Learning Music Production When You Are a Neurodivergent and Hands-On Learner

Have you ever opened Ableton Live, clicked around for a while, and thought, “Why does everyone else seem to get this so easily?”

If you have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or simply learn in a non-linear way, traditional tutorials can feel like trying to read a map that keeps changing. I know that feeling well. When I started learning music production, I was completely lost, not because I couldn’t do it, but because every tutorial assumed I already knew the language, the shortcuts, and the “why” behind every click.

Many of us learn differently. We need time to process, to pause, to connect concepts instead of just memorising steps. But most production education isn’t built that way.

So, here are a few things I’ve learned that might help right now, no matter what course or video you’re watching:

1. Slow it down, literally.Rewatch parts, take notes in your own words, and use playback speed controls. Learning at your own pace isn’t a weakness; it’s how you build real understanding.

2. Focus on one goal per session.Instead of “I’ll learn Ableton today,” try “I’ll learn how to record one sound and loop it.” Smaller wins build genuine confidence.

3. Make your own glossary.Every time a new word comes up — like “quantize” or “clip” — write down what it means in your own language. You’ll start building your own creative dictionary.

These small steps can turn what feels overwhelming into something approachable.

That’s also why I created my new Ableton Live course for neurodivergent learners — designed to be calm, structured, and easy to follow, with short lessons, subtitles, and visual cues. It’s the kind of guide I wish I’d had when I was starting out.

Because music production should be accessible to everyone and your way of learning is completely valid.

LNA is an Ableton Certified Trainer and has an amazing collection of online courses, including this one, here.

Join my Patreon community!

For more insights on neurodivergent learning, creativity, and overcoming creative blocks, check out my book, Creative Confidence and Music Production.