What starter instrument for a four year old with ASC?

[CircleofWillis]

Hi my DD4 has become very interested in music. She is teaching herself to read musical notation through books and YouTube and uses music to calm herself down. She has started to ‘write’ music using her own system of lines and loops and enjoys picking out tunes on a keyboard, my guitar and a harmonica.

I’d like to start her on an instrument as I feel it will help her to regulate her emotions and express herself. When I ask her what instrument she would like to play she says a different one each time so I don’t think she has a real preference. Any suggestions for a good starter instrument?

I’m leaning towards piano (we have an old untunable one) or violin. She has sensory issues around her mouth so I don’t think she will be happy with and instrument she has to blow even though she likes the harmonica. However she uses the harmonica under her own terms. Having to put something to her mouth during a lesson might be difficult. Also do people recommend 1:1 or group lessons for a child with autism?

My son with ASD plays cornet - he has a 1:1 lesson and also plays in local brass band and school band. We're not at all musical - he has driven all this himself although I wouldn't say he's a natural! He loves the social side and because a brass band is always laid out in the same way, he's comfortable with the structure. I think it's fantastic she's showing an interest and would really encourage it - my son gets a lot of validation from it and loves performing. If she doesn't want anything near her mouth, I think piano would be great. Personally I'm hugely happy neither of mine wanted to play violin as I think it's difficult to get a good sound until you're pretty proficient. If your local council has a music service that offers lessons, you could give them a call and ask for taster sessions and/or advice.

Thank you Fruitloop. Your son sounds great. I’d love my dd to find an instrument that increased her confidence and developed her social skills like that. I’m not sure my DD will enjoy playing in public though as she hates applause. Did your DS start 1:1 lessons first and then join the band? How old was he when he began lessons?

I think you are right about the violin being excruciating when played by beginners. I suppose it is portable and there seem to be lots of adverts for teachers in this area.

I’ll look up the local council music services. I didn’t know such s thing existed so thank you again.

He was 7 and started with small group (3 or 4 with a teenage helper) before moving onto band. I wonder if having an interest in a mouth instrument might help your DD with her sensory issues? Am I right in thinking with a flute you don't actually put your lips right on it? I've been told that you shouldn't play both a brass and a woodwind instrument because you have to have completely different skills, by the way! If your DD is instinctively using music as a self-soothing thing, I'd really encourage it - it helps in so many ways and if she doesn't like performing, there's lots of other ways of enjoying music just for herself and you. In this area council music services coordinate school music lessons from 7 upwards but you can also just go along to the centre from babies I think. Another thing I've learnt from our tutor is to push back very firmly if anyone suggests doing 'grade' exams - the music service do like these as it's a way of demonstrating their teaching success but they are not compulsory. DS won't be doing any grades at all unless he ends up doing music GCSE as he doesn't need the stress and w
e don't need the expense. I know that's a long way off for your DD but thought I would mention it if you're new to this lark!

My 5 yr old with ASD is learning violin at his insistence. It is a very hard instrument to learn with lots to think about all at once. My NT dd 7 yr old has struggled at times. Add in a touch of PDA and it's quite a challenge however despite declining to do anything I say he is enjoying it in his own way ! But something less challenging that he could do more experimentation on his own might have been more enjoyable all round ..

Thanks didiplantis. What instrument would you have chosen in hindsight?

I think I would have gone for keyboard. I know it is hard as well but he could have sat and picked out notes and tunes without needing lots of correction which he struggles with. He's not going to learn in the conventional way whatever and that may have been less stressful for him ( and Me). Also it's just there- He wouldn't need to have to get it out the case and prepare it which is significant for him as it's almost another 'transition' to struggle with.

My DS with an ASC started drums aged 8. He's ace!

Mine started ukulele at five. Loves it lots. We have woodwind, brass, and percussion available too should be choose. Music can be wonderful for children and I am glad 2/3 of my bunch have embraced it.

violin x

The OT recommended DC started learning an instrument, which was fine except that I have never played anything and knew very little about it all. We got a lot of help from the Music Service in choosing an instrument, but I think we may have been lucky in getting someone prepared to take the time to go through it all with us. I explained all of my DC's likes and dislikes and they kindly narrowed it down to a choice of two for me. We also went along to a small childrens concert so we had a chance to see each of the instruments played individually - that was really helpful to. Dc's first choice was double bass mind you... I think it has definitely increased confidence - but it took a while.

The best advice I had from a music shop for my NT child, was to pick an instrument to learn that you like the sound of.