Altun Allahverdiyev (an individual with autism), a first-grade piano student at Children’s Music School No. 30 in the Khatai district, represented Azerbaijan at the “Otizm ve Müzik Yaz Okulu” (“Autism and Music Summer School”) international summer school held in Çanakkale, Turkey, from July 6 to 10.
Organized regularly since 2021, the summer school aims to encourage individuals with autism spectrum disorder to express themselves through music, share modern scientific and practical knowledge in the field of autism, and contribute to the development of inclusive music education. The project is implemented in partnership with several public and private institutions, led by Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.
In the international summer school, which was attended by participants with autism spectrum disorder from various regions of Turkey, Altun Allahverdiyev successfully completed a five-day intensive training program and attracted attention with his high performance skills demonstrated at the final concert. He successfully performed Johann Strauss’s “Blue Danube” waltz and A. Babayev’s “Nazende sevgilim” in the concert program.
Within the framework of the summer school’s curriculum, teachers Ezgi Göksel and Tuba Bahar mentored Altun Allahverdiyev’s professional development. During the training, in addition to participating in individual and group sessions, the participants were involved in various activities aimed at developing communication, creativity, and social skills through music.
Altun Allahverdiyev’s successful participation in this international summer school can be considered a significant example in terms of uncovering the potential of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in the field of music and promoting their active participation in inclusive education and international cooperation environments.