Cello lessons for my 6 year-old ASD son - thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I have received LISS funding for the upcoming year and would like to use some of the funds for cello lessons for my son. Is it a bad idea? At his age, we are thinking of starting lessons in a string instrument and have picked cello. We think he might have a slight easier time than violin. He goes to OT and has issues with fine motor skills, particularly in writing.

Has anyone’s ASD kids taken cello lessons?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s a “bad “ idea, but probably also not what I’d call a priority. Have you an ABLLS-R done? If that’s not completely filled I probably wouldn’t be working on cello skills. You could try a recorder or tin whistle or boom whackers or general music classes that incorporate social skills. What about buying the TV Teacher set for handwriting, hiring a 1:1 for respite, toys that work on fine and gross motor, a new flash card set, a reading program or language for learning, board games, etc. I’d think more functional skills at that age rather than independent extracurricular skills that require high levels of focus and fine motor skills. If you could get a free cello and focus and attention are a strength for them then you might try a couple lessons. I just wouldn’t focus on that in place of more functional skill deficits.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids with ASD. They both take violin lessons. One of them really needed ADHD meds before he could learn anything from the lessons. They both enjoy the instrument and playing in a group - but the level of competitiveness of both violin and cello mean that, if I could start over, I would see if viola (or bass) might be a better fit.

[Anonymous]

I think fine motor would make it a challenge, or maybe this is a way for him to work on fine motor.

If you'd like him to take an instrument with a lower fine motor element, have you considered trombone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids with ASD. They both take violin lessons. One of them really needed ADHD meds before he could learn anything from the lessons. They both enjoy the instrument and playing in a group - but the level of competitiveness of both violin and cello mean that, if I could start over, I would see if viola (or bass) might be a better fit.

Can you elaborate more on why you think viola is a better fit? Because it’s less competitive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids with ASD. They both take violin lessons. One of them really needed ADHD meds before he could learn anything from the lessons. They both enjoy the instrument and playing in a group - but the level of competitiveness of both violin and cello mean that, if I could start over, I would see if viola (or bass) might be a better fit.

Can you elaborate more on why you think viola is a better fit? Because it’s less competitive?

I always tell people to do viola because our orchestra needs more violists.

But yes it's less.competitive, and if you're looking for a program where they will get into a good ensemble and where they will be valued, viola helps.

[Anonymous]

Cello (leading to double bass, 'cause everyone needs a bass!). And a bad note on cello (or bass) sounds so much better than on most instruments.

Bad violin or viola gives me a headache.

[Anonymous]

Only bass if you're willing to get a 10 passenger van and look very cool rolling up to rehearsal.

[Anonymous]

Cello requires more hand strength than violin or viola because the strings are thicker and need more force to hold down and the intervals between notes are wider. And if your fingers are weak or hypermobile, they will more easily be collapsing at the first knuckle, and it's going to mess up everything and cause pain and tendinitis. Then there's thumb position. Cellos are also more expensive. And if you're going to progress past the basics, you have to learn 3 clefs (bass, tenor, treble) and be able to be cognitively flexible to move between them quickly. Cello is also one of the few instruments where you have to stay seated and planted in one spot to play it and cannot stand, pace around, etc.

What made you decide on cello? I feel like it has a number of unique potential disadvantages for someone with autism that other instruments do not.

[Anonymous]

Is your son tall-ish or short-ish for his age? How old is he?

I would say viola, if you're set on a string. A wind or brass instrument may require less precise fine.motor though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your son tall-ish or short-ish for his age? How old is he?

I would say viola, if you're set on a string. A wind or brass instrument may require less precise fine.motor though.

OP here. He’s 6 and tallish. The place that I’m looking into starts wind or brass at 8 years old. Bass starts at 7. He can only do violin, viola, or cello.

I also talked to a HS orchestra teacher and she suggested viola or cello over violin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it’s a “bad “ idea, but probably also not what I’d call a priority. Have you an ABLLS-R done? If that’s not completely filled I probably wouldn’t be working on cello skills. You could try a recorder or tin whistle or boom whackers or general music classes that incorporate social skills. What about buying the TV Teacher set for handwriting, hiring a 1:1 for respite, toys that work on fine and gross motor, a new flash card set, a reading program or language for learning, board games, etc. I’d think more functional skills at that age rather than independent extracurricular skills that require high levels of focus and fine motor skills. If you could get a free cello and focus and attention are a strength for them then you might try a couple lessons. I just wouldn’t focus on that in place of more functional skill deficits.

OP here. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. It’s not music lessons in lieu of functional skills. My son is able to ski, ice-skate, and I feel he’s ready to pursue learning an instrument.

[Anonymous]

What makes you feel he is ready? You say he has poor fine motor skills and that's going to make it very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Viola is a lot less expensive than cello.

Teachers are recommending this because all orchestras have too many violins and need more violas and cellos. And because your son may have a hard time with it due to fine motor, so he'll be better off with a less competitive instrument. That way he will be more likely to be with his age-peers even if he's not that skilled a musician.

[Anonymous]

He’s going to be very frustrated if he has fine-motor issues. There is no need to start this now. Give him time to mature and strengthen his skills. Find a social activity for him instead.