Pianist and composer with autism shares love of music as a teacher
When Steven Atme was five years old, he couldn’t speak or follow directions. His autism fed his fear and he was afraid of almost everything.
But his mother Jacqueline Daou noticed that his mood would shift when listening to the music and songs in Disney movies. She gave him a toy piano which he would tinker with constantly. He created his own “organ” by placing one toy piano behind the other. Music made him happy.
Atme is now 24 years old and an accomplished pianist and composer. With the help of a scholarship from Summit School, Atme began studying piano at the conservatory at McGill University 10 years ago and is now preparing for his Collegial 1 piano exam.
“Music had a way of calming me when I was little and going through so much with my autism,” Atme said.
Earlier this week, Atme sat down at the piano at Épilogue Musique on St. Denis Street.
Posture perfect and relaxed, Atme played his original composition When the Wind Blows, which is on the program for the Special People Have Dreams 5th Anniversary Celebration. The show, created by Atme, is at Lindsay Place High School in Pointe-Claire on Saturday, April 29.
Atme teaches music and skitwriting to children and adults with intellectual handicaps. He will join eight of his adult students for the music and acting performance. And, for the first time, Atme will reveal his latest area of dedicated study — opera.
“Steven has to be perfect at everything he does,” Daou said. “He can play the piano eight hours a day. I tell his two sisters to strive to do their best. I tell Steven not to be so hard on himself.”
Atme has what is called perfect pitch. Before he began formal piano lessons, he would learn to play the songs he liked by ear.
The variety show marks the fifth anniversary since he gave a speech at St-Joseph’s Oratory during Autism Awareness Month.
“Parents were in tears,” Daou said. “He represented hope. I knew how they felt. When Steven was young I was told he wouldn’t amount to much. When he tied his shoes, when he spoke, everything was a milestone and I would cry. He continues to astonish us.”
Atme grew up with the unfailing support of his mom, dad Elie, sisters Christina and Selina and his teachers at Summit School. His goal when he started teaching four years ago was to pay that kind of support forward by helping others with challenges tap into their creativity.
“It makes me happy to see them grow as musicians and as people,” Atme said. “Special people can surprise you in so many ways. If you believe in them, they can reach for the stars and inspire everybody.”
Atme shares the program with George Broussalis, Gabriel Fadda, Fareed Gul, Melissa Nower, Samuel Lewis, Luciano Vézina, Asmin Hernandez and Alrica Phagu.
The performance at Lindsay Place High School (111 Broadview Ave., Pointe-Claire) begins at 3 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door or in advance by visiting www.eventbrite.ca.