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Fog/Mist Music is his niche
The old John Lennon lyric says, “When I cannot sing my heart, I can only speak my mind.” For Beatles fan Brian Amato, an 18-year-old with autism, it’s just the opposite. Amato has always struggled to express himself with words, but has learned to allow music to be his voice. He didn’t speak until he was five years old, but when was nine, he started playing both the drums and the piano, and at last found a way to relate to the world. Last Sunday, he played with his band, Broken Chains, on the main bandstand at Jones Beach during an Autism Speaks benefit walk.
Broken Chains, which consists of Amato of Oceanside High School, guitarist and vocalist Matthew Miniero of Oceanside Middle School and lead vocalist Delaney Bleu of Long Beach Middle School, was formed at the iSchool of Music & Art in Rockville Centre. The group performed at an Autism Speaks event in Long Beach last March, rocking classics like “Imagine,” “Come Together,” “Smoke On the Water” and “We Will Rock You,” and as a result was invited to showcase its talents, and support the cause, at the 15th annual Autism Speaks walk on Oct. 5.
“Music is his niche. He always showed an interest in music,” said Ann Amato, Brian’s mother.
Ann Amato said that when Brian was a child, the speech therapists working with him would quickly learn to use music as a way to engage and reward him. Even as a beginner, she said, he could play by ear. “He’d hear a song once and then be able to play it.”
Brian’s musical career took a turn when his grandmother bought him a drum set. Ann Amato saw that music gave Brian a sense of accomplishment, so she enrolled him in classes at the iSchool of Music at Art. There he met Miniero and Bleu, and the trio quickly formed Broken Chains.
“Brian’s parents are very involved with his musical education, but they also wanted him to have a chance to play with other kids,” said Yi Qian, the music director for the iSchool. “He’s exceptionally talented. His strength is in listening and then copying rhythms and techniques.”
Over the past year, Broken Chains has played recitals, at an open-mic night in Island Park and at a street fair in Syosset. It also practices every Friday evening in the Amato’s basement, but Ann Amato is pleased with the departure of silence.
