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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You said the kid can’t write. If you don’t want answers you might not agree with then don’t ask the question.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered piano lessons? I think it would be easier for a kid with fine motor challenges to start with piano before moving to something like cello or viola. I have an older son (10) who plays viola and a younger son (8) doing piano. The younger DS started piano at 7. He has no official diagnosis but also had significant fine motor delays and probably some other special needs we haven't quite identified yet. Piano has overall gone pretty well for him. He's not a musical genius or anything, but he is making progress and I think he feels a sense of accomplishment from it. He will need to start violin, viola, or cello for school in another year and my sense is that it will be a struggle for him--but hopefully less so with a couple years of piano under his belt.

I know piano is challenging in that not everyone owns a piano, but you can get a keyboard to start with to see how it goes before you invest in a real piano.

[Anonymous]

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

You can fit a bass in a remarkably small car, just not a sedan. My kid's instructor came with his in a prius hatchback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Okay but a 6-year-old beginner is not going to be playing in thumb position or playing in tenor or treble clef any time soon. In fact, many teachers won’t even start your child off with a bow immediately, he might just learn the notes by plucking them with his fingers. A big advantage of starting so young is that the child can learn really gradually over time.

I think if your child is interested in cello it’s a great idea OP. If you don’t know already, cellos come in small sizes that are suited to children. Since you mentioned that your son is tall, if he happens to have long arms and/or wide palms that will help him out with the cello. You could check out the Suzuki teacher association website to look for teachers if you haven’t already.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t piano a more approachable first instrument and good general life skill for everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You can fit a bass in a remarkably small car, just not a sedan. My kid's instructor came with his in a prius hatchback.

You can fit a bass in a sedan. You need to lay down the passenger seat and buckle it in there.

-- bass mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

OP, our son has ASD and cello lessons have been phenomenal for him!! Highly recommend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You said the kid can’t write. If you don’t want answers you might not agree with then don’t ask the question.

OP here. My question is specifically about instruments. I wasn’t asking about what else he can do instead of learning an instrument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Okay but a 6-year-old beginner is not going to be playing in thumb position or playing in tenor or treble clef any time soon. In fact, many teachers won’t even start your child off with a bow immediately, he might just learn the notes by plucking them with his fingers. A big advantage of starting so young is that the child can learn really gradually over time.

I think if your child is interested in cello it’s a great idea OP. If you don’t know already, cellos come in small sizes that are suited to children. Since you mentioned that your son is tall, if he happens to have long arms and/or wide palms that will help him out with the cello. You could check out the Suzuki teacher association website to look for teachers if you haven’t already.

OP here. I would like him to participate in orchestra and knowing that it will take him a while to learn an instrument, I thought I’ll get a head start.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you have your answer. Viola is best for now unless your child's hands are large and strong. If he really wants cello, it isn't very hard to switch later when he has grown bigger.

It seems like with his special needs and fine motor challenges, a string instrument may be a real struggle. You will need a teacher who is understanding about that. If his ASD makes it hard for him to sit and receive instruction, that may be a struggle.

Personally I feel like at age 6, it isn't worth it if it's really hard. There are other ways to get started on music! He could join a children's choir, or take dance. Both of those things develop rhythm and musicality without putting so much pressure on fine motor skills and sitting still.

[Anonymous]

Late to the party but I would start with Viola and then switch to bass when he’s a little older. That’s what my younger sibling did. A lot less competitive. Everyone wants to violin and cello.

I personally am partial to piano but it’s a big investment if no one else plays. But it is a little more accessible for younger kids.

[Anonymous]

I would have him try a bunch of instruments and decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Okay but a 6-year-old beginner is not going to be playing in thumb position or playing in tenor or treble clef any time soon. In fact, many teachers won’t even start your child off with a bow immediately, he might just learn the notes by plucking them with his fingers. A big advantage of starting so young is that the child can learn really gradually over time.

I think if your child is interested in cello it’s a great idea OP. If you don’t know already, cellos come in small sizes that are suited to children. Since you mentioned that your son is tall, if he happens to have long arms and/or wide palms that will help him out with the cello. You could check out the Suzuki teacher association website to look for teachers if you haven’t already.

OP here. I would like him to participate in orchestra and knowing that it will take him a while to learn an instrument, I thought I’ll get a head start.

Sone orchestras are very competitive and it has to be something he wants, not just you. Call your local orchestra group and ask for recommendations. That’s how we got started. They were so helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Late to the party but I would start with Viola and then switch to bass when he’s a little older. That’s what my younger sibling did. A lot less competitive. Everyone wants to violin and cello.

I personally am partial to piano but it’s a big investment if no one else plays. But it is a little more accessible for younger kids.

The benefit of piano is you can get an electric one and do it with headphones. I have one myself and I love it. They really have come down in price in the past 10 years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You can fit a bass in a remarkably small car, just not a sedan. My kid's instructor came with his in a prius hatchback.

You can fit a bass in a sedan. You need to lay down the passenger seat and buckle it in there.

-- bass mom

Lucky! We can't quite in our (smallish) sedan without it sticking out the sunroof. We use our smallish suv.