ABSTRACT In this study, it is aimed to reveal the views of the parents -having childen with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), on how music therapy affects the development of those children’s social skills. This is a qualitative research, and the qualitative research methods such as interviewing and semi-structured interviewing have been used. Sample group of the study comprises of 5 people, the parents of the children having been got diagnosis of ASD and having participated in long-term music therapy. Children of the sample group participated in the music therapy for 1 year at least and 3 years at most. Descriptive analysis approach has been used while analysing the data obtained. According to the findings, it has been seen that parents weren’t aware of the music therapy performed by an expert in TRNC, and they just knew about it after being informed by special education teachers of the children. The sample group stated that the music therapy mostly reinforced the children’s creating sounds, humming, uttering words more than before, developing perception, tapping out, self-confidence and self-explanation skills. Moreover, it has been also emphasized that the most efficient approaches for reinforcing development of the social skills were playing instruments with the therapist, establishment of a trust relationship by the therapist, creating impromptu stories and singing. All the sample group recommends the music therapy for the individuals having difficulty in social skills because it reinforces children’s social skills, communication skills, learning new words, sharing, social adaptation, self-explanation, getting awareness of their environment and development of self-confidence. The results have been discussed in accordance with the literature. Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Music therapy, social skills, parents, views.

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