingers at work. The best part? It only has four strings, compared to the guitar’s six, but it sounds absolutely mesmerising. Plus, it is always a conversation starter!

If you’re curious about the mountain dulcimer or want to hear what it sounds like, I have included links to my YouTube channel and website below. Maybe you will fall in love with it just like I did?

The music world has always been a haven for neurodivergent individuals like myself, a place where I often feel accepted and understood. However, it is disheartening that people with dyspraxia are not always encouraged to pursue an instrument. We bring so much to the table—perseverance, creativity, and empathy—that makes us ideal musicians. Music is not just about how fast your fingers can fly over keys or strings; it is about the emotion, passion, and dedication behind it. Whether it is joining a choir or picking up an instrument, the benefits are immense and go far beyond the notes themselves.

written by Gillian McCoy