By Charlie Middle
Hi, I’m Charlie Middle. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a knack for thinking outside the box—often because traditional approaches just don’t work for me. I highly suspect that I have undiagnosed ADHD or possibly even mild Autism, traits that have made life both challenging and unexpectedly rewarding. One of my most significant creations, the Visual Piano System, was born from the need to learn in my own unconventional way. And as I look back on how this system took shape, I can’t help but wonder: if I didn’t possess these traits, would the Visual Piano System even exist?
Like many with ADHD or Autism, I struggle with procrastination. Leaving things to the last minute has been both a curse and a blessing. It’s a curse because it brings anxiety, pressure, and an ever-present worry about whether my approach will be accepted by others. But it’s also a blessing because, under pressure, my mind often finds unexpected solutions, and I’m able to process information in unique, sometimes even radical ways. In fact, this combination of stress and creativity is precisely what led me to develop the Visual Piano System—a method that probably wouldn’t exist without my neurodivergent tendencies.
The Unconventional Road to Learning Piano
Learning the piano is often a structured journey of repetition, reading sheet music, and memorizing notes. Traditional methods, however, felt unnatural and tedious to me. I couldn’t focus long enough on conventional sheet music, and memorizing notes felt like a huge task, bordering on impossible. My mind would dart from one idea to another, making it difficult to follow the linear, step-by-step instructions that most teachers and method books relied on. This frustration forced me to consider a new approach, something that would let me process information visually and instinctively.
I eventually began to piece together what I now call the Visual Piano System. Instead of relying on notes and scales, my system is based on visual patterns and shapes. I realized that, for me, seeing music as a series of shapes rather than a linear progression of notes helped me connect more deeply with the instrument. It allowed me to sidestep the tedious memorization that others seemed to handle effortlessly. Interestingly, this approach aligns with the way many people with ADHD or Autism describe learning—thinking in patterns, focusing on big-picture connections rather than isolated details.
The Role of ADHD and Autism Traits in the System’s Creation
The way I learn and process information isn’t typically celebrated in traditional educational settings, but these traits became assets when developing the Visual Piano System. For instance, ADHD is often associated with hyperfocus—a state where you become so engrossed in a task that you lose track of time. I’ve experienced this first hand. Once I began exploring the idea of patterns and visuals in music, I became almost obsessed with finding ways to represent sound visually. This hyperfocus allowed me to dive deep into the project, exploring different shapes and colours, and testing how they corresponded to different sounds.
Another trait often associated with ADHD and Autism is the ability to see connections that others may overlook. My mind tends to wander in a way that lets me jump between seemingly unrelated ideas, which sometimes results in creative breakthroughs. In this case, that wandering helped me see the piano not as a collection of individual keys but as a canvas of interlocking patterns. This perception is at the core of the Visual Piano System; rather than forcing a piece into isolated notes and measures, the system treats the music as a flowing, interconnected image, which I believe makes it more intuitive for people who, like me, struggle with traditional learning methods.
Would the System Exist Without These Traits?
It’s a question I ask myself often: would the Visual Piano System even exist if I didn’t have these neurodivergent traits? It’s hard to imagine that it would. My struggles with procrastination, my tendency to leave things until the last minute, and my difficulty focusing on linear tasks have all driven me to create a method that makes sense to my mind. If I were able to learn piano the traditional way, I likely wouldn’t have searched for an alternative, and the Visual Piano System would not have come to be. The system emerged from a blend of necessity and frustration, and it’s now something I’m deeply proud of.
Embracing Neurodivergence as a Creative Tool
It can be exhausting to feel that your mind doesn’t work the way it’s “supposed” to, especially in a world that values conformity and traditional paths to success. However, there’s something empowering about recognizing that my neurodivergent traits are what helped me create something unique. My Visual Piano System is not only a testament to my perseverance but also to the strengths that come from thinking differently.
For anyone who feels limited by their own challenges with ADHD, Autism, or similar traits, I hope my story offers encouragement. While the journey can be frustrating, there is often a silver lining to our unique perspectives. In a world that pushes us to fit into pre-existing molds, it’s worth remembering that some of the most innovative ideas come from those who color outside the lines.
Final Thoughts
So, has my undiagnosed ADHD or Autism played a role in the creation of the Visual Piano System? I believe the answer is a resounding yes. These traits pushed me to explore, to adapt, and ultimately to develop a system that makes sense for people who, like me, see the world differently. The journey has been filled with challenges, but I wouldn’t change it. Because without these neurodivergent characteristics, I might never have created something as meaningful as the Visual Piano System