A New Notation of Music with Many Uses
The Occupational Octaves Piano™ Books
Occupational Octaves Piano™ makes the piano accessible for every learner, with colors and patterns that turn complexity into confidence. Explore our shop to find books, tools, and training that bring music within reach for all.
Who Are You?

Parent / Guardian
Give your child the gift of music with a method designed to build confidence, focus, and joy. Occupational Octaves makes it possible for learners of all abilities to play piano successfully, even with no prior experience.

Therapist
Incorporate a proven, symbol-based piano curriculum into your sessions to help clients improve motor skills, attention, and emotional expression—while experiencing the joy of music-making.

Music Store / School
Offer your customers and students an innovative learning system that removes barriers to music education and helps them achieve real results quickly, regardless of prior musical background.

School / Organization
Bring a structured, inclusive music program to your classrooms or programs. Occupational Octaves is adaptable for special education, therapy, and mainstream learning environments.
Making Music Accessible for All
Do I need a musical background to help my child use Occupational Octaves Piano™?
No — it’s designed so parents without any music training can guide their child. If your child can match colors and letters, they can start playing right away.
How quickly will my child be able to play songs?
Most students can play recognizable songs in their very first session. This helps build confidence and motivation.
Is this only for children with special needs?
No. The program works for all beginners but is especially helpful for children with autism, ADHD, or other learning differences.
How can Occupational Octaves Piano™ support therapy goals?
It promotes fine motor coordination, attention, sequencing, and emotional regulation — all while engaging clients in music.
Do I need a music background to use it in sessions?
No. Any therapist can implement the method — the books and color-coded rings make it easy.
Is it suitable for group therapy?
Yes. Many therapists use our Classroom or Clinic Packs for group engagement.
How does this benefit my music store or studio?
It allows you to serve a wider audience — including students who may have struggled with traditional lessons.
Can I resell the books and starter packs?
Yes. We offer wholesale pricing and bundles designed for resale.
Will instructors need special certification?
We recommend training for consistency, but teachers can begin with the books and guides immediately.
How does Occupational Octaves Piano™ fit into special education programs?
It aligns with IEP goals, supports inclusion, and works within SPED classrooms to build confidence and participation.
What evidence do you have for effectiveness?
We provide case studies, white papers, and pilot data showing improvements in engagement, fine motor skills, and learning outcomes.
Occupational Octaves Piano™ is an adaptive piano curriculum featuring NovaNotation, a simplified alternative to traditional music notation. NovaNotation streamlines musical instructions (notes, beats, fingers), removing the complexities of note reading that often hinder learners. Created by Lee D. Stockner, the curriculum addresses diverse needs and unique challenges.
Students using Occupational Octaves Piano™ can follow two main learning paths:
- Occupational Octaves™ Curriculum: Start with our user-friendly notation, designed to make music accessible, and explore a diverse repertoire from Bach to Beethoven to Billy Joel. Engage with our comprehensive resources including the 8-book series, exercise books, classical masters series, and play-along videos. This path mirrors Lee’s traditional learning experience, adapted for maximum accessibility.
- Transition to Traditional Notation: For learners ready to move from NovaNotation to standard music notation, The Stockner Method™ provides a proven approach to mastering traditional note reading, building on the foundation of the Occupational Octaves™ curriculum.

Making Music Accessible for All
Occupational Octaves Piano™ is an adaptive piano curriculum featuring NovaNotation, a simplified alternative to traditional music notation. NovaNotation streamlines musical instructions (notes, beats, fingers), removing the complexities of note reading that often hinder learners. Created by Lee D. Stockner, the curriculum addresses diverse needs and unique challenges. For example, students with limited finger strength get to use a unique fingering system that avoids using the 3rd and 5th fingers together for chords—a common challenge for Lee’s original students, who struggled to use these fingers without also using the 4th—enhancing accessibility for those with dexterity limitations.
Students using Occupational Octaves Piano™ can follow two main learning paths:
- Occupational Octaves™ Curriculum: Start with our user-friendly notation, designed to make music accessible, and explore a diverse repertoire from Bach to Beethoven to Billy Joel. Engage with our comprehensive resources, including the 8-book series, exercise books, classical masters series, and play-along videos. This path mirrors Lee’s traditional learning experience, adapted for maximum accessibility.
- Transition to Traditional Notation: For learners ready to move from NovaNotation to standard music notation, The Stockner Method™ provides a proven approach to mastering traditional note reading, building on the foundation of the Occupational Octaves™ curriculum.

Truly satisfied customers
Our daughter Olivia loves music and playing the piano. We never thought that we would be able to have her learn to play but because of Occupational Octaves and Lee Stockner she is now playing on her keyboard at home. His teaching method is pure genius and has changed her life. Her fine motor skills are advancing along with her attention while playing. We HIGHLY recommend this program for any child who love music.
Lee Stockner is a dedicated teacher and musician who has a passion for teaching others to make music. Lee has developed a unique method to teach piano to both children and adults with Autism and developmental disabilities. I have had the pleasure to be present while Lee teaches. His patience, responsiveness and empathy are evident in all his interactions with his student. His students are eager to learn and the result is “music to my ears”.
My daughter, Aja, is a pupil and has been taking lessons for over a year. She has PDD-NOS with delayed language, gross and fine motor skills. She also LOVES music! Aja has made amazing progress in using her hands, reading the letters, and playing songs on the piano. Lee’s method of teaching relaxes her and keeps her focused. Lee utilizes the ABA approach in his program so successfully that Aja has little to no need for any rewards to keep her on track. I am proud to write this testimonial for Lee and his program. Lee is simply one of the best teachers that I have dealt with over the past six years and I would highly recommend ABA Piano Lessons.

Who We Empower
Trusted by Parents, Therapists, and Teachers
- Special Education Schools/Programs
- Occupational & Hand Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Recreation Therapy (Assisted Living, Addiction Recovery, Quality of Life)
- Music Lessons (Adaptive, Traditional, and Blended Approaches)
What is a New Language of Music
At Occupational Octaves Piano™, our innovative design harnesses the power of music to foster a dynamic, multisensory learning environment. The instrument is meticulously engineered to stimulate cognitive development by engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners simultaneously. Its interactive features and adaptable settings empower educators to tailor lessons that reinforce critical thinking, creativity, and memory retention.
Our piano is more than just an instrument—it’s a carefully crafted tool for therapeutic enrichment. Drawing on principles of music therapy, Occupational Octaves Piano™ creates a soothing atmosphere that promotes emotional balance and psychological well-being. Its gentle, responsive keys offer a tactile experience that can enhance fine motor skills, reduce stress, and improve focus.
Why Choose Us
User-Friendly
User-Friendly Designed with accessibility and simplicity in mind, Occupational Octaves Piano™ delivers an intuitive, user-centric experience that benefits both seasoned professionals and newcomers alike. The interface features clear, straightforward navigation and ergonomic controls that allow for seamless operation in busy classroom or therapy environments.
Innovative Learning Solutions
Occupational Octaves Piano™ leverages music to create a multisensory learning experience, engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners to enhance cognitive development, critical thinking, creativity, and memory retention. Its interactive features and customizable settings empower educators to tailor lessons effectively.
Multisensory Learning Enhancement
At Occupational Octaves Piano™, our innovative design utilizes music to create a dynamic, multisensory learning environment. The instrument is carefully crafted to boost cognitive development by engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners simultaneously. Its interactive features and customizable settings enable educators to design lessons that enhance critical thinking, creativity, and memory retention.
My son John is very interested in music. We are fortunate enough to take piano lessons with the author of this book series, Lee Stockner. John truly enjoys his lessons and has really excelled at playing the piano. We also have a keyboard at home and he really can’t get enough of it. None of this could have been accomplished without the simplicity of the language that Lee uses in his books. I feel like these classes and books have given my son confidence in other aspects of his life.